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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Akal Takht summons Punjab minister Harjot Bains, languages dept director over dancing at martyrdom event
1 2 Amritsar: Taking cognisance of complaints over a state-organised Sufi-singing event in Srinagar to mark the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur, Akal Takht officiating jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj on Saturday issued summons to Punjab minister Harjot Singh Bains and the director of the state languages department, Jaswant Singh, to appear before the five Sikh high priests at Akal Takht on Aug 1 to give a clarification on the issue. The summon came even as the minister had already announced to appear barefoot at the Akal Takht in a gesture of humility. Giani Gargaj slammed the continued silence of the minister and director, stating that despite the passage of considerable time, they neither offered any clarification nor apology for the controversial event that hurt Sikh sentiments. He said their refusal to respond reflected a disturbing disregard for community emotions and warned those holding constitutional positions carried an even greater responsibility to uphold public trust. The Punjab languages department recently organised an event in Srinagar to mark the martyrdom day of the ninth Sikh master, Guru Tegh Bahadur. During the programme, Punjabi singer Bir Singh performed. Video footage showed attendees, including women, dancing to his songs—an act that drew widespread criticism from the Sikh community for its perceived irreverence. The latest controversy comes at a time when the AAP govt in Punjab and Akal Takht are already embroiled in a war of words over events planned in the state to mark the martyrdom. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade With Clarity, Not Confusion Teji Mandi Buy Now Undo Bir Singh appeared at Akal Takht on Saturday, met Giani Gargaj, and tendered an apology. However, a decision on his apology is yet to be announced by the Akal Takht. Giani Gargaj condemned the event, stating it was the first time in history that a programme dedicated to the martyrdom of a guru began with singing, dancing, and entertainment—something he described as completely unacceptable. "The Aug 1 gathering of the Sikh clergy will deliberate on panthic and religious matters, and both Harjot Singh and Jaswant Singh have been summoned to present their side," he said. He added the apology submitted by singer Bir Singh—against whom several complaints were also received—will be reviewed and considered by Sikh clergy during the upcoming meeting. Bagicha Singh, in charge of the Akal Takht Secretariat, informed that official summons have been issued to Harjot Singh and Jaswant Singh, directing them to appear and present their explanations. Bains: 'I seek forgiveness' Soon after being summoned by the Akal Takht, Bains put out a post on his X account, stating that he humbly accepted the command of Akal Takht. He explained that the languages department recently organised the event in Srinagar during which prominent intellectuals and scholars shared Gurmat insights. He confirmed that Bir Singh was invited to perform at the event. Bains acknowledged that due to an unintentional oversight by the organisers, certain incidents occurred during the programme. "As a Sikh and a minister, I seek forgiveness," he wrote. "As a humble Sikh, I accept the command of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and will appear barefoot to present myself. Acknowledging our moral responsibility, I will be bound to obey every directive issued henceforth," he said.
News18
2 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Akal Takht Jathedar summons Punjab minister Harjot Bains over Srinagar programme
Amritsar/Chandigarh, Jul 26 (PTI) Akal Takht's officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj on Saturday asked Punjab Minister Harjot Singh Bains to appear before five 'Singh Sahiban' (high priests) on August 1 in the wake of a controversy over a programme to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary the ninth Sikh Guru Guru Teg Bahadur in Srinagar. The development came a day after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) took strong objection to 'entertainment performances" at the event on Thursday held by the Punjab Government's Language Department, calling it a direct affront to Sikh religious values. The Jathedar of the highest temporal seat of Sikhs on Saturday also summoned the director of the state language department, Jaswant Singh. Meanwhile, Education Minister Bains said he will appear before the Akal Takht and will be bound to obey every order while accepting his moral responsibility. He said that whatever happened due to the negligence of the organisers, knowingly or unknowingly, in the event, he, as a Sikh cabinet minister, seeks forgiveness. Jathedar Giani Gargaj said that despite the passage of considerable time, neither the minister nor the director has clarified their position, nor have they issued any apology for hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community. In a statement, Gargaj emphasised that individuals holding constitutional positions have a greater responsibility towards society, and the silence of state officials on such a sensitive matter raises serious concerns. He said that it is for the first time in history that an event commemorating the martyrdom Shatabdi (centenary) of a Guru Sahib began with songs, dance, and entertainment, something entirely unacceptable. The Jathedar noted that the August 1 gathering will deliberate on 'Panthic' and religious matters, and both Harjot Singh and Jaswant Singh have been summoned to present their sides. He also mentioned that singer Bir Singh, against whom complaints were also received for his involvement, appeared before Akal Takht Sahib on Friday and tendered an apology, which too will be taken into consideration during the assembly of the five 'Singh Sahiban.' PTI CHS APL APL RT RT view comments First Published: July 26, 2025, 17:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Akal Takht summons Punjab minister Harjot Singh, language department head over controversial Srinagar event
Amid growing outrage over a government-organised cultural programme held in Srinagar to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, the acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, has issued formal summons to Punjab Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains and state language department director Jaswant Singh. The event, organised by the Punjab government's language department, drew sharp criticism from Sikh religious bodies and sections of the community after videos showed musical performances and audience members dancing—an act many viewed as disrespectful in the context of a martyrdom centenary. Bains, the education Minister in charge of the language department, and Jaswant Singh have been asked to appear before the Five Singh Sahiban at Akal Takht on August 1 to present their explanation. Jathedar Gargaj said the officials had failed to clarify their roles or issue an apology despite public discontent on the matter. 'It is for the first time in history that an event commemorating a Guru Sahib's martyrdom began with songs, dance, and entertainment—something entirely unacceptable,' Gargaj stated. He added that individuals holding public and constitutional office bear greater responsibility and that continued silence from state officials on such a sensitive issue was concerning. The Jathedar also noted that singer Bir Singh, who had performed at the event and faced backlash for his involvement, appeared before Akal Takht on Thursday and offered a public apology, which will be reviewed during the upcoming meeting. Bagicha Singh, in-charge of the Sri Akal Takht Sahib Secretariat, confirmed that summoning letters have been officially sent to both Harjot Singh and Jaswant Singh. The event in question was held in Srinagar on July 24 as part of the Punjab government's initiative to mark Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib's 350th martyrdom anniversary. The language department had invited singer Bir Singh to perform. However, Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), condemned the use of music and dance in an event meant to honour the Guru's sacrifice. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami called it a 'direct affront to Sikh religious values'.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Dwarf virus hits paddy fields, farmers forced to re-sow stare are financial loss
1 2 Patiala: Farmers across several sub-mountainous districts of Punjab are grappling with a resurgence of the Southern Rice Black-streaked Dwarf Virus (SRBSDV), locally known as the Fiji or dwarf virus. The outbreak has affected paddy fields and threatens the yield of the upcoming kharif season. In response, some farmers have uprooted infected crops and re-sown paddy, incurring significant financial losses. Agriculture director Jaswant Singh confirmed that the virus has been detected in a few districts -- Ropar, Fatehgarh Sahib, Sangrur, Patiala, Mohali, and Nawanshahar -- but has not yet spread widely. "We are monitoring the situation and guiding farmers for timely action. It is critical to detect symptoms early and act promptly," he said, urging farmers to report any signs of dwarfing immediately to Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) or Panjab Agricultural University (PAU) experts. In Ropar, chief agriculture officer Rakesh Kumar reported virus infestation in around 100 acres. Awareness camps are being held in villages alongside ongoing field surveys. The district has a total paddy cultivation area of 39,000 hectares. Patiala district has also reported infections in villages under Samana, Rajpura, Ghanaur, and Patiala subdivisions. About 300 acres show signs of infestation, though actual crop uprooting remains limited, only a few acres in Mohabbatpura and three acres in Ghanaur, according to agriculture department officials. SRBSDV is transmitted by the whitebacked planthopper (WBPH) and severely stunts plant growth. Infected plants develop narrow upright leaves, weak roots, and are nearly half or one-third of their normal height. In advanced stages, the crop may die prematurely, leading to near-total yield loss. "This year, most of the affected crop belongs to the PR 131 variety. Farmers, in panic, have started uprooting the affected paddy and resowing either Basmati or PR 126," said Jaswinder Singh, chief agriculture officer, Patiala. He noted that nearly 2.33 lakh hectares in the district are under paddy cultivation this year, with 20% under PR 131. Farmers say they are bearing heavy losses due to re-sowing. "We are spending between Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per acre on re-sowing and about Rs 1,500 per acre for spraying insecticides to manage the infection," said Sarbjit Singh, a farmer from Mohabbatpura village in Patiala. "There will be yield loss for this late-sown crop, and we may face hurdles during the late procurement period due to high moisture content," he added. Despite following recommended preventive measures such as nursery sprays and sowing after June 15, some farmers still faced infections, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current advisories. "Even after spraying during the nursery stage and sowing after June 15, our recommended PR 131 and 132 crops were hit. Only my PR 126 was safe, but rice millers don't buy it readily, so we avoid growing it," Sarbjit said, also recalling similar infections in 2022 when no compensation was offered despite multiple representations to authorities. Bhagwant Singh, another farmer from the same village, said he had uprooted paddy on around seven acres and re-sown another variety. PAU and the state agriculture department reiterated the importance of preventive measures. They attributed the outbreak to early sowing, inadequate insecticide application during the nursery stage, and conducive humidity levels for virus transmission. AS Dhatt, director of research at PAU, stated, "Early sowing, before June 15, has been one of the major contributing factors. In 2022, similar patterns were observed. Proper spraying during the nursery phase is critical to preventing virus transmission." This year, the state government had allowed paddy sowing from June 1, advancing it from the previous year's June 10 window. PAU has released an insecticide advisory for managing WBPH, recommending targeted spraying of approved chemicals. Farmers are advised to apply these sprays at the plant base using flat-fan or hollow-cone nozzles and avoid indiscriminate use to prevent pest resistance and ecological damage. Experts also recommend weekly field inspections and simple detection methods, such as tapping the base of plants to spot WBPH, which float to the surface of standing water when disturbed. As the situation unfolds, agricultural authorities continue field surveillance and farmer outreach. However, growers remain wary, citing their experience in 2022 when significant crop losses went uncompensated, leaving them sceptical of state support.
RNZ News
21-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Auckland mayor's chief of staff on leave after property development company goes bust
The mayor's chief of staff placed his company into liquidation last month, owing Inland Revenue $560,000. File photo. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski One of Auckland Council's top executives is on leave while the council investigates the insolvency of his property development company. Jaswant Singh - known as Jazz Singh - is the mayor's chief of staff. He placed his company Traxx Investments, into liquidation last month, owing Inland Revenue $560,000. Council chief executive Phil Wilson said the mayor asked him to look into the matter over the weekend. "While I'm doing this and until we fully understand the situation, it wouldn't be appropriate to comment further. "In the meantime, and by mutual agreement, Jazz is taking a few days' leave." Singh is the sole director and shareholder of the property development company he set up in 2003. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
