The BJP today put its alliance partner (Shiromani Akali Dal) in a spot, stating it would not support the proposed assembly resolution demanding clemency for Devinderpal Singh Bhullar. BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar, when questioned on the issue during an interaction here, said there could be no compromise on the issue of terrorism and the law must take its own course in Bhullar’ case. Asked as to... 

UNITED NATIONS: India will make a strong pitch for comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council to create an equitable system that is reflective of current realities when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addresses the UN General Assembly on Saturday. Singh, who arrived here on Thursday, will participate in the high level segment of the 66th session of the world body when he will also focus on issues... 

Seven rebel candidates are likely to return to their parent party Shiromani Akali Dal. Two Panthic Morcha candidates may also join the SAD that has won 157 of the 170 seats in the SGPC elections. Sources said the SAD had initiated talks with the victorious seven rebel candidates as Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was of the view that since the rebels were essentially “Akalis at heart”... 

LAHORE: A prominent leader of Pakistani Sikhs is under threat from unidentified people who have been attacking his business in Lahore for almost six months now, The Express Tribune has learnt. Sardar Bishon Singh, who has served as the president of Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, has always been vocal against the government’s ‘injustices’ with his community. He has been selling imported... 

CHANDIGARH: The Central government’s affidavit in the Supreme Court declaring those spending Rs 32 per person per day and Rs 26 in rural areas as above poverty line has provoked politicians of all hues in poll-bound Punjab to demand a higher rate as deprivation in Punjab cannot be captured with these figures. The ruling SAD patron and chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and chairman of the programme... 

New York: A federal judge here is expected to announce his ruling “within the next 60 days” on whether Minister for Urban Development Kamal Nath enjoys diplomatic immunity in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case filed against him here. The court that is hearing the case had reserved the ruling on the matter yesterday, according to Gurpatwant Pannun, Legal Advisor for advocacy group Sikhs For Justice... 

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today minced no words in saying there was enough indications to suggest senior advocate Harbhagwan Singh had been engaged by the Centre in the Sehajdhari voting rights case. The assertion is significant as just more than a fortnight ago, the Centre had categorically told Parliament that “neither the Ministry of Law, nor the Ministry of Home Affairs, had given a vakalatnama... 

Thousands of Sikhs will today take part in a simultaneous demonstration in four European capitals to protest against what they say is a growing trend of intimidation and disrespect of their faith at European airports. The UK demonstration will commence in Parliament Square in London at midday, 25th September and will be attended by community leaders and Sikhs from all over the country.  Similar gatherings... 

Surrey Sikh priest Sarwan Singh appeared on the Regis and Kelly show in New York on Tuesday to show millions of television viewers his beard. At eight feet two and a half inches long, his is believed to be the longest beard in the world. Singh serves as high priest of Guru Nanak temple in Newton. He also teaches music at Surrey’s Akal Academy. “I am very proud to have been given the opportunity... 

KITCHENER — Ajmer S. Mandur has had his motorcycle licence for more than two decades, but he hasn’t actually ridden a motorcycle in this province since the early 1990s. He used to let his hair down — literally — and hop on for a ride. But since getting married and having kids, he doesn’t want to break with his faith. Mandur is a Khalsa Sikh, which means he observes a religious practice that...