Press Release and Sangat Update
Dudley, UK - 25 May 2011
CANCELLED: National Anti-Beadbi Rally on Saturday 28 May 2011
Family cancels its party at Sikh Cultural Centre, Dudley
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
In a Fateh (victory) for the Khalsa Panth, the family which had booked the party at the Sikh Cultural Centre, Dudley on Saturday 28 May 2011 have CANCELLED the party and rescheduled it to an alternative venue. The cancellation of the party by the family at the Sikh Cultural Centre has been confirmed to Satkaar Campaign Sevadaars by the family and by the West Midlands Police.
The family made contact with representatives of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Edward Street West Bromwich of their own accord late on Tuesday evening 24 May 2011 and arranged an emergency meeting this morning Wednesday 25 May 2011. The meeting was held at Guru Nanak Gurdwara Edward Street West Bromwich and was attended by representatives from the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras Birmingham, Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sedgley Street Wolverhampton, Guru Har Rai Gurdwara West Bromwich, Guru Nanak Gurdwara Edward Street West Bromwich, Gurdwara Guru Hargobind Tividale and representatives from the Satkaar Campaign.
The family explained that they were given assurances, which they later realised to be false, by the Guru Nanak Singh Sabha (GNSS) Dudley Gurdwara committee that there would only be a small number of individuals attending to protest against the party, and that the committee would be hiring bouncers and liaising with the police to ensure there was no disruption. The family also said that the nature of the protest had been misrepresented to them by the Dudley Gurdwara committee in that it had been intimated to them that the protesters were "fundamentalist" Sikhs wanting to stop other Sikhs having parties altogether in Dudley. However, after watching a show on Satkaar issues on the Sikh Channel and subsequently reading internet posts relating to the Satkaar Campaign, the family realised what the protest was about and that they too agreed that hosting the party at the Sikh Cultural Centre in Dudley which is part and parcel of the Dudley Gurdwara was against the principles of the Sikh religion.
The family explained that they were disappointed with the actions of the Dudley Gurdwara committee and that they would in due course be willing to consider providing an interview to Sikh television media to highlight the unnecessary stress and expense that they had been put through so close to the date of their family event. It is particularly sad to note that the trustees and committee of Dudley Gurdwara were encouraging the family to have the party at the Sikh Cultural Centre despite knowing the Sikh community would hold a protest against it, when it is understood from Sangat living locally in Dudley that one of the trustees of the Gurdwara, Darshan Atwal, had cancelled his own family party at the Sikh Cultural Centre on 19 February 2011, and moved it to an alternative venue, to avoid a protest by the UK Sangat. The UK Sangat wishes to congratulate the family for the courageous step they have taken today and looks forward to working with the family to raise awareness of issues of Satkaar in the future.
Further to discussions with the West Midlands Police, Sevadaars of the Satkaar Campaign, in consultation with representatives of the midlands Gurdwaras and the UK Sangat, have agreed to cancel the anti-beadbi rally scheduled to take place on 28 May 2011.
The UK Sangat would once again humbly urge that the GNSS Dudley Gurdwara committee come within the Gurmat fold and pass a resolution that no parties will be held in the future at the Sikh Cultural Centre, in compliance with Akal Takhat Sahib's 2006 Sandesh. The GNSS Dudley Gurdwara committee should be left in no doubt that this issue will not go away and that if the UK Sangat learns again that there is any party to be held at the Sikh Cultural Centre, it will once again come prepared to peacefully protest against this gross sacrilege.
The Satkaar Campaign, which is led and guided by the UK Sangat, has worked extremely closely with the West Midlands Police and the Sevadaars of the Gurdwaras listed below in relation to the Dudley issue together with the continued unstinted support of all Panthic Jathebandiaan. It is extremely encouraging that the UK Sangat is realising its Panthic duty to unite and collectively tackle the cancer of meat, alcohol, tobacco, parties and dancing being permitted by certain committees in Gurdwara buildings. With the continued blessings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaaj and the collective unity of the Khalsa Panth, the Satkaar Campaign will continue to work to promote Satkaar for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaaj and to implement the 2006 Sandesh in all UK Gurdwaras.
West Midlands based organisations and Gurdwaras actively involved and leading on the Dudley issue are as listed below (and we apologise in advance for any omissions):
- The Council of Sikh Gurdwaras, Birmingham
- The Council of Gurdwaras, Wolverhampton
- Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Sedgeley Street, Wolverhampton
- Guru Nanak Gurdwara, High Street, Smethwick
- Guru Har Rai Gurdwara, West Bromwich
- Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Wednesfield
- Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Willenhall
- Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Edward Street, West Bromwich
- Gurdwara Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, Tividale
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
Dudley, UK - 25 May 2011
CANCELLED: National Anti-Beadbi Rally on Saturday 28 May 2011
Family cancels its party at Sikh Cultural Centre, Dudley
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
In a Fateh (victory) for the Khalsa Panth, the family which had booked the party at the Sikh Cultural Centre, Dudley on Saturday 28 May 2011 have CANCELLED the party and rescheduled it to an alternative venue. The cancellation of the party by the family at the Sikh Cultural Centre has been confirmed to Satkaar Campaign Sevadaars by the family and by the West Midlands Police.
The family made contact with representatives of Guru Nanak Gurdwara Edward Street West Bromwich of their own accord late on Tuesday evening 24 May 2011 and arranged an emergency meeting this morning Wednesday 25 May 2011. The meeting was held at Guru Nanak Gurdwara Edward Street West Bromwich and was attended by representatives from the Council of Sikh Gurdwaras Birmingham, Guru Nanak Gurdwara Sedgley Street Wolverhampton, Guru Har Rai Gurdwara West Bromwich, Guru Nanak Gurdwara Edward Street West Bromwich, Gurdwara Guru Hargobind Tividale and representatives from the Satkaar Campaign.
The family explained that they were given assurances, which they later realised to be false, by the Guru Nanak Singh Sabha (GNSS) Dudley Gurdwara committee that there would only be a small number of individuals attending to protest against the party, and that the committee would be hiring bouncers and liaising with the police to ensure there was no disruption. The family also said that the nature of the protest had been misrepresented to them by the Dudley Gurdwara committee in that it had been intimated to them that the protesters were "fundamentalist" Sikhs wanting to stop other Sikhs having parties altogether in Dudley. However, after watching a show on Satkaar issues on the Sikh Channel and subsequently reading internet posts relating to the Satkaar Campaign, the family realised what the protest was about and that they too agreed that hosting the party at the Sikh Cultural Centre in Dudley which is part and parcel of the Dudley Gurdwara was against the principles of the Sikh religion.
The family explained that they were disappointed with the actions of the Dudley Gurdwara committee and that they would in due course be willing to consider providing an interview to Sikh television media to highlight the unnecessary stress and expense that they had been put through so close to the date of their family event. It is particularly sad to note that the trustees and committee of Dudley Gurdwara were encouraging the family to have the party at the Sikh Cultural Centre despite knowing the Sikh community would hold a protest against it, when it is understood from Sangat living locally in Dudley that one of the trustees of the Gurdwara, Darshan Atwal, had cancelled his own family party at the Sikh Cultural Centre on 19 February 2011, and moved it to an alternative venue, to avoid a protest by the UK Sangat. The UK Sangat wishes to congratulate the family for the courageous step they have taken today and looks forward to working with the family to raise awareness of issues of Satkaar in the future.
Further to discussions with the West Midlands Police, Sevadaars of the Satkaar Campaign, in consultation with representatives of the midlands Gurdwaras and the UK Sangat, have agreed to cancel the anti-beadbi rally scheduled to take place on 28 May 2011.
The UK Sangat would once again humbly urge that the GNSS Dudley Gurdwara committee come within the Gurmat fold and pass a resolution that no parties will be held in the future at the Sikh Cultural Centre, in compliance with Akal Takhat Sahib's 2006 Sandesh. The GNSS Dudley Gurdwara committee should be left in no doubt that this issue will not go away and that if the UK Sangat learns again that there is any party to be held at the Sikh Cultural Centre, it will once again come prepared to peacefully protest against this gross sacrilege.
The Satkaar Campaign, which is led and guided by the UK Sangat, has worked extremely closely with the West Midlands Police and the Sevadaars of the Gurdwaras listed below in relation to the Dudley issue together with the continued unstinted support of all Panthic Jathebandiaan. It is extremely encouraging that the UK Sangat is realising its Panthic duty to unite and collectively tackle the cancer of meat, alcohol, tobacco, parties and dancing being permitted by certain committees in Gurdwara buildings. With the continued blessings of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaaj and the collective unity of the Khalsa Panth, the Satkaar Campaign will continue to work to promote Satkaar for Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji Maharaaj and to implement the 2006 Sandesh in all UK Gurdwaras.
West Midlands based organisations and Gurdwaras actively involved and leading on the Dudley issue are as listed below (and we apologise in advance for any omissions):
- The Council of Sikh Gurdwaras, Birmingham
- The Council of Gurdwaras, Wolverhampton
- Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Sedgeley Street, Wolverhampton
- Guru Nanak Gurdwara, High Street, Smethwick
- Guru Har Rai Gurdwara, West Bromwich
- Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Wednesfield
- Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara, Willenhall
- Guru Nanak Gurdwara, Edward Street, West Bromwich
- Gurdwara Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji, Tividale
Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh!
