- Saturday, April 20, 2024
BRITAIN is as racist as it was in the 1970s, and some politicians of colour are making matters worse, anti-racism campaigners have told Eastern Eye. Their comments follow a landmark series on Channel 4, Defiance, which tells the story of how south Asian and black people fought right-wing extremists in…
Baisakhi (Vaisakhi) is an important festival for the Sikh community and marks the beginning of the Sikh New Year. It is a spring harvest festival that is majorly celebrated in the northern states of Punjab and Haryana. This festival brings positive vibes filled with warm wishes people offer each other.…
As India heads towards another general election, prime minister Narendra Modi is confident of not just winning, but improving his party Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) tally in the Lok Sabha - the lower house of the parliament. While replying to Newsweek's written questions, followed up with a 90-minute conversation at…
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau brought up the killing of Khalistani Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil last year during a public inquiry into foreign interference in Canadian elections, saying that his government stood up to defend the rights and freedoms of all its citizens. Speaking at the high-profile…
LONDON’S Wallace Collection will unveil its latest exhibition dedicated to Sikh ruler Maharaja Ranjit Singh, who emerged as the undisputed king of Punjab by the turn of the 19th century. His rapid ascent to power in an era marked by instability following Afghan invasions heralded the birth of the Sikh…
PAKISTAN has denounced "provocative remarks" made by Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh in which he said India would enter Pakistan to kill anyone who escapes over its border after trying to carry out militant attacks. Singh's comments on Friday (5) came after the Guardian newspaper published a report stating the…
FROM Selfridges to motorway service stations, the number of prayer spaces in the UK has grown. More rooms to worship or contemplate for men and women have opened in shopping centres, universities and football stadiums across the country. Multi-faith prayer spaces include the fourth floor of Selfridges department store…
EASTER brings the usual debate about whether Britain is a Christian country. I saw one set of statistics from an Islamic organisation that says “more people in Britain attend mosques than the Church of England. It is for the first time that Muslims have overtaken Anglicans. According to figures, 930,000…
THIS year’s Leeds Lieder Festival, taking place from April 13 to 21, is filled with musically rich shows across the city that includes the world premiere of Punjabi Proverbs at the Sikh Centre. The brand-new work by Cheryl Frances-Hoad features soprano Nina Kanter, baritone Oscar Castellino and pianist Keval Shah.…
An Asian-origin couple from Coventry has launched a fundraiser to donate cold cots to hospitals, after a stillborn baby was born to them, BBC reports. A cold cot is a refrigerated infant bed that allows parents to spend more time with their deceased baby. Satveer Kaur Binning was more than…
Trafalgar Square will host this year's Vaisakhi celebrations in London on 6 April, a statement said. The free family event, organised by the mayor of London and supported by the Vaisakhi community advisory group, will be co-hosted by DJ and presenter Tommy Sandhu and entrepreneur, disability specialist and speaker Shani…
AN Indian investigation has found that rogue officials, not authorised by the government, were involved in a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader in the US, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday (20). The report, citing unnamed senior officials, said at least one person directly involved in the alleged…
A 26-year-old pro-Khalistan Sikh activist who pleaded guilty to causing injury to two Asian-origin men and a female police officer at an Indian Independence Day event in London last year has been sentenced to 28 months imprisonment. Gurpreet Singh appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty in…
THE former chancellor and home secretary, Sir Sajid Javid, said while the UK was the most successful multiracial democracy in the world, politicians were “adding fuel to the fire” of ongoing social unrest. Sir Sajid said the government’s new definition of extremism led to a debate “high on emotions, low…
Former Cabinet minister and Conservative party MP Sir Sajid Javid said he still believes the UK is the most successful multiracial democracy in the world, but lamented that it is not at ease with itself. In a signed article in The Times, the Bromsgrove MP said the government’s new definition…
INDIA's marathon six-week election will begin on April 19 with nearly a billion people across the world's biggest democracy eligible to cast their votes. Here are the details about how the poll is conducted and what is likely to happen: How do people vote? All Indian citizens aged 18 and…
INDIA this week implemented the contentious 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), sparking sporadic protests and a war of words between prime minister Narendra Modi's government and opposition groups weeks before national elections are held. Here is a look at the law, its implications and the concerns surrounding it. What is…
Sporadic protests have erupted in India against a citizenship law that has been criticised for discriminating against Muslims, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government implemented the legislation just days before a general election is announced. Protests broke out in the eastern state of Assam and the southern state of Tamil…
INDIA not only shaped the birth of the Commonwealth, but will also continue to play a vital role in shaping its work, the organisation’s secretary general, Baroness Patricia Scotland, said on Monday (11) on the occasion of Commonwealth Day. Baroness Scotland, who was scheduled to visit India later this week,…
India's interior ministry said Monday it was enacting a citizenship law that critics say discriminates against Muslims, just weeks before the world's most populous country heads into a general election. While the law was passed in December 2019, its implementation was delayed after widespread protests and deadly violence erupted in…
SUNNY SINGH GILL was standing at the proverbial career crossroads one year ago. He had the option to continue as a prison officer or concentrate on carrying forward his family’s rich footballing legacy by chasing his refereeing dream. Cut to 2024, the 39-year-old will script history at Selhurst Park on…
We are often fascinated when we spot a person of colour in British entertainment, be it cinema, series or any other source of entertainment. On this International Women's Day, we made a list of women who have brought colours to the British entertainment sector and have not only won the…
THE BBC has announced a “truly diverse” cast for Virdee, a six-part television series adapted from AA Dhand’s crime novel, City of Sinners. Having a mainly Asian cast playing both heroes and villains is regarded as being a groundbreaking first for British TV. The tale has a characteristically grim opening:…
The cast for Virdee, the upcoming BBC crime thriller based on Bradford author AA Dhand’s book series, has been announced. Staz Nair of Game of Thrones will lead the cast as Detective Harry Virdee, replacing Doctor Who’s Sacha Dhawan due to scheduling issues. Aysha Kala joins the cast as Harry’s…
A DISTINGUISHED career on stage, television and cinema has enabled Bhasker Patel to play a wide variety of roles. This has ranged from being a series regular in the iconic soap, Emmerdale, to working with big Hollywood names. Despite achieving so much, including breaking ground for British Asian actors, the…
THE mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has told Eastern Eye he believes communities will come together to stand up against “politics of extremism, division and blame”. His comments came amid an escalating row after Lee Anderson, the former deputy chairman of the Conservative party, last Saturday (24) claimed “Islamists had…
An Asian-origin Labour party MP has said receiving death threats seems to have become "a norm" for her, reports BBC. While sharing her experience on a BBC programme, Preet Gill, who represents Birmingham Edgbaston, said her job worried her "in a way I've never been worried before". This comes in…
VICTIMS of racism are being attacked for speaking out and highlighting the problem, former chief crown prosecutor, Nazir Afzal, has told Eastern Eye. His comments come as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has asked Afzal to head a panel to investigate its internal culture. The 61-year-old is no stranger…
RESEARCHERS have called for more equitable access to drug treatment and support for people in minority ethnic groups after a study found they faced barriers such as stigma and lack of culturally competent services or ones they have no faith in them. Funded by the Department of Health and Social…
The University of Birmingham has apologised after it removed a social media post that seemed to confuse Sikh students with Muslims. According to a report in ‘The Birmingham Mail', the university post implied that a 20-year-old “Langar on Campus” event organised by the university's Sikh Society earlier this month was…
THE historian Kusoom Vadgama does not think Sir Sajid Javid’s plan to build a monument to honour Muslim soldiers who fought for Britain during the two world wars is a good one, because she feels it would be a divisive gesture. Her argument is that Hindu, Muslim and Sikh soldiers…
THE Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi, UAE, is envisioned as a Spiritual Oasis for Global Harmony. Rooted in the aspiration to promote love, harmony, and tolerance, the fundamental ethos of the mandir transcends borders. Each carving within the mandir tells compelling stories of…
IN the heart of Abu Dhabi, amid the modern skyline of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), stands the BAPS Hindu Mandir, a remarkable testament to the harmonious coexistence of diverse cultures in a globalised world. Beyond its architectural grandeur and spiritual significance, this temple holds a unique place in history,…
A HINDU group closely linked to Indian prime minister Narendra Modi is installing Muslims loyal to it in leadership positions at Muslim universities as part of a push to garner Muslim votes ahead of national elections, officials said. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which Modi joined in his youth and…
SWAMI BRAHMAVIHARIDAS is one of the most respected and admired of Swaminarayan figures who lead the global organisation that is BAPS today. He has led the project to build the spectacular Akshardham Temple in Abu Dhabi since its conception. In this exclusive and very special interview with Shailesh R Solanki,…
Canadian police reported on Monday (12) that shots seem to have been fired at the Canadian home of a Sikh separatist activist, following recent claims by Ottawa and Washington that Indian dissidents residing abroad in both countries have been subjects of assassination attempts. Constable Tyler Bell-Morena said Peel Regional Police…
THE US State Department has approved the potential sale of 31 armed MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, related missiles and equipment to India for nearly $4 billion (£3.17bn), the Pentagon said last Thursday (1), years after the two countries started discussing a deal. India has long expressed interest in buying large, armed…
INDIA’S prime minister Narendra Modi last month inaugurated one of the holiest Hindu temples and his government has been spending millions of dollars to develop many others, boosting tourism and his appeal among the majority community ahead of elections. Apart from a $6 billion (£4.7bn) makeover of the northern city…
Serene Singh, a DPhil student at the University of Oxford, has been named the 2024-2025 recipient of the John Robert Lewis Fellowship, a distinction bestowed by the Washington-based nonprofit Faith and Politics Institute (FPI) to honour the legacy of the late civil rights leader and US Representative John Lewis from…
THE former chancellor, Sir Sajid Javid, has urged one of his successors to fund a memorial for Muslim soldiers who served and died fighting for Britain during the two world wars. Javid told the Commons this week that an estimated 750,000 Muslims fought for Britain during the first and second…
WALT WHITMAN wrote “I am large. I contain multitudes,” anticipating a multicultural America at its founding. Two of our politicians speak to the psychology of their multicultural identity in contemporary times. As the race for the 2024 US presidential election heats up, former South Carolina governor Nimarata ‘Nikki’ Randhawa Haley…
MORE research is needed to develop an advanced fabric for turbans, a scientist has said, as a new study last week revealed that such headgear can greatly reduce the risk of skull fractures. Researchers from the Imperial College, London and Sikh Scientists Network said last week that wearing Sikh turbans…
Amidst concerns of dwindling support from the UK's largest ethnic minority, Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is implementing new strategies to reengage with British Indians. Recent initiatives include recruiting two community outreach volunteers, revitalising the Labour Friends of India group, and arranging a visit to India for senior shadow ministers David…
THE number of students of Asian origin who achieved a first-class degree in the UK has fallen for the first time, new figures show. The percentage getting top honours was 27.5 per cent in 2021-2022 compared to 33.3 per cent the previous year, with experts highlighting the devastating impact the…
INDIA is cooperating with Canada and bilateral ties are improving after tensions spiked over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia, a top Canadian official told CTV in an interview published on Friday (26). Diplomatic relations soured after prime minister Justin Trudeau last year said Canada was…
PRESIDENT Emmanuel Macron arrives as the guest of honour in India on Thursday (25) with a sumptuous palace feast and colourful military parade, as France eyes lucrative deals with the world's fifth-biggest economy. Macron will be offered a red carpet welcome by prime minister Narendra Modi with dinner in a…
THE number of study permits Canada issued to Indian students fell sharply late last year after India ejected Canadian diplomats who would process the permits and fewer Indian students applied due to a diplomatic dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada, a top Canadian official told…
SOME of the old witticisms are the best. Take, for example, this observation on America in The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: “When good Americans die, they go to Paris.” “Where do bad Americans go?” “They stay in America.” It seems nothing can stop Donald Trump from becoming…
Film stars like Amitabh Bachchan, Abhishek Bachchan, Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Vicky Kaushal, Ayushmann Khurrana, Anupam Kher, Kangana Ranaut, Tiger Shroff and Asha Bhosale among others are at the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Complex in Ayodhya for the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. Cricket legends Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, and Venkatesh Prasad are…
POLICE in Canada are investigating a series of extortions and related crimes that they believe are orchestrated by a suspect in India and involve criminals in Edmonton, Alberta, targeting the region's affluent South Asian people. In what Edmonton Police described as a new trend in Canada, victims typically receive a…
British Sikhs urged French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday (18) to withdraw from India's Republic Day parade due to the alleged targeting of Sikhs in other countries. India announced last month that Macron had accepted an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be guest of honour at the January…
MANY Sikhs in the UK have received "threat-to-life" notices from the police, intensifying concerns over rising tensions related to the separatist movement in India, reported The Times. The threat-to-life warnings, known as Osman notices, issued by West Midlands police have fuelled apprehensions among recipients who fear potential connections to alleged…
DRUG abuse is fuelling cases of domestic violence in the Asian community in Britain, experts and support services have told Eastern Eye. Recent data showed that 59 per cent of domestic abuse suspects arrested in seven police force areas in the UK tested positive for cocaine or opiates. In one…
THE General Election is unlikely to be held until close to the end of this year, with the Prime Minister saying his ‘working assumption’ is the election in the second half of 2024. Despite Labour’s large poll lead, the results will depend on the campaigns to come. One thing we…
A senior Conservative MP, Neil O’Brien, has raised concerns about the sudden death of Sikh activist Avtar Singh Khanda in Birmingham last year. Writing to Home Secretary James Cleverly, O’Brien who is the MP for Harborough questioned the circumstances surrounding Khanda’s death, particularly as it coincided with reported plots to…
India expressed deep concern on Thursday (4) over reports indicating that certain members of the Indian community in the Canadian province of British Columbia received “extortion calls.” The comments by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal came in response to a question at a media briefing. "It is a matter…
INDIA’S prime minister, Narendra Modi, does not give press interviews, so why did he choose to give one just before Christmas to the Financial Times, of all papers? The FT, a respected newspaper with digital subscribers all over the world, has been sustained in its relentless attacks on the ruling…
BRITISH SIKH army officer and physiotherapist Captain Harpreet Chandi, known as Polar Preet for her Antarctic expeditions, has claimed a new world record for becoming the world’s fastest woman to complete a solo South Pole ski expedition. The 33-year-old took to her blog on Sunday (31) to update that she…
FRENCH president Emmanuel Macron will be the guest of honour at India's Republic Day parade in January, New Delhi announced Friday (22), days after US president Joe Biden backed out. Macron "will be visiting India as the chief guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations" on prime minister Narendra Modi's…
INDIA'S judicial authorities have "no jurisdiction" in the case involving Nikhil Gupta, the Czech justice ministry has said, days after his family approached the Indian Supreme Court seeking its intervention in the matter. Gupta, charged by the US government with involvement in a conspiracy to kill a Sikh separatist on…
THE US Sikh man, who was the intended victim of a purported assassination scheme allegedly orchestrated by an Indian government official, has revealed that he continues to receive hundreds of threats daily, reported The Guardian. Despite India's pledge of investigating the murder-for-hire conspiracy, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun remains under the persistent…
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi said India will investigate any evidence provided regarding an alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the US, the Financial Times reported Wednesday (20). The US Justice Department last month charged an Indian citizen with plotting to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader on US soil,…
The family of the late Sikh activist Avtar Singh Khanda has urged the Home Office to appoint a police force for a comprehensive and impartial investigation into his sudden death last June, which took place at the same time as a murder and an attempted murder of Sikh separatists in…
CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau said he senses a change in India's tone with Ottawa after the United States warned New Delhi about its involvement in a thwarted plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader on US soil, the CBC reported on Wednesday (20). "I think there is a beginning…
THE Metropolitan Police on Thursday (21) appealed for information to piece together the last movements of a missing Indian student whose body was found by divers in a lake in Canary Wharf, east London. The force said Gurashman Singh Bhatia, 23, had been reported missing after a night out with…
A group of protesters targeted Indian-American Congressman Shri Thanedar over the weekend, blowing car horns and screaming for his "silence" on the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza and his stance on the Israel-Hamas war. Thanedar, 68, has taken a staunchly supportive approach to Israel following the horrific attack by Hamas…
FIGURES from the 2021 census showed Slough hosted 3.4 per cent of England and Wales’ Sikh population, writes James Moules. Around 11.3 per cent of people in the borough listed Sikhism as their religion, the census report confirmed. It also had the largest proportion of the country’s Sikh population outside…
INDIA's top court has directed the family of the man accused of plotting to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to seek relief in a Czech court regarding allegations of religious and human rights violations. Nikhil Gupta, 52, was arrested in Prague in June and is currently in Czech custody,…
An Indian Government celebration by Asian diplomat Raj Aggarwal to commemorate the 554th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the revered spiritual founder of Sikhism was organised last week in Cardiff. Orchestrated by Aggarwal, the Honorary Consul for India in Wales, the event at Cardiff University drew hundreds of attendees. Aggarwal…
HUNGARY plans to turn Hungarian Indian painter Amrita Sher-Gil’s Ganga Ram Mansions on The Mall in Lahore into a museum, a top diplomat of the country said. Sher-Gil was born in Hungary and was one of the most distinguished visual artists from the Indian subcontinent. At an event to mark…
Bigg Boss 13 fame Asim Riaz and Himanshi Khurana are no longer together in a relationship. On Wednesday, Himanshi took to social media and announced her break up with Asim. In a note, she confessed that they "sacrificed love for different religious beliefs." "YES, we are not together anymore, All…
A US delegation, headed by White House deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, visited New Delhi on Monday (4). During the visit, Finer acknowledged India's establishment of an investigative panel to examine an unsuccessful plot involving the assassination of a Sikh separatist in the US. "Mr. Finer acknowledged India's establishment…
An animated short film, with Michelin-star chef and filmmaker Vikas Khanna and Oscar-winner Guneet Monga as executive co-producers, shines the spotlight on inclusivity, kindness, resilience, and acceptance through the real-life story of its protagonist - an American Sikh "superhero". Khanna and Monga, who won the Oscar this year for The…
India expressed concern on Thursday (30), regarding the United States' linking of an Indian official with a man accused of conspiring to kill a Sikh separatist within American territory. Indian officials affirmed that they would take subsequent actions based on the conclusions drawn by a panel investigating these allegations. India…
Canada urged India on Wednesday (29) to cooperate in an investigation regarding the murder involving a Sikh separatist in British Columbia. The request came after the US revealed it had prevented an assassination attempt against a Sikh separatist on its soil. The U.S. Justice Department said earlier on Wednesday it…
An Indian national has been charged with conspiring to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader on US territory, the Justice Department said on Wednesday (29). The allegations suggest the involvement of an Indian government official in the planning process. The Justice Department unsealed murder-for-hire charges against Nikhil Gupta, 52, "in connection…
UNTIL relatively recently, being a nonbeliever was something that had to be a private issue – people understood their beliefs were unusual, and, if they were to make them known, likely to lead them to being ostracised and punished. According to the 2021 census, in today’s secular society, when it…
INDIA will formally investigate security concerns aired by the United States in a warning to New Delhi about its links to a foiled plot to murder a Sikh separatist leader, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday (29). The issue comes at a delicate time for both India and the Biden…
Pro-Khalistan activists heckled the Indian ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, during his visit to a gurdwara in New York on Sunday (26), forcing him to leave the premises. Videos circulated widely depicted the activists shouting and accusing Ambassador Sandhu of plotting the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep…
BAPS Public Affairs and several partner organisations, including the Hindu American Foundation (HAF), the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur, Federation of Jain Associations in North America (JAINA), the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the U.S. Indian Community Foundation, the U.S. India Security Council Inc, and the…
US authorities thwarted a plot to kill a Sikh separatist in the country and issued a warning to India over concerns the government in New Delhi was involved, a senior Biden administration official said. The US is treating the plot with utmost seriousness and has raised the issue with the…
THE family of a Scottish man who has been detained in India for six years has appealed to the new foreign secretary to intervene and potentially save his life. Jagtar Singh Johal, a 36-year-old Sikh activist, faces terror charges in connection with political violence in India. His family has written…
INDIA resumed issuing e-visas for Canadian tourists and business travellers on Wednesday (22), two months after it suspended such services following a row over Ottawa's accusation of possible Indian government involvement in the murder of the Canadian Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Though the move is likely to ease…
INDIA'S anti-terror agency has filed a case against a Sikh separatist leader for threatening not to let flag carrier Air India operate anywhere in the world, while warning its passengers of danger to their lives. The agency said security forces were on alert after the threats by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun,…
DIWALI celebrations at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard last Thursday (16) were attended by members of the public who got the chance to explore the shared maritime heritage of Indian communities and the Royal Navy. Military personnel, including the Royal Navy Race Diversity Network and the Defence Hindu Network, as well…
RELIGIOUS Britons are “significantly happier” than atheists and non-religious people, new research has revealed. People for whom religion is an important part of their identity “are also more optimistic and more resilient than atheists and non-religious people,” the study commissioned by the research forum Institute for the Impact of Faith…
FOUR men have been charged with the murder of a British Sikh teenager in Hounslow this week, a statement said. The Metropolitan Police charged Amandeep Singh, 21, Manjit Singh, 27, Ajmeer Singh, 31, and Poran Singh, 71, over the murder of 17-year-old Simarjeet Singh Nangpal. They will appear at Westminster…
A teenager who died of stab injuries in a street fight in south-west London has been identified by the Metropolitan Police on Friday (17) as Simarjeet Singh Nangpal, a British Sikh. The Met Police said four men, aged 21, 27, 31, and 71, remain in custody after being arrested on…
To mark his 75th birthday, King Charles III hosted a special reception at Buckingham Palace to honour Indian nurses, midwives, and global medical professionals dedicated to the NHS. Indians lead the estimated 150,000 international nurses and midwives currently working in the NHS, which is also celebrating its 75th anniversary year.…
BRITAIN's Sikh population, whose ancestors first migrated from the Punjab more than a century ago, have long been admired as a model of integration and for maintaining a strong identity. Lauded in their country of origin and beyond for their valour, industriousness and charity, Sikhs took those values to Britain,…
In a historic move, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation making Diwali a school holiday for New York City public schools. “New York City is rich in different religions and cultures, and we're taking an important step to recognise and celebrate this diversity in the school calendar,” Hochul…
Ace Producers Guneet Monga and Vikas Khanna are set to come up with an OSCAR-qualified animated short film American Sikh. The amazing true story of Vishavjit Singh, a Sikh man who was born in America and wears a turban, who, after a lifetime of violence, self-doubt, and bigotry, eventually finds…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has said that the story of Diwali is a source of lasting inspiration for all. He added that the festival teaches us that 'good will always prevail over evil'. “I would like to wish all Londoners and everyone celebrating around the world a very happy Diwali.…
Jag Bains, an entrepreneur and truck company owner from Washington, created history by becoming the first Sikh-American to win the reality show Big Brother. The 25-year-old TV personality defeated Matt Klotz, a professional swimmer, and DJ Bowie Jane to take the top spot at the 100-day-long season. Bains was the…
Canada's federal police are investigating videos circulating on the internet that advise against flying Air India from November 19, the transportation minister said on Thursday (9). "We take every threat seriously, especially when it concerns airlines," transportation minister Pablo Rodriguez told reporters in Ottawa. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, he…
Diwali is more than just a festival; it is a manifestation of unity in diversity, a celebration that venerates the diversity of traditions and the communal spirit. Each illuminates the essence of the festival in its unique way. Let’s delve into the vibrant festivities of Punjab. In Punjab, the festival…
Online travel and leisure retailer lastminute.com's London Eye will transform the night sky with a burst of colour on Sunday, November 12, 2023, to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights. From 4 pm on Sunday, the London Eye will be illuminated with a special display of dazzling lights and colourful…
India-born Canadian poet Rupi Kaur has turned down the White House’s invitation to attend Diwali celebrations in protest of US President Joe Biden’s response to the Israel-Hamas war. She took to X and released a politically charged statement, criticising the United States for supporting Israel in the wake of the…
CANADA’S police probe into the June murder of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia has been damaged by a high-level official’s public statements, India’s high commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, told the Globe and Mail in an interview published last Saturday (4). Canada has alleged Indian involvement in the…
“SEE, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken” (Isaiah 28:16). What compels humans to see god in stone and to build majestic stone abodes for the divine? If marble stones could speak, they would…
US SECRETARY of state Antony Blinken and defence secretary Lloyd Austin will hold talks with India this week that officials say will focus on security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and concerns over China, rather than the wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The talks in New Delhi on Friday (10) with…
CULTURE clashes over Remembrance Day date back to its beginning. There was a protest rally on the eve of the first anniversary of the Armistice in 1919, demanding the government bring home the bodies of the million soldiers who had died abroad. The devastating scale of death demanded new rituals…
Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is celebrated with great fervour and enthusiasm by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains, each community infusing the occasion with unique traditions and significance. This multicultural celebration unites these diverse religious groups under the shared umbrella of light, spirituality, and new beginnings. Let’s explore how Diwali is…
A British Sikh retired postmaster has been jailed for at least 15 years for murdering his wife with a rounders bat. Tarsame Singh, 79, was sentenced on last Wednesday (1) at Snaresbrook Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to killing his wife, Maya Devi, 77, in May. The incident took…
CANADA'S police probe into the June murder of a Sikh separatist in British Columbia has been damaged by a high-level Canadian official's public statements, India's high commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, told the Globe and Mail in an interview published on Saturday (4). Canada has alleged Indian involvement in…
Sir Keir Starmer and members of the Shadow Cabinet, including Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and shadow minister for International Development Lisa Nandy, joined the British Asian Trust to celebrate Diwali on Tuesday (31). The event showcased the organisation's accomplishments, such as its significant Mental Health programme in south Asia and…
DIWALI – the story of good triumphing over evil – shows how multiculturalism is not failing but instead enhancing community relations in today’s Britain, prominent politicians and business leaders have told Eastern Eye. The prime minister, Rishi Sunak, and the Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, added their voices to the…
INDIA will reopen visa services for Canadians, its embassy in Ottawa announced, a move that could ease tensions in a high-profile dispute over the killing of a Sikh separatist on Canadian soil. Relations between India and Canada plunged after prime minister Justin Trudeau last month publicly linked Indian intelligence to…
SHE may have acted across diverse mediums, but Goldy Notay is arguably at her best on stage and has an impressive body of work to back that up. She recently starred in an epic production of Mahabharata and is currently on a year-long UK tour with the multiaward winning show…
A NEW, multi-million-pound crematorium has opened in Bradford, writes Chris Young. Shay Grange in Heaton replaces Nab Wood Crematorium as Bradford Council’s main crematorium in the north of the district. Based off Long Lane, the crematorium has cost almost £9 million and is part of a wider programme to upgrade…
LONDON mayor Sadiq Khan has announced the annual Diwali on the Square festivities will be held in Trafalgar Square on Sunday (29). This festival of lights will bring together Londoners and visitors in the heart of the city, offering dance, music, cultural activities and food. The event will kick off…
Animated short American Sikh inspired by the life of Vishavjit Singh — the ‘Sikh Captain America’ — has qualified to be considered for a 2024 Academy Award. The film, which had its world premiere at the Oscar-qualifying Tribeca Film Festival in June, was created to bring more Sikh representation to…
INDIA on Sunday (22) said its relationship with Canada is passing through a difficult phase and there had been "continued interference" by Canadian personnel in New Delhi's internal affairs. The Indian government is angry that Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau last month suggested Indian agents might have been involved in…
THE US and Britain urged New Delhi not to insist Canada reduce its diplomatic presence in India and expressed concern after Ottawa pulled out 41 diplomats amid a dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist. Canada has alleged Indian involvement in the June murder in a Vancouver suburb of…
Karan Johar's Dharma Production and Guneet Monga's Sikhya Entertainment on Saturday announced their second collaboration, an adaptation of French hit The Intouchables. The Hindi-language film will be directed by Collin D'Cunha, best known for assisting on movies such as Sanju, Secret Superstar, and Shaandaar. The original film, which released in…
Canada's foreign affairs minister, Melanie Joly has announced the withdrawal of 41 diplomats and their family members from India. She said the decision was made following India's threat to revoke their diplomatic immunity. The move comes amidst a diplomatic dispute surrounding the killing of a Sikh separatist, escalating tensions between…
Sadiq Khan has announced that the annual Diwali on the Square festivities will be held in Trafalgar Square on Sunday, 29 October, offering a plethora of family-friendly entertainment. This celebration of the Festival of Lights will bring together Londoners and individuals from across the globe in the heart of the…
A WOMAN who murdered her husband in a plot with her lover has been sentenced to death in India. Ramandeep Kaur Mann, 38, from Derby, found guilty of the murder of Sukhjit Singh whiile on a family holiday at his mother's house in north India in September 2016. Mann is…
AMARJIT SINGH GUDAIL, who is a member of the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), agrees there is now a shortage of allotments in the country. Last Sunday (15), he showed Eastern Eye around the Bixley Fields Allotments in Southall in west London, from where it is possible to see “up to…
India's top court on Tuesday (17) declined to legalise same-sex marriages. However, it emphasised the country's responsibility to recognise LGBTQ relationships and safeguard them against discrimination. The government has opposed moves to legally codify same-sex partnerships in the five years since the Supreme Court struck down colonial-era laws banning gay…
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has penned down a Garba song, titled Maadi, composed by Meet brothers, Manmeet Singh and Harmeet Singh. According to them, it is like a blessing of Goddess Durga during Navaratri that they got this opportunity. On the Garba song Maadi penned by Modi, the Meet…
The upcoming Akshardham temple in Abu Dhabi, the Middle East's first endeavour of its kind, stands as a testament to the generosity of the United Arab Emirates rulers, said the head of the ambitious project. Swami Brahmaviharidas, overseeing the temple's construction on behalf of the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha…
THE NHS offers amazing opportunities to be a part of its inspiring team and kickstart a rewarding and illustrious career. With more than 350 varied and rewarding roles to choose from, the UK Government’s investment in better pay, and one of the UK’s best pension plans, the NHS offers you…
POPULAR actor Sunny Deol has scored one of this year’s biggest Bollywood successes with Gadar 2. The Hindi cinema hardman also made it 40 years in Bollywood recently and will celebrate his 67th birthday on October 19. Eastern Eye decided to mark all the occasions by putting together a watchlist…
UNIVERSITIES in Canada are reassuring Indian students of their safety and offering resources to deal with the uncertainty triggered by the diplomatic crisis between the two countries, as they seek to limit the fallout on a booming business. As Canadian colleges prepare to kick off another semester, some students are…
MINISTERS and the media are contributing to hate crime against British Muslims, according to politicians and community leaders. Last week (5) saw a nine per cent year-on-year increase in reported religious hate crime figures. Politicians, religious leaders and campaigning groups are urging them to stop demonising Muslims. Of the almost…
An interfaith service was held at Manchester Cathedral in celebration of Mahatma Gandhi's 154th Birth Anniversary on October 2, uniting people from diverse backgrounds in the spirit of love, peace, and unity. More than 350 delegates from various faith-based organisations including Afro-Caribbean, Christian, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh communities…
MAJORITY of hate crimes in England and Wales in the year ending March 2023 were directed at Muslims, the latest data revealed. There were 3,452 attacks against Muslims, accounting for 39 per cent of all reported hate crimes during the period, the Home Office data published on Thursday (5) stated.…
A LEADING Tory parliamentarian has accused home secretary Suella Braverman of “betraying” her own culture and background with her claim that multiculturalism in Britain has “failed”. Braverman, in a speech last week at the American Enterprise Institute, in Washington DC, described multiculturalism as a “misguided dogma” that had allowed people…
A man who confessed to attempting to kill the late Queen Elizabeth II after being found on the grounds of Windsor Castle with a loaded crossbow was on Thursday (5) given a nine-year sentence. Jaswant Singh Chail, 21, will serve the first part of his term in the high-security Broadmoor…
The Diwali Basket Brigade, an initiative organised by The Diwali Foundation, operates as a voluntary campaign dedicated to providing food hampers to vulnerable families from various faiths and backgrounds. These families, nominated by local charities and community organisations, are identified as those facing severe financial challenges, struggling to provide food…
THE Metropolitan Police has arrested a man on suspicion of “violent disorder” in connection with an attack on the Indian High Commission in London in March this year. The Met said the man, who was arrested during a protest outside India House on Monday (2), was held in connection with…
AA DHAND is making history as the first British Asian crime writer whose work is being adapted for a six-part BBC TV series. His tales are set in the dark, mean streets of Bradford and his main protagonist is a Sikh police officer, Detective Chief Inspector Hardeep Virdee. He doesn’t…
CANADA wants private talks with India to resolve a diplomatic dispute over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, foreign minister Melanie Joly said on Tuesday (3), after a report said India had asked the country to withdraw 41 diplomats. India has told Canada that it must repatriate the diplomats…
INDIA has told Canada that it must repatriate 41 diplomats by October 10, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday (3). Ties between India and Canada have become seriously strained over Canadian suspicion that Indian government agents had a role in the June murder in Canada of a Sikh separatist leader…
A British government minister expressed concern that a visit by a senior Indian diplomat to a Sikh temple in Glasgow had been disrupted by protesters the day before. "The safety and security of foreign diplomats is of utmost importance and our places of worship in the UK must be open…
CANADA has denied the rumours that prime minister Justin Trudeau’s aircraft “was full of cocaine” during his trip to India for the recent G20 summit. The comment from his office follows a former Indian diplomat’s claim that “credible rumours” suggested Trudeau flew to New Delhi with the drug, banned in…
INDIAN foreign minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has said there is a "climate of violence" and an "atmosphere of intimidation" against Indian diplomats in Canada, where the presence of Sikh separatist groups has frustrated New Delhi. "Because there is freedom of speech, to make threats and intimidate diplomats, I don't think that's…
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on India to "cooperate fully" with the ongoing Canadian investigation into the killing of a Khalistani separatist, a senior State Department official said on Friday (29). This statement came a day after external affairs minister S Jaishankar met with the top American…
Investing in infrastructure to develop the tourism potential of Uttarakhand is a priority for the north Indian state, its chief minister, Pushkar Singh Dhami, has said. In an exclusive interview with Eastern Eye, Dhami revealed the state government’s plans to work with the hospitality sector to enhance the appeal of…
THE killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar remains an "active and ongoing investigation", the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have said. Nijjar, the chief of the banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), was killed in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18. India had designated Nijjar as a terrorist in 2020.…
INDIAN AMERICAN congressman Shri Thanedar has announced the formation of a new congressional caucus aimed at protecting the interests of Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jains. To be formally launched on Friday (29), the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Jain (HBSJ) American congressional caucus is being supported by two dozen lawmakers, Thanedar…
India's external affairs minister, S. Jaishankar, is set to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Thursday (28), amidst the ongoing diplomatic tension between India and Canada following the killing of a Khalistani separatist. Although officials from both sides are tight-lipped about the agenda of the…
CANADIAN lentil sales to India have slowed since prime minister Justin Trudeau said last week he suspected India of involvement in an assassination on Canadian soil, fearing reprisal from New Delhi that could limit trade, industry sources in both countries say. Trudeau said that Canada was "actively pursuing credible allegations"…
A BITTER row between India and Canada over the murder of a Sikh separatist is being felt in Punjab, where some Sikhs fear both a backlash from India’s government and a threat to their prospects for a better life in North America. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a plumber who left the…
CANADA’S Sikh community is hoping Ottawa’s accusations against India – that New Delhi may have been involved in the assassination of one of their leaders on Canadian soil – will be just the first dramatic step taken against alleged “Indian interference.” Prime minister Justin Trudeau’s assertion last Monday (18) that…
HUNDREDS of Sikh protesters rallied outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada on Monday (25), trampling pictures of prime minister Narendra Modi and burning flags a week after Ottawa said New Delhi had played a role in the killing of a prominent Sikh activist. About 100 protesters in Toronto burned an…
India expressed on Tuesday (26), its willingness to review the evidence provided by Canada regarding New Delhi's alleged role in the killing of a Sikh separatist near Vancouver. However, India reiterated its criticism of Ottawa in the matter. Relations between the two countries plunged last week as prime minister Justin…
Hundreds of Sikh protesters gathered outside Indian diplomatic missions in Canada on Monday (25), demonstrating against the alleged involvement of India in the killing of a prominent Sikh activist. The protesters trampled pictures of prime minister Narendra Modi and burned flags. "We are not safe back home in Punjab, we…
Canada's defence minister Bill Blair on Sunday (24) underscored the importance of the nation's relationship with India. He said that Canada intends to maintain its pursuit of partnerships like the Indo-Pacific strategy, while the investigation into the assassination of a Sikh separatist leader continues. Tensions flared between India and Canada…
After the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, intelligence was shared by the US with Canada, The New York Times has reported. However, according to NYT, Ottawa's interception of communications provided more conclusive evidence, leading Canada to accuse India of masterminding the plot. The report came on Saturday (23)…
INDIA'S top investigation agency has confiscated the properties of a prominent Sikh separatist and close ally of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whose killing has sparked a diplomatic row between India and Canada. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a lawyer believed to be based in Canada, was designated as a terrorist by Indian authorities…
THE US made clear that it expected the Indian government to work with Canada on efforts to investigate the possible involvement of New Delhi agents in the murder of a Canadian citizen in June. Prime minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday (18) that Ottawa had credible intelligence linking Indian agents…
THE US is in touch with Indians at high levels after Ottawa said Indian government agents had links to the murder of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Thursday (21). Washington is giving India no "special exemption" in the matter,…
INDIA on Thursday (21) suspended visa services for Canadian citizens, a foreign ministry spokesperson said, citing security threats to its staff in its consulates in Canada. The announcement came hours after Canada's high commission in India said it would temporarily "adjust" staff presence in the country after some diplomats received…
THE White House is "deeply concerned" about allegations that Indian agents were potentially involved in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada and encourages India to cooperate in any investigation, said national security spokesman John Kirby. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday (18) that domestic intelligence…
CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation on Tuesday (19) that the Indian government was behind the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada led to an escalating war-of-words and diplomats being ejected from both countries. India described as “absurd” Trudeau’s claims that “credible allegations” linked Indian agents to the June…
AMID a diplomatic row between India and Canada, an Indo-Canadian lawmaker from prime minister Justin Trudeau's party has expressed dismay at the “glorification of terrorism” and hate crime targeting Hindus in the country in the name of “freedom of expression”. The sharp reaction from Chandra Arya, who represents the riding…
The Canadian government has dismissed India's travel advisory regarding security concerns in Canada, asserting that Canada is among the safest countries globally. They have also urged for calm amid the growing diplomatic dispute between the two nations surrounding the assassination of a Khalistani separatist leader within Canada. Prime minister Justin…
CANADA this week divulged it had intelligence possibly linking Indian government agents to the murder of a separatist Sikh leader, the kind of news that usually sparks uproar among democratic allies. Not this time. India is being courted by the United States and others as a counterweight to China, and…
AN Indian company on Thursday (21) withdrew a notice about suspension of visa services for Canadian citizens, minutes after stating on its website that the services were suspended following a notice from the Indian mission. BLS International, an Indian company offering visa facilities, had earlier said the notice from the…
FROM tapping out rhythms as a baby to pursuing a professional career as a composer, sound artist, producer, performer, and educator, Jason Singh has had a lifelong connection to music. By using drums, percussion, voice, nature, electronics, DJ culture and technology across all art forms, he has used his obsession…
FOREIGN SECRETARY James Cleverly said that his government backs a Canadian investigation to determine whether India was involved in the killing of a Sikh leader, in a case that sent ties between Ottawa and New Delhi nosediving. Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said Monday (18) that "credible allegations" linked Indian…
BRITISH Sikh members of Parliament Preet Kaur Gill and Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi have reacted to “concerning” reports emanating from Canada, after prime minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in the country. The opposition Labour MPs, who represent heavily Sikh constituencies in England,…
CANADA'S Sikh community is hoping Ottawa's shock accusations against India - that New Delhi may have been involved in the assassination of one of their leaders on Canadian soil - will be just the first dramatic step taken against alleged "Indian interference." Prime minister Justin Trudeau's assertion on Monday (18)…
CANADA is not trying to provoke India by suggesting it was linked to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader, but wants New Delhi to address the issue properly, prime minister Justin Trudeau said on Tuesday (19). Trudeau announced on Monday (18) that Canadian intelligence agencies were actively pursuing credible…
The government said on Tuesday (19) that the "serious allegations" over the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada will not impact its own ongoing trade negotiations with India. Prime minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson at 10 Downing Street was asked about the impact the issue may have on India-UK…
INDIA on Tuesday (19) rejected the "absurd" allegation that its agents were behind the killing of a Sikh leader in Canada, after prime minister Justin Trudeau's bombshell accusation sent already sour diplomatic relations to a new low. Ottawa also expelled a diplomat it described as the head of India's foreign…
TRADE talks between India and Canada have taken a hit as tension rises after prime minister Justin Trudeau said authorities were investigating "credible allegations" linking New Delhi's agents to the murder of a Sikh separatist leader. On Tuesday (19), New Delhi dismissed the allegations as "absurd", and asked Canada instead…
BRITAIN said on Tuesday (19) it was in close touch with its Canadian partners about "serious allegations" from Ottawa that the Indian government was involved in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader in Canada. "We are in close touch with our Canadian partners about these serious allegations," a government…
An Antiques Roadshow guest wiped away tears when he learned that the war medal, his father received during World War II holds an astonishing value of £250,000. The man, whose father, Sikh soldier Naik Gian Singh, was honoured for his actions in Burma (now Myanmar) during the Second World War,…
CANADIAN trade minister Mary Ng is postponing a trade mission to India planned for October, an official has said, reflecting increasingly tense diplomatic relations just days after India's prime minister snubbed his Canadian counterpart at a G20 summit in New Delhi. "At this time, we are postponing the upcoming trade…
A British Sikh crossbow-armed intruder who has admitted to committing treason after telling royal guards at Windsor Castle on Christmas Day 2021 that he was there to kill Queen Elizabeth II has apologised to King Charles III and the royal family, a UK court heard on Friday (15). Jaswant Singh…
“WHO was Churchill?” This was the question debated at the inaugural Chartwell Literary Festival last week at Sir Winston Churchill’s home in Kent. It was held to mark the 70th anniversary of the Nobel Prize for Literature that Britain’s wartime leader was awarded in 1953. Introducing three historians on the…
CANADIAN prime minister Justin Trudeau belatedly left India on Tuesday (12) after an aircraft breakdown forced a two-day extension of his rocky visit to New Delhi for the G20 summit. Trudeau arrived in India for the meeting of the leaders of 20 leading economies last Friday (8) and was due…
PRIME Minister Rishi Sunak said he had spoken with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi about the continued detention of a British Sikh human rights campaigner in the south Asian country. Jagtar Singh Johal was arrested in the northern state of Punjab when he was shopping with his wife in November…
INDIAN Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed strong concerns about protests in Canada against India to Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi, according a statement by India. New Delhi has been long sensitive to Sikh protesters in Canada. In June, India criticised…
Filmmaker Karan Johar, Apoorva Mehta, Guneet Monga with director Nikhil Nagesh and Lakshya were spotted at the Toronto International Film Festival for the premiere of their action-thriller film Kill. Johar posted a series of pictures from the star-studded evening in Toronto on his Instagram handle. He wrote in the caption,…
Actor Sacha Dhawan, who is known for Doctor Who and The Great, Wolf, has been roped in to play the title role in a new BBC detective series Virdee. The six-part series is the screen adaptation of pharmacist A.A. Dhand’s bestselling Harry Virdee crime novels that follow an enigmatic detective.…
LABOUR MP Shabana Mahmood said she was honoured to be appointed shadow secretary of state for justice after party leader Sir Keir Starmer carried out a reshuffle on Monday (4). Days after prime minister Rishi Sunak’s mini reshuffle last week, Sir Keir named Birmingham Ladywood MP Mahmood to the shadow…
He became a household name with Devon Ke Dev - Mahadev but actor Mohit Raina says he took a break from television as he felt his creative hunger was getting lost there. The actor, who is known for his performance across three mediums: TV, films, and streaming such as Devon…
THE forgotten history of the Indian Army soldiers who camped in the grounds of Hampton Court Palace, southwest of London, in the early 20th century is set to be uncovered in a new exhibition opening this month. The Indian Army at the Palace will explore the story of the encampments…
Veteran Hindi film lyricist Dev Kohli passed away in Mumbai on Saturday, He was 80. Kohli is famed for his songs in over 100 films including Maine Pyar Kiya, Baazigar, Judwaa 2, Musafir, Shoot Out At Lokhandwala, and Taxi No. 9211. He has collaborated with music directors like Anu Malik,…
AN Indian spacecraft landed on the moon on Wednesday (23), the space agency said, in a mission seen as crucial to lunar exploration and India's standing as a space power, just days after a similar Russian lander crashed. For India, the successful landing marks its emergence as a space power…
The NHS has congratulated local students receiving their A Level, T Level or BTEC results today, calling on anyone not sure of their career path to consider joining the NHS through the final remaining nursing and midwifery degree places available. Already this year, 31,430 people in England have signed up for a…
Well-known Indian singer, songwriter, and record producer Daler Mehndi has had a significant impact on the music industry, especially with his contributions to Bhangra music and his popular tracks in a number of Bollywood films. Mehndi, who was born on August 18, 1967, in Patna, Bihar, India into a Sikh…
Indian-British fashion model Neelam Gill, who recently set the record straight on rumours that she and Leonardo DiCaprio were romantically involved, has opened up about her beauty journey in a new interview. Talking about the pressures of colourism, she told Vogue, “Although I grew up idolising Bollywood actresses, I didn’t…
SECURITY was intensified outside the Indian Embassy in Washington on Tuesday (15) in view of the protests by pro-Khalistan groups on the occasion of India’s Independence Day. Pro-Khalistan groups have planned to stage protests outside the Indian Embassy in Washington DC where a function was held on the occasion of…
Diljit Dosanjh-starrer Punjab 95 has been under the radar ever since it was announced. Helmed by Honey Trehan, the film is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra who fought against alleged fake encounters of Sikh youths by Punjab Police during militancy. In July 2023, the…
The documentary film The Elephant Whisperers, which made headlines globally for winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary Short Film at the 95th Academy Awards, thus becoming the first Indian film to win an Academy Award in that category at the Oscars, is in the news once again but for…
In the Queensland state of Australia, a court has nullified a law that prohibited Sikh students from wearing a kirpan on school premises. The court deemed the ban "unconstitutional," media reports said. The ruling by the state's highest court came after Kamaljit Kaur Athwal took the state government to court…
SOCIAL media platform Twitter is seeking to quash an Indian court ruling that it was not compliant with federal government orders to remove content, arguing it could embolden New Delhi to block more content and broaden the scope for censorship. Twitter in July 2022 sought to overturn government orders to…
Filmmaker Karan Johar's upcoming production venture Kill will have its world premiere at the 48th Toronto International Film Festival 2023, to be held from September 7 to 17. Johar's banner Dharma Productions shared the news on Instagram on Thursday night. "Kill - an action-packed high-octane film starring Lakshya - the…
SOCIAL media platform Twitter has sought to quash an Indian court decision that found it non-compliant with content removal orders, arguing the ruling could embolden the government to block more content. Twitter, rebranded now as X, sought in July 2022 to overturn some government orders to remove content from its…
AN ELDERLY Asian man, who walked into a London police station earlier this year to inform officers he had killed his wife, has pleaded guilty to murdering her with a hard wooden bat used in the English game of rounders. Tarsame Singh, 79, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday…
US congresswoman Grace Meng has said that Diwali should be declared a federal holiday in the country. She added that the festival is celebrated by millions of Americans from various faiths and religions including Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Jains. Meng, a lawyer-turned-politician, who represents the sixth congressional district of New…
THE star of Britain's crown jewels, the Koh-i-Noor diamond, is back on view after a notable absence from King Charles's coronation that highlighted the nation's awkward ties with its colonial past. The massive stone has appeared at formal occasions for more than 150 years, but Charles's wife Camilla opted not…
THERE perhaps won’t be a more unique and enlightening South Asian short film than Your Love this year. The powerful romantic drama had its North American premiere at the recent OUTFEST Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Festival and is based on a South Asian woman who came out of the closet in her…
A hate crime investigation has been initiated by the police in response to the damage of a Sikh holy text found outside a residential address in Leeds, England. The report of the incident was received by West Yorkshire Police from a member of the local Sikh community on Sunday (16).…
THE annual celebration of South Asian Heritage Month explores the shared cultures and histories of the UK and South Asia, with a range of activities from film screenings and concerts to workshops, discussions and events bringing diverse communities together. To mark the important month, being held in 2023 from Tuesday…
ISSUES around integration, if left unchallenged, could lead to deepening divide in community relations such as those witnessed in Leicester last year, according to the thinktank British Future. In September last year, places of worship and other properties in Leicester came under attack after community tensions rose between Hindu and…
THIS is the 15th year that the Westcombe Foundation has been operational as a charity. We are dedicated to helping those in need around the world, giving back with the goal of relieving widespread poverty, distress and suffering. Through our history, we have helped people from Nepal to Nairobi, India…
French president, Emmanuel Macron, presented prime minister Narendra Modi with a framed facsimile of a 1916 photograph showing a Parisian offering some flowers to a Sikh officer, along with a replica of the Charlemagne chessmen dating back to the 11th century, officials said. [caption id="attachment_242290" align="aligncenter" width="679"] The 1916 photograph…
ONE of the key public purposes of the BBC is ‘to reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities’ of the United Kingdom. The broadcaster’s operating licence from Ofcom goes further – ‘the BBC should accurately and authentically represent and portray the lives of the people of the United Kingdom today…
THE NHS is the closest thing that the English people have to a religion, former Chancellor Nigel Lawson once complained. Did last week’s Westminster Abbey service to mark the National Health Service’s 75th birthday not rather prove his point? “We gather in thanksgiving for both the grace of God and…
A few hundred members of Canada's Sikh community demonstrated outside the Indian consulate in Toronto on Saturday (8) to protest the unsolved murder of one of their leaders last month in the Vancouver area. They accused the Indian government of being responsible for the gunning down of Hardeep Singh Nijjar,…
British foreign minister James Cleverly has issued a warning against any potential attacks targeting the Indian High Commission in London. This caution comes in response to media reports highlighting a poster promoting a rally advocating for a separate state for the Sikh community and its supporters. "Any direct attacks on…
HE MAY be a talented MC, but Beant first got connected to music at a more spiritual place. He learned Sikh music from a young age at the Gurdwara, surrounded by accomplished musicians and vocalists. The 22-year-old, born and raised in Leamington Spa, also grew up listening to eighties songs…
STANDING in front of the vast painting of the House of Commons in 1833 by Sir George Hayter at the National Portrait Gallery brought home how much Britain has changed. Perhaps someone should execute a similar canvas with Rishi Sunak at the centre of things, with the chamber dotted with…
I LEARNT about the really hot Naga chillis, which have their origins in Bangladesh, at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival from Joy Michaud of Sea Spring Seeds in Dorchester. Chillis apparently have their hotness measured by the Scoville scale, abbreviated to SHU. By this measure of heat…
THE Church of England stands accused of failing survivors of child abuse and punishing whistle blowers who give them a voice, a former independent advocate has told Eastern Eye. The church sacked Jasvinder Sanghera, who founded Karma Nirvana, a charity for mainly south Asian survivors of domestic abuse, forced marriage…
A SIKH Second World War veteran has been honoured with the Points of Light award which recognises people making a change in their community. Rajindar Singh Dhatt, who received the award from prime minister Rishi Sunak at a Downing Street UK-India reception on Wednesday (28), said the recognition inspired him…
WARM tributes have been paid to Avtar Singh Lit, who challenged the broadcasting rules of his day when he set up Sunrise Radio in 1989 and was unfairly labelled a “pirate” by the authorities. His death on Tuesday (27) in his 70s was announced by the station which described him…
AN INDIAN court on Friday fined Twitter $61,000 after dismissing its plea challenging orders to remove tweets and accounts critical of prime minister Narendra Modi's government. The world's biggest democracy petitions Twitter for content removals more than almost any other country, and the platform regularly takes down or blocks content…
CANADA'S response to the Khalistan issue appears to be constrained by its electoral considerations, India said and warned it will have to respond if the activities impinge on its national security. Khalistan refers to the demand for independent statehood for the Sikh majority areas in north-western India. External affairs minister…
ENGLAND’S world cup winning cricketer Adil Rashid is among the British Asian names recognised in King Charles’s inaugural Birthday Honours List announced today. With doctors, politicians, educators, authors, community leaders and philanthropists among the 11 per cent of recipients coming from an ethnic minority background, the list showcases the immense…
AVTAR SINGH PURBA alias Khanda, a prominent pro-Khalistani activist, died at a hospital in Birmingham on Thursday (15) morning after a prolonged illness, a UK-based Sikh organisation said in a statement. Sikh Federation UK said Avtar Singh was terminally ill with blood cancer. He was on a life support system…
With the next UK general election looming over the horizon, upwardly-mobile British Indians will be a critical voter constituency in various parts of the country. In recent times, there has been a fraying of relations between the wider British Indian population and the Labour Party. In the 2015 general election,…
Newly appointed member of the House of Lords, Kulveer Singh Ranger, told Eastern Eye he will use his position to leverage his expertise in transport and technology and help deliver better public services. Ranger was last Friday (9) rewarded by former prime minister Boris Johnson in his resignation honours list,…
Actor Prateik Patil Babbar has joined Aditi Rao Hyderi and Paige Sandhu on the cast of the UK-India co-production Lioness, which is based on the life of princess Sophia Duleep. To be directed by Kajri Babbar, the project celebrates the life of Sophia Duleep Singh, the daughter of Maharaja Duleep…
INDIA's foreign minister on Thursday (8) hit out at Canada for allowing a float in a parade depicting the 1984 assassination of Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi by her bodyguards, perceived to be glorification of violence by Sikh separatists. "I think there is a larger underlying issue about the space…
Manpreet Bambra stars in the new ITVX comedy series Count Abdulla, which revolves around a young Muslim doctor whose life is turned upside down after he is bitten by a vampire. The versatile actress plays a key role in the sitcom available from next Thursday (15). It adds to an…
Author Sathnam Sanghera’s new book on the British empire is aimed at younger readers and explains how the empire once made the country the most powerful on earth and how it still affects our lives in many ways. Stolen History: The Truth about the British Empire is set to be…
Birmingham has recently appointed its first British-Indian Lord Mayor, Councillor Chaman Lal, following the decision of local councillors in the West Midlands city of England. Representing Birmingham as its first citizen, Lal hails from the Ravidassia community of British Sikhs and was born in the village of Pakhowal in Hoshiarpur.…
The animated short film American Sikh, which chronicles the life of a ‘Sikh Captain America’ in the aftermath of 9/11, will world premiere at the OSCAR-qualifying Tribeca Film Festival this June. The film was created in partnership with Singh Vishavjit as the producer and Los Angeles-based director Ryan Westra. It…
Actors Sunny Deol and Ameesha Patel are set to make you nostalgic with the re-release of their iconic film Gadar Ek Prem Katha. On Thursday, Sunny and Ameesha took to Instagram and shared the update with their fans and followers. The audience can once again watch the film in theatres…
The Kohinoor diamond, claimed by India, is on display at the Tower of London with the organisers of the exhibition trying to contextualise its turbulent colonial history in a “transparent” way. Kohinoor, also referred to as Koh-i-Noor, forms part of the new Jewel House exhibition at the tourist attraction and…
Aditi Rao Hydari and Indian-origin British actress Paige Sandhu have been confirmed as female leads for an upcoming Indo-British production, titled Lioness. Written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Kajri Babbar, the film tells the story of two British Punjabi women living in the UK a century apart. It is basically…
London Mayor Sadiq Khan met prominent Hindu spiritual leader, His Holiness (HH) Pujya Mahant Swami Maharaj, who is currently visiting the UK to inspire faith, service, and global harmony, at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in north London on Sunday (21). During their meeting, the mayor thanked HH Pujya Mahant…
A councillor has made history as Coventry’s first Lord Mayor to wear a turban in a move hailed as an example of the city’s diversity, reports Ellie Brown. Born in the Punjab region of India, councillor Jaswant Singh Birdi moved to Coventry 60 years ago and has served as a…
Celebrating five glorious years of creating exclusive streaming content, ZEE5 Global at a star-studded event in Mumbai, titled Hooked to 5, revealed an expansive line-up of titles featuring originals in Hindi and regional languages, sequels to cult-favourite series, big-ticket direct-to-digital releases, blockbuster post-theatrical launches, and intriguing docu-series. For the slate,…
The head of the Royal Air Force (RAF), Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, has said increased diversity in the armed forces is “mission critical” in future battles as he vowed to attract the “brightest and best of every single community”. Currently, 2.1 per cent of all RAF service personnel…
The love story might have blossomed in the soil of London, but they are desi at hearts! Parineeti Chopra got engaged to her 'Ishaqzaade' Raghav Chadha in an intimate ceremony on Saturday. The ceremony was observed following Sikh rituals. After months of speculations, the duo put an end to it…
Bollywood actress Parineeeti Chopra and AAP leader Raghav Chadha are all set to get engaged after being rumoured about dating for a long time. Here is everything you need to know about the event. When and Where? The engagement vows will be taking place at the Kapurthala House in New…
After The Lunchbox, Karan Johar and Guneet Monga are set to bring unique and impactful stories to the screen. Taking to Instagram, Guneet shared an article and captioned the post, "From The Lunchbox to now, Thank You Karan and Apoorva for being a Guiding light and for being so generous.…
A third blast in less than a week shook the area around the Sikh holy site of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Indian police said Thursday (11). No injuries were reported in what police described as a low-intensity blast at around midnight in the northern Indian city. The cause was…
British Asian leaders have praised King Charles for using his coronation an essentially Christian ceremony which also showcased Britain’s “diversity of faith and communities” to pledge his life to service. Last Saturday’s (6) coronation of the King as monarch of the UK and 14 Commonwealth countries was the first in…
King Charles III's coronation ceremony commences today. Several Indians will be part of the coronation ceremony to represent the nation at the royal event in London. Vice President Jaideep Dhankar along with his wife Sudesh Dhankar will represent India at the royal spectacle among numerous celebrities and heads of government…
As per the Order of Service, the coronation of King Charles will integrate the ancient customs of a ceremony that has endured for nearly 1000 years with the contemporary, multifaceted aspect of Britain and its many religions. In front of approximately 100 heads of state and dignitaries, Charles will be…
King Charles has been urged by prominent community and business leaders to use his reign to tackle inequalities within British society. More than 2,200 people will attend the coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday (6), among them international representatives from 203 countries as well as community and charity workers. The…
Indian-American Ajay Banga has been hailed by media in India as the World Bank's "face of change." His leadership for a five-year term comes as the bank pivots to face climate change, a crucial transition that the former Mastercard chief sees as closely tied to vanquishing inequality -- and he…
The World Bank announced the appointment of Ajay Banga, a prominent Indian-American business leader, as its next President on Wednesday (03). In response, the organisation expressed its anticipation to collaborating with Banga on the ongoing World Bank Group Evolution process. "The Executive Directors of the World Bank today selected Ajay…
Thousands of Britons are travelling to remote locations in India and Sri Lanka for a “digital detox”, research found. Sinharaja Rainforest in southwest Sri Lanka and the Valley of Flowers in Uttarakhand. which is popular with hikers, have been named as among the most popular hotspots for people aiming to…
What is a Coronation for? The King succeeded to the throne automatically at the moment that his mother died last September. But his formal accession naturally played second fiddle to the mourning period for the late Queen last autumn. It is this spring Coronation that offers the monarch an opportunity…
Four new postage stamps have been approved by the King to commemorate his Coronation, showcasing the rise of secularism in the UK. Royal Mail has produced the stamps, each representing a different theme, to celebrate the multi-faith and environmental causes that King Charles has dedicated his life to, The Telegraph…
FAITH communities across Britain have come together to organise volunteering initiatives on Coronation Bank Holiday on next Monday (May 8) as part of the Big Help Out. The Big Help Out is one of the official projects of the Coronation weekend to promote, champion and showcase volunteering, a statement said.…
The first batch have completed their peer mentor facilitators course, designed to upskill the Punjabi community and support it around mental health, a statement said. The Social Connections challenge was developed in partnership by Taraki, who work with Punjabi communities to reshape approaches to mental health and leading men’s health…
Buckingham Palace has announced that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty will lead a procession of flag-bearers during the Coronation ceremony of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6. The UK's flag will be carried by a high-ranking Royal Air Force (RAF) cadet.…
LABOUR is "institutionally, structurally and systematically racist” and taking south Asian voters for granted, councillors and party members have told Eastern Eye. They are urging the Labour leadership at national level to investigate why Hindus and Muslims have been barred from standing in next week’s [4 May] local elections. Labour’s…
A UK-based charity working on a project to build Britain's first Jagannatha temple in London has welcomed a pledge of £25 million from an Odisha-origin entrepreneur. Shree Jagannatha Society (SJS) UK said global Indian investor Biswanath Patnaik made the pledge at the first Shree Jagannatha Convention held in London on…
Nationalist movements within the British Asian community have become more prevalent in recent years and could “destabilise British society”, a major independent faith review in the UK has stated. The report by the government’s faith adviser, Colin Bloom, added that the change can be seen in small mobilisation of Hindu…
Cricket and music marked the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi in central Birmingham over the weekend. Around 80 people, including women and children, took part in the softball Vaisakhi Cricket Cup tournament - a fun competition - organised by the Club at Edgbaston’s indoor centre.The action was accompanied by traditional Punjabi…
For the second year in a row, on May 1st, 2023, some of the best comedians in the circuit will gather at Leicester Sq Theatre in London to raise money for Sikh Your Mind, a mental health charity that aims to increase awareness of mental health difficulties within the Sikh…
ASIAN peers representing the Hindu and Sikh faiths are likely to be joined by Muslim and Jewish House of Lords representatives in carrying key pieces of coronation emblems to add a multi-faith touch to the Christian religious ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6, it emerged on Saturday…
INDIAN police on Sunday (23) arrested firebrand Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh after a manhunt that lasted more than a month. Singh rose to fame calling for the creation of a separate Sikh homeland known as Khalistan, the struggle for which sparked deadly violence in India in the 1980s and 1990s.…
In a landmark decision, the Virginia State Board of Education on Thursday (20) approved new social studies standards that will incorporate the Sikh faith, also known as Sikhi, into the school curriculum for the first time ever. This move will provide over one million students in Virginia with the chance…
Two of the 17 Sikhs arrested in California over the weekend have been accused of committing murder in multiple cases in India, Police said on Wednesday (19). The authorities are searching for two others in connection with other criminal cases. The California Attorney General's spokesperson identified the two Sikhs facing…
An Indian army gunner has been arrested for the killing of four soldiers at a military base near the Pakistan border, police said on Monday (17), ruling out a terror motive. The attack took place last week at the Bathinda military station in Punjab, a northern state where tensions have…
A portrait of two Indian soldiers who fought in the First World War has been placed under a temporary export bar by the UK government to allow time for its acquisition in order to prevent it leaving the country. The unfinished portrait, by Anglo-Hungarian painter Philip de Laszlo, depicts cavalry…
Mayor Sadiq Khan announces Trafalgar Square as the venue for London's Vaisakhi celebrations on April 22. The festival is the largest in the Sikh calendar and marks the birth of Khalsa. The event, which will run from noon to 6 pm, will showcase Sikh and Punjabi traditions, culture, and heritage,…
Britain should take action over a violent incident during protests outside India's embassy in London last month, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Thursday (13). New Delhi has been upset about protests and vandalism by Sikh separatists - who seek an independent Sikh homeland…
India asked Britain for increased monitoring of UK-based supporters of a Sikh separatist movement following a "breach of security" at its High Commission in London, an incident that has raised tension between the two countries. At a meeting in New Delhi between senior British and Indian home ministry officials, the…
India's financial crime-fighting agency has opened an investigation into alleged violations of foreign exchange rules by the BBC, a source said on Thursday (13), months after tax officials searched the broadcaster's Mumbai and Delhi offices. The tax raids in February had come close on the heels of the release of…
Indian police were on Thursday (13) looking for two masked men suspected of the pre-dawn killing four troops at an army base near the Pakistani border. The incident occurred Wednesday (12) morning at the Bathinda military installation in Punjab, a northern state where tensions have been high due to the…
The California State Assembly has approved a resolution that calls on the United States Congress to formally acknowledge and denounce the 1984 anti-Sikh violence in India as genocide. Introduced by the first-ever elected Sikh member of the State Assembly, Jasmeet Kaur Bains, the resolution was passed unanimously by the California…
Trade talks between India and Britain have not been suspended and will continue this year, three officials said on Monday (10). They responded to a British newspaper report that said India had "disengaged" from the talks after London failed to condemn Sikh separatists. An official in India's foreign ministry said…
THE home secretary is pandering to right-wing racists and putting south Asian lives in danger, MPs and experts have told Eastern Eye. It follows Suella Braverman’s comments over the weekend (2) that “vulnerable white girls living in troubled circumstances have been abused, drugged, raped, and exploited”. She highlighted cases in…
Polite Society, the kung fu-inspired comedy-drama, in cinemas now, revolves around an aspiring stunt woman who decides to commit a wedding heist and finds herself up against a formidable fighting foe. To mark its release, Eastern Eye put together a list of the top 10 British Asian movies, in chronological…
Elderly Asians in England and Wales are least likely to be living alone, according to official data. Higher proportions of men aged 65 years or more who identified as Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh were married or civil-partnered than men belonging to any other ethnic groups, 2021 census figures…
Deepak Chopra, the physician and "guy from Oprah", recently visited London to introduce the premiere of the documentary Never Forget Tibet: The Dalai Lama’s Untold Story, lending his star power to the cause of Tibet. He also recently released his 93rd book, "Living in the Light", which delves into the…
Indian President Droupadi Murmu met the makers of the Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers, Kartiki Gonsalves and Guneet Monga on Friday. The official Twitter handle of the President of India shared the pictures of the meet and the caption read, "President Droupadi Murmu met the makers of Oscar-winning documentary 'The…
The World Bank has confirmed that Ajay Banga, the American pick to lead the organisation, is the sole candidate nominated for the position of president, indicating that he is likely to be appointed in the upcoming months. The bank will follow standard procedures, including conducting a formal interview with Banga…
A fugitive Sikh separatist known for his radical views has posted a video mocking Indian authorities after a futile two-week-long manhunt involving thousands of police and internet shutdowns. Amritpal Singh, who has gained popularity in recent months for his demand for a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan, has been evading…
I (FELICITY) am apparently descended from a lineage of Sikhs, whose legendary kingdom once spanned Punjab, Peshawar and Kashmir. In the 19th century, its 12-year-old maharaja was coerced into surrendering the empire’s most treasured possession to Viscount Henry Hardinge, signifying a British victory over the Lahore Darbar. It is in…
Two people were shot at in a Gurudwara in the US on Sunday (26), local media reports said quoting the police. The incident is not related to a hate crime, they said. The shooting took place around 2.30 pm at the Gurdwara Sacramento Sikh Society in Sacramento County of California.…
Amid tight security, a significant number of Khalistan supporters held a protest in Times Square, demonstrating their backing for the fugitive radical preacher Amritpal Singh. The protesters initiated a car rally from the Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Sikh Centre situated in the Richmond Hill neighbourhood, which culminated at Times Square…
INDIAN officials on Sunday (26) summoned Canada's highest-ranking diplomat in New Delhi after a group of Sikh protesters had assembled outside India's diplomatic mission in Canada. As per Canadian media, around hundreds of individuals had gathered outside the Indian consulate in Vancouver on Saturday (25) to protest against India's pursuit…
HINDUS are the healthiest people in England and Wales and are more likely to have high-level education than any other religious group, according to the most recent census. Figures from the 2021 census released last week by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) also reveal that Sikhs (77.7 per cent)…
The security measures outside the British high commission and the high commissioner's residence in New Delhi have been relaxed, as the typical yellow metal barriers have been removed. This move is seen by political analysts as a response to the UK police's failure to prevent a violent protest by Khalistanis…
The Delhi Police have registered a case related to the protest that took place outside the Indian High Commission in London on March 19, officials said on Friday (24). The case has been registered by the special cell under the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and the…
Producer Guneet Monga made every Indian proud by winning Oscar at the 95th Academy Awards for her documentary The Elephant Whisperers. Helmed by debutant Kartiki Gonsalves, the 41-minute short documentary movie explores the tentative yet precious bond between Raghu, an orphaned baby elephant, and his caretakers - a mahout couple…
On Wednesday (22) James Cleverly, the UK foreign minister, announced that the security at the Indian High Commission in London will be reviewed in response to the "unacceptable acts of violence" that were committed against the mission's staff. Reports have emerged that protesters, holding "Khalistan" banners, removed the Indian flag…
The police in northern India extended a mobile internet blackout across a state with a population of around 30 million on Monday (20), as they continued their search for a radical Sikh preacher, Amritpal Singh. The extension followed reports of Singh's supporters vandalising India's consulate in San Francisco and a…
On Monday (20) increased security measures were implemented around the Indian High Commission following an act of vandalism committed by Khalistan supporters on Sunday (19). Scotland Yard detained one person in relation to the incident. India has requested that the UK take swift action to arrest and prosecute all individuals…
On Sunday (19) a gathering of pro-Khalistan demonstrators vandalised the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, leading to strong criticism from Indian Americans who urged swift measures against those accountable for the incident. "We are also appalled by the complete law and order failure in both in London as well as…
After the Tricolour atop the Indian High Commission in London was grabbed and taken down by a mob and the building's windows were broken by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans in London on Sunday (19), authorities arrested a man on suspicion of violent…
A MANHUNT for a radical Sikh preacher in India entered its second day on Sunday (19), after authorities shut mobile internet in the whole of Punjab state and arrested 78 of his supporters. Amritpal Singh rose to prominence in recent months demanding the creation of Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland,…
The colonial-era Kohinoor diamond, claimed by India, will be cast as a “symbol of conquest” in a new display of Britain's Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. Historic Royal Palaces (HRP), the charity that manages Britain's palaces, said the new Jewel House exhibition will explore the history of the…
The honorary consulate of India in Brisbane was forced to close down on Wednesday (15) due to safety concerns after Khalistan supporters organised an unauthorised gathering and blocked the entry of the office. It is the latest in a series of radical activities against the Indian community in Australia. The…
The Elephant Whisperers, helmed by Kartiki Gonsalves won the top honours in the Documentary Short category at the prestigious 95th Academy Awards. This makes it the first Indian production to win under the category. Expressing her excitement over the big win, producer Guneet Monga said, "This is an incredibly powerful…
Directed by debutante Kartiki Gonsalves, Tamil documentary The Elephant Whisperers created history at the 95th Academy Awards by becoming the maiden Indian production to win in the Documentary Short Subject category. "I stand here today to speak for the sacred bond between us and our natural world, for the respect of…
AJAY BANGA, the United States' candidate to head the World Bank, has called for a revamp of the development model to better meet the challenge of climate change. Banga, who is on trip to Kenya, said the world cannot continue to "pursue the prior model of (an) emission heavy growth…
A PROMINENT Hindu temple was attacked by pro-Khalistan supporters on Saturday (4) in the latest instance of vandalism in Australia. The incident took place at the Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane. "Temple priest and devotees called this morning and notified me about the vandalism on the boundary wall of…
REPUBLICAN presidential aspirant Nikki Haley has hit out at two former US presidents from her party - George W Bush and Donald Trump - for adding $10 trillion to America's national debt. She also slammed president Joe Biden, a Democrat, for his record-breaking spending, which she said would add $20…
MEMBERS of the Muslim community had the lowest rates of suicide in England and Wales in the past decade, latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has revealed. A survey published on Monday (6) also found that the rates of suicide were lower across the Muslim, Hindu, Jewish,…
LABOUR MP Preet Kaur Gill said she was forced to step up her security after receiving a “direct threat” by email asking her to “watch your back”. The Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston told GB News last Saturday (4) she was worried about her family’s safety as she went about…
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appointed Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora as the Ambassador-at-Large for Kartarpur Corridor as part of efforts to attract Sikh pilgrims from across the world, a government notification said on Wednesday (01). The leading Sikh leader will work in the position in an honorary capacity, the…
Describing the Oscar-nominated Indian short documentary The Elephant Whisperers as "a trunk filled with emotions", actor-producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas said it is one of the most heart-warming documentaries she has seen recently. The Tamil-language film, directed by Kartiki Gonsalves, has been nominated in the Documentary Short Subject category of the upcoming…
INDIAN-AMERICAN Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Tuesday (28) made it clear that if she is voted to power in 2024, the US will not be the "world's ATM" and pay "bad guys" like Pakistan hundreds of millions of dollars. In the op-ed in the New York Post, Haley wrote…
INDIAN-AMERICAN Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has vowed to cut foreign aid for countries like China, Pakistan and Iraq which “hate” America, if she is voted to power. The 51-year-old two-term governor of South Carolina and the former US ambassador to the United Nations formally launched her 2024 presidential bid…
INDIAN-AMERICAN Bobby Jindal, the former governor of Louisiana state, came out in defence of White House hopeful Nikki Haley, saying she should not be criticised or praised for her gender or ethnicity. Jindal was the first Indian-American to have entered the race for US presidency in 2016. He dropped out…
SIKH members of Labour have complained to the party against shadow development secretary Preet Kaur Gill after she sent a series of WhatsApp messages undermining victims of sexual violence within gurdwaras, according to a report. In the messages, Gill said that those who are calling gurdwaras unsafe are using a…
AJAY BANGA, the United States' candidate to lead the World Bank, has helmed large institutions and "helped bring 500 million unbanked people into the digital economy," according to US authorities. And those who have worked with him describe him as a straight-talking leader who is able to work with people…
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden said on Thursday (23) that Washington is nominating former Mastercard chief executive Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank, after its current chief David Malpass announced plans to step down early. Banga, 63, is Indian-American and currently serving as vice chairman at equity firm General Atlantic.…
BRITAIN has strongly defended the BBC and its editorial freedom in Parliament after a survey by Indian tax authorities on the media corporation's New Delhi and Mumbai offices last week. A Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) junior minister responded to an urgent question raised in the House of Commons…
Republican leader Nikki Haley has said that as a "brown girl" growing up in a black-and-white world, she saw the "promise of America" unfold before her, as she proudly flaunted her Indian heritage in her first public appearance as a White House hopeful. Haley, 51, is the two-term Governor of…
A British TV presenter has revealed her own heartbreaking experiences of racism in the country as she discussed rising racism among school pupils in the UK in her show. ITV's Good Morning Britain (GMB) presenter Ranvir Singh also condemned the 'racially aggravated assault' following the horrific attack on a schoolgirl…
Unlawful ban from entering courthouses of tribunals in England and Wales may greet practising Sikhs under prevailing security guidelines over kirpans, a case which was heard on Thursday (9) by the lord chief justice and the vice president of the court of appeal said. According to a report by The…
A review into the UK government's scheme set up to prevent terrorism has flagged the radicalisation of UK Muslims over Kashmir and "potentially toxic" pro-Khalistan extremism as some of the areas of growing concern and made recommendations for improvements to tackle Islamist extremism as the "primary threat" to the country.…
The first Indian police officer of Milwaukee city in the United States has retired after serving 21 years in the force, a media report said. Balbir Mahay was honoured, and his career was celebrated on Sunday at the Oak Creek gurdwara in Wisconsin, where a tragic shootout in 2012 killed…
An Indian national, who was earlier denied a visa by a Pakistani court, entered the country on Tuesday to complete his marathon journey on foot to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. Shihab Bhai, 29, arrived in Pakistan via the Wagah border and was welcomed by Sarwar Taj, who had filed…
He is known to be one of the most prominent Sikh voices in Britain. But there is also another story which makes Jasvir Singh's story unique. He is a gay -- a fact which he decided to keep private till now as it created problems for him in his own…
Labour leader Keir Starmer and London mayor Sadiq Khan have reaffirmed the party’s commitment to diversity while highlighting the contribution of south Asians to the UK’s growth. At a fundraising gala dinner hosted by Labour in London on Wednesday (1), they said inclusiveness made Britain a strong country where aspiration…
The Legislature in the US state of Utah has unanimously passed a resolution honouring the Sikh community for their contributions and service to humanity despite facing “oppression and discrimination throughout the world". The resolution was introduced by Representative Angela Romero and Senator Luz Escamilla and passed last week, Kutv reported.…
A British Sikh man who wanted to “assassinate” Queen Elizabeth II on Christmas Day in 2021 and was caught on the grounds of Windsor Castle armed with a crossbow has admitted to committing treason. Jaswant Singh Chail, who identified himself as an “Indian Sikh”, wanted to kill the late monarch…
More could have been done to protect an Indian-origin couple murdered by their son by taking note of early warning signs about his violent behaviour and poor mental health, according to a new report this week into the fatal attack in Oldbury in 2020. Anmol Chana was sentenced to life…
India on Thursday strongly condemned the recent incidents of attacks on Indians in Australia and urged Canberra to not allow the use of Australian territory for activities detrimental to India's territorial integrity, security and national interests. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India has conveyed to Australia its "firm…
The repeated attacks on a gurdwara in the US state of North Carolina have triggered shock and panic among the local community, who are demanding a detailed investigation into these instances of vandalism. In the fall of last year, trash was littered around the premises of the Gurdwara Sahib Khalsa…
Mahatma Gandhi’s 75th death anniversary, being commemorated as Martyrs’ Day the world over on Monday, was marked with tributes at the statue of the Father of the Nation at Parliament Square here. Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami was joined by community leaders, parliamentarians and Indian diaspora representatives…
Two people were injured and as many Sikh men were detained when two separate brawls broke out between Khalistani activists and pro-India demonstrators here during the so-called 'Punjab independence referendum', the police said on Monday. India has already asked the Australian government to curb the anti-India activities of the Khalistani…
Sophia Duleep Singh, the daughter of Maharaja Duleep Singh – the last ruler of the Sikh empire – and the goddaughter of Queen Victoria, is to be honoured with a commemorative Blue Plaque in London. Princess Sophia was among the leading suffragettes who fought for women’s right to vote in…
Sikh engineer Navjot Sawhney, who created hand-cranked washing machine to support families worldwide and Glasgow charity founder Khalid Raza, who recycles wheelchairs for the disabled, have won the UK prime minister Rishi Sunak's Points of Light Award. Sawhney set up the Washing Machine Project four years ago which can be…
India on Thursday strongly condemned the recent vandalisation of three Hindu temples here and the graffiti on them which included the glorification of anti-India terrorists in Australia. Earlier, this month, the Swaminarayan temple in Melbourne, the historic Shri Shiva Vishnu Temple in Carrum Downs, Victoria and the ISKCON temple in…
IN HER quest to carve a space for Asians in UK’s art world, photographic artist Arpita Shah hopes to elicit and celebrate the country’s multicultural history, with a focus on south Asian female identity. Commissioned by Birmingham-based arts organisation GRAIN Projects and funded by Arts Council England and Birmingham City…
Veteran theatre and film actor Naseeruddin Shah has said that the bubble of Hindi films is about to burst because they lack substance. Sharing his views on cinema at Jashn-e-Rekhta 2022, he said that the Urdu language has changed drastically in Hindi films. “It has extinguished. It has led to…
A British Sikh Army officer and physiotherapist has set a new world record for the longest solo, unsupported, and unassisted polar expedition by a woman. Captain Harpreet Chandi, known as Polar Preet having already completed a trekking challenge to become the first Indian-origin woman to set the record of a…
With four films from India on the Oscars shortlist, producer Guneet Monga, who has backed short documentary "The Elephant Whisperers", says it is time for the country's cinema to shine globally. The heartwarming documentary directed Kartiki Gonsalves, revolves around Bomman and Bellie, a tribal couple in south India, who devote…
Scottish National Party MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has urged the UK government to secure the release of a Sikh campaigner who has been in the custody of Indian authorities for more than five years. Jagtar Singh Johal was arrested in Punjab when he was shopping with his wife in November 2017.…
Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent Indian-American attorney who is running for Republican National Committee (RNC) chairwoman, has alleged that she is facing bigoted attacks from her fellow party leaders because of her Sikh faith and asserted that she would not give up and continue to be in the race for the…
A 17-year-old Sikh boy has died in a horrific crash after he lost control of his vehicle in Canada's British Columbia province, according to media reports. Taren Lal was driving home earlier this month when the car he was travelling in veered off the Fraser Highway in Langley, British Columbia,…
Opposition Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab on Friday (13) strongly opposed the reported move of induction of helmets for Sikh soldiers in the Army. Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said that Sikhs bravely fought the 1962, 1965, 1971 wars and the…
Sikh woman from Ontario has designed turban-friendly helmets for her kids as they started to ride bikes. Tina Singh started making the helmet as she could not find a single helmet in the market to accommodate the turbans of her three sons, CBC News reported. Tina Singh has designed what…
The central government should reconsider a proposal by the Indian Army to purchase helmets for Sikh soldiers, according to former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa who pointed out that turbans have been protecting Sikhs so far from "every trouble." "Sikhs posted in the army in England, America,…
Indian-origin Manpreet Monica Singh has been sworn in as a Harris county judge, becoming the first female Sikh judge in the US. Singh was born and raised in Houston and now lives in Bellaire with her husband and two children. She was sworn in as a judge of the Harris…
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "really going out of his way" to work with the Sikh community, both inside and outside India, Indian-American businessman and philanthropist Darshan Singh Dhaliwal has said. Dhaliwal has been selected as one of the 27 recipients of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman this year. "I think…
LAST year may have been a bad one for Bollywood, but that didn’t stop it from being an interesting 12 months for films with a strong south Asian connection. There were marvellous movies made across different languages and genres, which delighted audiences on multiple platforms, from streaming sites to cinemas…
A match official will make history when Southampton take on Nottingham Forest in a relegation match on Wednesday evening.Bhupinder Singh Gill will become the first ever Sikh-Punjabi assistant referee in the English Premier League. He, along with Marc Perry, will assist Thomas Bramall, who will be the referee in the…
In a horrific case of sexual violence, a Hindu woman in Pakistan has reportedly been gang-raped by a group of men who allegedly mutilated her body after the crime, The Mirror reported. The victim, Diya Bheel, was a 42-year-old widow and a mother of five. She belonged to the South…
A Cambridge professor who is a leading global figure in the economics of the natural environment, Professor Sir Partha Sarathi Dasgupta; COP-26 president Alok Sharma and drinks company Diageo’s CEO Ivan Menezes are among prominent Asians who have been recognised in the New Year Honour’s List published late last Friday…
The Office for National Statistics recently published figures which showed for the first time that fewer than half of people in England and Wales describe themselves as Christian. The usual extremists used this as a way to try to divide our communities however the New Year Honours have highlighted again…
A Hindu couple had fled Afghanistan nearly three 30 years ago when the first Taliban regime in that country was ready to take control. Three decades later, the duo have found their fate linked to the religious fundamentalist group again as it has returned to power in Kabul again in…
Plans to set up a memorial to the British Indian Army in Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow have been given a go-ahead. The plans for the structure, which will be erected near Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, were submitted on behalf of Colourful Heritage, which records first-hand accounts from first-generation members…
The Indian American community in Washington has observed the maiden 'Veer Bal Diwas' during which they paid tributes to the unparalleled sacrifices made by 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh's four sons who laid down their lives while defending their faith. The martyrdom day of Guru Gobind Singh's sons - Baba…
A Sikh man from India was reportedly among four people killed in a major accident on Christmas eve in Canada's British Columbia province when a bus rolled over on an icy highway, according to media reports on Monday. The bus, operated by Ebus, an Alberta-based bus operator with multiple routes…
The High Commission of India, London on Monday (26) hosted a digital exhibition on two sahibzadas of Guru Govind Singh on the occasion of Veer Baal Diwas. While all four sons of Guru Gobind Singh made their supreme sacrifice, the date is observed as the martyrdom day of the Sahibzadas…
Mikey Hothi, whose parents are from India, has been unanimously elected as the mayor of Lodi city in northern California, becoming the first Sikh to hold the top position in the city's history.Hothi was nominated by newly-elected councilwoman Lisa Craig, who won election to mayor Mark Chandler’s seat in November…
AN ACTION-PACKED year for Asian music in the UK had everything from new talent, stunning songs and awesome albums to unforgettable live performances from big-name international stars. The musical melting pot of genres, languages and diverse artists illustrated everything that is great about Britain, and why the past 12 months…
REHAN AHMED’S journey to becoming England’s youngest-ever male Test cricketer is amazing. He is, no doubt, an inspiration. The support he has received from his family, his immediate community and in particular, from Leicestershire County Cricket Club, has been immense. What he has achieved is just reward for the hard…
Many events were held during the first week of centennial celebration of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The grand centennial celebration was inaugurated by prime minister Narendra Modi and His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj on December 14. The celebration will continue through January 15, 2023, and each…
A 40-year-old Sikh man has been charged with second-degree murder for fatally stabbing his wife at their home in Canada's British Columbia province, police said. Navinder Gill was charged last week for stabbing 40-year-old Harpreet Kaur Gill on December 7 in Surrey, a Canadian police statement said. On December 7,…
Derbyshire’s Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust chairman Prem Singh who is leaving office on Thursday has said bullying and racism still run through the state-funded organisation.His retirement caps his 47-year-long health service, having started as a nurse in 1975 around the time he relocated to the UK from Malaysia…
A 24-year-old Indian-origin Sikh man has died of gunshot wounds in Alberta province of Canada. After the Edmonton medical examiner completed the autopsy, the police cited homicide as the reason for his death. The victim, identified as Sanraj Singh, was located by the police in southeast Edmonton when they responded…
A 40-year-old Sikh woman has been killed at her home in Canada and her husband arrested as a suspect, according to Canadian police. Harpreet Kaur was stabbed multiple times at her home in Surrey, British Columbia on Wednesday night in Surrey, CBC news reported on Friday. The Royal Canadian Mounted…
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested Bikramjit Singh, wanted in the 2019 Tarn Taran bomb blast case, at the Delhi airport after securing his extradition from Austria, an official spokesperson said. The official said Bikramjit Singh, alias Bikkar Panjwar, alias Bikkar Baba, was arrested after his extradition process…
British Sikh MP Preet Kaur Gill has said that the ONS decision not to include Sikhs as a legally protected ethnicity has relegated them to a religious tick box in the 2021 census, a statement said. She added that the implications of the omission of the Sikh community as an…
King Charles covered his head with a traditional Ramaal headscarf as a gesture of humility and respect when he visited the newly-built Gurdwara in Luton on Tuesday (6). He also made the traditional namaste gesture as he spoke to volunteers, and a traditional shawl for meditation was placed around his…
A 21-year-old Canadian-Sikh woman has been shot dead, in an apparent "targeted" killing in Canada's Ontario province, according to the police. The victim, identified as Pawanpreet Kaur from Brampton, was fatally shot by an unidentified assailant on Saturday night in Mississauga city of Ontario province, according to a press release…
Met Police Sikh Association chair Ravjeet Gupta has said his turban reminds him to protect and serve. In a blog published on the Met Police website following the 25th anniversary of the Association, Gupta spoke about the role his faith plays in keeping London safe. He said Sikhism believes “in…
Civic leaders, MPs, experts and senior doctors have warned that the UK is sitting on a “ticking time bomb of disparities” among south Asian and black communities. They told Eastern Eye that the 2021 census figures, released on Tuesday (29 November) should raise concerns among government. They urged ministers to…
London, Nov 30 (PTI) Britain’s King Charles III is expected to officially open a new gurdwara and learn about its work within the local community during his first tour as monarch of the eastern England region of Bedfordshire. According to local media reports, the 74-year-old will inaugurate the Guru Nanak…
Less than half of people in England and Wales identified themselves as Christian for the first time, while the share of Muslims and Hindus in the population rose, Census 2021 data released on Tuesday showed. According to the figures, 46.2 per cent (27.5 million people) described themselves as “Christian” in…
The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) UK has hosted activities in 44 shakhas (branches) across the country as part of the UK Parliament week observations for the sixth year, a statement said. UK Parliament week, which takes place in November, targets to involve the entire young population, including members of the…
The census results offer a once-a-decade statistical snapshot of the society that we all live in. So it should be little surprise that they confirm that this is an ethnically diverse and more secular society. The census has run for two centuries, this 2021 edition is only the fourth to…
NOT enough of “our stories are being told and told correctly”, feels actor Ameet Chana, who is on a mission to offer voice to British south Asian artists by developing more authentic and relevant stories that portray “the real us”. Chana, best known for his roles in Bend It Like…
A prominent US university has announced that it would allow Sikh students to wear a kirpan on campus, a religious article in Sikhism. The change comes about two months after a video was posted online showing a student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte was handcuffed for carrying…
Indian-American Didar Singh, known as “Peach King” who died in September this year, was a beacon of hope for the Sikh immigrants, a top US Senator has said. “Didar embodied the pioneer spirit of the Golden State. He left a small village in his native Punjab, India, for America with…
RISING hate crime against Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs need to be tackled through tougher punishments for internet trolls and more action taken by social media giants, experts have urged. They have also called for further work in schools on racist speech and for the government to address poisonous rhetoric in…
A 41-year-old Indian-origin Sikh volunteer, who experienced ethnic slurs because of his beard and turban, was honoured along with three others with the prestigious 2023 New South Wales Australian of the Year Award for supporting the community during floods, bushfires, drought and the pandemic. The New South Wales government made…
A specially designed waterproof prayer book filled with “tactical” hymns and prayers has been launched in London for British Sikhs to carry with them on duty and to the battlefield. The Nitnem Gutka Sahib, as the collection is known, is made of durable material with a camouflage design and was…
In his debut novel The People We Know, London-based author Farrokh Suntook has told a compelling story of a Sikh woman who finds her life transformed after a shocking discovery about her Parsi husband and a chance encounter with an English couple. Building on the author’s love for literature, the…
A delegation of officers of the British Army on Wednesday (9) paid obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak committee chief Harjinder Singh Dhami honoured the delegates with 'siropao' (robe of honour) and religious texts at the shrine's information centre. Major Daljinder Singh Virdee, an officer…
London has evolved as a diverse city over the decades with more than 300 languages spoken in the British capital now. While Transport of London allows its staff and others to wear any religious symbols today, the situation was different earlier. A look at its transformation as a multicultural city…
The Canadian government has conveyed to India that Canada will not recognise the objectionable 'Khalistan' referendum organised by the proscribed organisation Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in Ontario on November 6, the Ministry of External Affairs said Thursday. "Government of Canada has conveyed that they respect the sovereignty of India and…
India on Thursday reiterated its concern over certain forces planning a so-called referendum in Canada on their demand for Khalistan and called upon that country to prevent anti-India activities by individuals and groups based there. It also urged Canada to designate as terrorists under its laws those individuals and entities…
Hindus in the UK are “smart, rich and very well behaved” with just 0.4 per cent found in the country’s prisons in 2021, the lowest of any religious cohort, according to a media report, days after Rishi Sunak became Britain’s first Hindu Prime Minister. England and Wales are now home…
A statue of a Sikh soldier was unveiled in the UK’s Leicester city on Sunday to honour Sikhs who fought for Britain in conflicts around the world. The bronze figure on a granite plinth went on display in Victoria Park on Sunday, the BBC reported. The Sikh Troops War Memorial…
BIRTHDAY SPECIAL CELEBRATING THE VERSATILE ACTING ICON’S DIVERSE ROLES ACROSS GENRES AND LANGUAGES Talented Bollywood star Tabu is seen as one of the finest actresses of this generation and has a brilliant body of work to back it up. The versatile performer has shown off her impressive range in a…
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak paid rich tributes to his Nani during Diwali celebrations at Downing Street on Wednesday (26). While mentioning the sacrifices made by his Nani, Sraksha, who grew up in rural Africa and later moved to UK, Sunak said, "Now, I think about today, I think about…
A jury in the US state of Texas has sentenced a man charged with killing Sandeep Dhaliwal, America's first turbaned Sikh police officer, to death. Sandeep Dhaliwal, who was the first Sikh deputy for the Harris County department, was killed in the line of duty in September 2019, Fox News…
Priyanka Chopra welcomed Diwali with a shoutout to Jennifer Rajkumar, the first Indian American woman to be elected Member of the New York State Assembly, who lobbied to get Diwali declared a public school holiday in New York City from 2023. Rajkumar, whose 2020 Assembly race was endorsed by California…
As communities grapple with hate crimes and darkness, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has urged people to live in the spirit of Lord Ram, Sita, and Diwali and be the beacon of light and hope each day of the year. There's too much darkness. We have been engulfed in…
Princess of Wales Kate Middleton is formally supporting the upcoming expedition of Captain Preet Chandi across Antarctica. The latter, who is an officer and physiotherapist serving in the British Army currently, hopes to become the first woman to cross all of the ice-covered continent on her own. Buckingham Palace confirmed…
King Charles, in a goodwill gesture, offered UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Diwali sweets as he performed his duty as head of state and formally appointed the new Conservative leader, the event which also coincided with the occasion of the most celebrated five-day "Festival of Lights" celebrated this week by…
President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden have thanked Asian Americans in the US for contributing to every part of American life and reflecting the soul of "who we are as a nation", as they hosted the largest-ever Diwali reception at the White House. More than 200 eminent Indian…
The London Eye is set to come alive in a burst of colour to celebrate Diwal, the festival of lights, on Monday (24). From sunset to sunrise, the London Eye will light-up the London skyline with a special illumination of captivating colour and light patterns, inspired by the traditional rangoli…
A 45-year-old Indian-origin Canadian Sikh has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder after two of his children were killed in their home in Montreal, according to a media report. Kamaljit Arora has been accused of killing his son and daughter, aged 11 and 13 respectively, on October 17.…
In a significant decision, Diwali will be a public school holiday in New York City starting 2023, with Mayor Eric Adams saying this sends a message about the significance of the city's inclusiveness and this “long overdue” step will encourage children to learn about the festival of lights. Adams, joined…
The Conservative Friends (CF) of India and the Indian high commission in London recently hosted a joint reception at the annual Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham which was attended by more than 400 guests, including many high-profile ones. The event celebrated the importance of strong ties between the UK and…
Hundreds of people attended the funeral services for four members of an Indian-origin Sikh family, including a baby girl, who were kidnapped and killed by a man earlier this month in the US State of California. The Sikh family of four, 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her 27-year-old mother Jasleen Kaur, her…
King Charles III took over the reins of the British Monarchy after the Queen's demise last month. His coronation ceremony will be held on May 6, as per the official statement of Buckingham Palace. One question, however, that has garnered the most attention is whether Queen Consort Camilla will wear…
The main suspect who kidnapped and killed four members of a Sikh family, including a baby girl, in California has entered a not guilty plea in court, the authorities said. The Sikh family of eight-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her 27-year-old mother Jasleen Kaur, her 36-year-old father Jasdeep Singh, and her 39-year-old…
The controversial Kohinoor diamond is unlikely to be part of the royal spectacle during the upcoming coronation of the new monarch, considering the “political sensitivities” surrounding the Indian-origin gem. Media reports previously said Queen Consort Camilla would get to wear the crown containing the 105-carat precious stone held in a…
The Interpol has sent back India's request seeking a Red Notice against founder of pro-khalistan group Sikhs for Justice, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, with a set of queries, officials said Wednesday (12). The Central Bureau of Investigation, which is the national central bureau of India to liaison with the Interpol, had…
The man involved in the kidnapping and killing of an Indian-origin Sikh family, including an eight-month-old baby, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder, one for each life lost, authorities in California said. The Sikh family of four, 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her 27-year-old mother Jasleen Kaur, her 36-year-old…
Preet Kaur Gill, a British Sikh member of Parliament for the Opposition Labour Party, has written to UK ministers calling for “urgent action” over a spike in anti-Sikh hate crimes in the country. In her role as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Sikhs, Gill has…
Thousands gathered at Trafalgar Square in London on Sunday (9) to celebrate Diwali and to enjoy dance, music, activities and food. The celebrations started with 200 dancers in the main square followed by artistic performances from London’s Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities. As part of the event, Neasden Temple’s Diwali…
"This is the story of our American dream gone wrong," the grieving wife of an Indian-origin Sikh man killed along with three members of his brother's family, including an 8-month-old baby, has said. Bodies of 36-year-old Jasdeep Singh, 27-year-old Jasleen Kaur, their eight-month-old child Aroohi Dheri and the baby's uncle,…
Recalling the "Kanishka" bombings, India on Friday expressed worries over the banned "Sikh for Justice" activities in Canada and said that it is "unfortunate" that objectionable referendums are being allowed in a friendly country. "These objectionable referendums .. it is very unfortunate that these are being allowed in a friendly…
The suspect in the killing of an Indian-origin Sikh family, including an eight-month-old baby girl, had once worked for the family's trucking business and had a longstanding dispute with them that got "pretty nasty" and culminated in an act of senseless killing, authorities and a relative said. Merced County Sheriff…
A Manchester court on Thursday (6) jailed a man for three years for severely attacking a Sikh priest in the street and left him for dead, media reports said. In June this year, Claudio Campos, 28, of Ladybarn Lane, Fallowfield, punched Avtar Singh, 62, in Manchester city centre's Northern Quarter.…
More than two-thirds of hate crimes recorded by police in England and Wales in the year to March 2022 were racist.Government data showed 109,843 out of the total 155,841 hate crimes recorded during the period were racist. There was a 26 per cent year-on-year spike in overall hate crimes and…
The family, originally from Harsi Pind in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, was kidnapped at a business in Merced County, California, on October 3, 2022. The sheriff of Merced County in California says a baby girl and three other family members who were kidnapped at gunpoint have been found dead. All four Sikh…
A decade-long Indian dream of a Hindu temple in the Jebel Ali area was fulfilled on Tuesday after UAE's Minister of Tolerance Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan inaugurated a new Hindu temple. "UAE's Minister of Tolerance HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan today inaugurated Dubai's stunning and new…
A film crew entered the premises of Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Punjab province of Pakistan while wearing shoes and shot a movie without permission that has outraged the Sikh community in the country, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa claimed, sharing a video of the incident. "Blasphemous actions continue…
The anti-Sikh riots of 1984 marks one of the “darkest” years in modern Indian history, a US senator has said, as underlined the need to remember the atrocities committed against Sikhs so that those responsible may be held accountable. Violence erupted in Delhi and other parts of the country after…
Preet Kaur Gill, the British shadow secretary of state for international development, has welcomed Air India's plan to increase flights between Birmingham and India from one a week to six. Reacting to the Indian carrier's decision to add more weekly flights to the UK, the MP for Birmingham Edgbaston said,…
London mayor Sadiq Khan has announced that Diwali on the Square will take place on October 9, which is a Sunday, with a host of entertainment on offer suitable for all ages. The capital’s celebration of the festival of lights will see Londoners and people from around the world come…
IDENTITY politics is infecting our communities in the UK. Last week, some hate preacher decided it would be a good idea to try to organise a demonstration against a Hindu temple in my constituency. I responded immediately, pointing out that their inflammatory post was incitement to religious hatred and was…
Unfounded rumours on social media - about an attempted kidnap of a teenage girl and attacks on a mosque - fuelled trouble in Leicester earlier this month, a media report said. Tensions flared up between Hindu and Muslim groups leading to disorder on September 17 and further protests the next…
A Sikh student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte was allegedly detained on campus for wearing a Kirpan, one of the integral parts of five Sikh Kakars. The video of the incident was initially shared by the student, who posted it on Twitter saying that the police handcuffed…
POLITICIANS, religious leaders and members of the public have spoken of their pride at attending the funeral of the Queen and laying to rest the “greatest monarch” ever. The Queen’s funeral service took place on Monday (19) at Westminster Abbey, where hundreds of heads of states, foreign royalty and public…
THE news was more than shocking. It was only on August 18 that I took an interview of Lord Mohamed Sheikh, Britain’s first Conservative Muslim peer and a successful businessman, as he was picked as one of the '50 Great Ugandan Asians' on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of…
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has urged to take a stand against all forms of hatred, intolerance and extremism amid reports of 'large-scale unrest' and 'serious disorder' in Leicester following communal clashes over the weekend. In a series of tweets, Khan said that British Muslims and British Hindus should always be…
Outsiders are coming to Leicester to cause tensions among the city’s south Asian communities, sources have told Eastern Eye. In the past three weeks, police arrested 47 people following violence in the city. Last weekend (16-17), they arrested 18 suspects, and some of those were from outside the city, sources…
Indian American politician and diplomat Nikki Haley has called TV host Sunny Hostin a 'racist' for claiming that the former hides her Indian name to appease Republican voters, media reports said. Slamming the former governor of South Carolina as a “chameleon" on Tuesday’s (20) episode of The View talk show,…
The UK police said on Tuesday (20) that they have made 47 arrests as part of an ongoing operation to deter further disorder in the eastern England city of Leicester, which saw scenes of violence over the weekend. The development comes as the Indian High Commission in London issued a…
IF this was the end of an era - the Elizabethan age - what an ending it was. The scale of global attention for the Queen’s funeral renewed the sense that nobody does tradition quite like the British. It was broadcast magnificently too. Sweeping shots of Westminster Abbey combined with…
SENIOR SOUTH ASIAN and Black leaders have urged King Charles to make sure their communities continue to have a strong influence on Britain’s future. While he was a prince, the new monarch was outspoken on issues which concerned him. They included highlighting the dangers of climate change, the benefits of…
Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming film “Jogi” is set during the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre, an event the actor-singer insists should be called a “genocide”. Violence erupted in Delhi and other parts of the country after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards on October 31, 1984. Over 3,000…
The Britain that mourns the end of the longest reign in history is a different country from the one in which a 26-year-old Elizabeth was crowned. So the Queen was mourned this week with condolences in churches and synagogues, temples, mosques and gurdwaras, reflecting how a 99 per cent white…
Queen Elizabeth II’s love for India and the Commonwealth, shared by her son and successor King Charles III, were the recurring themes as Indian-origin members of Parliament, peers and diaspora groups paid tribute to the late monarch. In special sittings of the Houses of Parliament over the past few days…
Jalandhar-based Sikh man Amarjit Singh's happiness knew no bounds when he met his Muslim sister from Pakistan at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, 75 years after he was separated from his family at the time of Partition. Singh was left out in India along with his sister while his Muslim…
With Charles succeeding his mother Queen Elizabeth II as the British monarch, his wife Camilla is set to get the crown which holds the famous Indian-origin Kohinoor diamond.The Queen Concert will receive the crown when the formal coronation of the new king takes place after the mourning of Elizabeth who…
A Buckinghamshire man has completed the first of three gruelling challenges inspired by ‘three gems’ who died within 20 months of each other. Suki Sandhu, from Milton Keynes, took part in the London Duathlon on Sunday (4 September) in aid of the charity Brain Tumour Research, running 10km, cycling 44km…
Thousands are expected to participate in Diwali celebrations to be held in Wembley Park on 1 October, a statement said. The free-to-attend family event will include a wide range of dance and musical performances from the Brent community, food options and a parade of lanterns designed and made by local…
Arshdeep Singh, a young Sikh bowler who was representing India against arch-rivals Pakistan in a high-pressure clash in the Super Four of the ongoing Asia Cup tournament in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Sunday (4), dropped a simple catch at a crucial moment. His team lost the game by…
Family of a Sikh priest who was 'left for dead' in an attack in Manchester in June has now appealed to the public to nab his attacker, media reports said. The 62-year-old was left with life-changing injuries and has been in hospital since the attack on 23 June, reports added.…
Dr Karan Juttla, author of a report which has claimed that South Asian people living with dementia in the UK and their families are being failed by a culturally inclusive support after their diagnoses, has been appointed as the new ambassador of Alzheimer's Society. Her appointment came on the occasion…
A Punjabi American documentary producer, whose recent request for a journalist visa was rejected by India, was deported within hours of his arrival in Delhi, his family said on Thursday. Angad Singh, who had made a documentary on the prolonged protests against India’s contentious Citizenship Act, landed in the national…
RISHI SUNAK, former chancellor and a candidate to be the next prime minister, received a hero’s welcome with loud cheering and Indian drums at a hustings event in north London on Monday (22). Sunak’s popularity in the community was evident as more than 650 British Asians from across the country…
A rights group has accused the UK’s intelligence agencies of sharing information with Indian authorities about a Sikh campaigner before his “unlawful arrest”. Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton in Scotland, was detained in the north Indian state of Punjab while he was shopping with his wife in November 2017. In…
Britain's prime ministerial candidate Rishi Sunak has said he wants to change the UK-India relationship to make it a more two-way exchange that opens up easy access to UK students and companies in India. Addressing a gathering of British Indian Conservative Party members who are voting in the election to…
EARLIER this year, talking about her love of books, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, revealed that Vikram Seth is her favourite author. She said of her trips to India: “I’ve been lucky enough to see a lot of these wonderful old manuscripts and these illustrated books, you know, these ancient,…
A man arrested at Queen Elizabeth's Windsor Castle home on Christmas Day last year wearing a mask and holding a crossbow told security "I am here to kill the queen", a British court heard on Wednesday. Jaswant Singh Chail, 20, who has been charged under Britain's Treason Act, had spent…
The number of people from a South Asian background living with dementia is set to increase by 600 per cent within the next three decades. However, families in this community are less likely to access treatment and support when diagnosed due to a lack of culturally appropriate diagnostic tools and…
Hundreds of guests attended the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Cardiff Castle on Monday (15) to observe India's 76th Independence Day. The venue was illuminated in saffron, white and green colours of the Indian Tricolour while flags were flown from the ramparts to celebrate the special occasion. The event was organised…
People from across the capital’s communities are uniting for a good cause as the London Interfaith Fun Run returns this summer. The event will bring together people from all backgrounds and beliefs to enjoy a day of sports, fundraising for important causes, and intercultural activities and entertainment on Bank Holiday…
Author discusses her writing journey, classic book and new novel A distinguished writing career has seen Jamila Gavin combine gripping storylines, deep meaning and teaching the reader something new in her novels. The important literary voice has particularly connected with younger readers through acclaimed books such as Coram Boy, which…
A minority of racists among Conservative grassroots members could stop Rishi Sunak from becoming the first non-white prime minister. That is the concern among some south Asian Tories who have spoken to Eastern Eye. They are concerned that Britain is “not ready to take orders from a brown boy”. They…
Their grim existence for nearly a year changed on August 3, when they arrived in India as part of a group of 28 Afghan Sikhs who were flown in from Kabul with the help of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Indian World Forum and the central government Recounting…
LEEDS TRIO KINAARA DISCUSS THEIR NEW SOUND AND EP COLOURS IN BLACK Kinaara are a terrific trio from Leeds combining varied musical influences in contemporary songs that have connected with cross-cultural listeners. Their impressive repertoire ranges from Punjabi folk to Celtic songs, which are presented with dynamically distinctive arrangements. Since…
Following a positive response to her initial letter to Birmingham Airport Executives on increasing the number of flights from Birmingham to Amritsar, Preet Kaur Gill MP has written to Air India to demand the number of flights increase from one flight per week to six per week which were flying…
SIXTEEN faith-based groups working with the most vulnerable people in local communities will receive a boost to support their work through the government's £1.3 million Faith New Deal pilot scheme. The groups, which include Christian, Jewish and interfaith organisations, will work in partnership with councils, schools, police, health providers and…
A four-year-old British Sikh boy has won hearts when he created history by becoming the first Sikh model for British luxury brand Burberry Children. Londoner Sahib Singh was recently featured in Burberry's Children Autumn-Winter 2022 collection advertisement, sporting a patka, a head covering which is worn by many Sikh children…
POLICE want to speak to a man and a woman in connection with the attack on a Sikh priest in Manchester's Northern Quarter last month, media reports said. The 62-year-old religious leader was attacked and left unconscious on June 23. The victim is still fighting for his life in the hospital…
A SENIOR Conservative peer, who has given more than a million pounds to the Tories, has accused its treasurer of “disgracing” his office. In a letter to Malik Karim, seen by Eastern Eye, Lord Rami Ranger said that the party’s first south Asian treasurer had been “rude” towards him and…
The Taliban claimed that the security situation in Afghanistan has been solved and urged its minorities - Hindus and Sikhs to return back to the country. The assertion comes after the Director General of the Office of the Minister of State of the Taliban, Dr Mullah Abdul Wasi met with…
IN a curious case, the mystery about the death of a granddad in East Ham still remains unresolved even after 16 years. Mehar Singh Kataria, 68, in Byron Avenue in East Ham was killed on February 3, 2006, reportedly for £200. According to reports, his killer remains on the loose…
Derby’s de-addiction campaigner Jaz Rai waited for a year to receive his OBE honour in person but after collecting the medal from Prince William recently, he felt the wait was worth the “enjoyable experience”.The founder of the charity Sikh Recovery Network made it to the Queen’s birthday honours list last…
PARTITION, for so many people from south Asia, evokes the horrors of the violent and brutal separation of India and the creation of Pakistan. Less mentioned, however, is life before 1947, when people from different cultures and religions lived side by side largely in harmony for many years. Author Kavita…
LEADING Hindu saints, religious and community leaders, MPs and peers took part in a ground-breaking ceremony of Europe’s first purpose-built Hindu crematorium in Buckinghamshire last Friday (15). AUM will be the first dedicated crematorium for the Hindu, Jain and Sikh communities in England after the Anoopam Mission UK received planning…
As a 90-year-old Indian woman, Reena Varma stands on the balcony of the house in Pakistan where she was born, visiting on Wednesday for the first in 75 years, she recalls her playful childhood. "I would stand here and sing," said Varma, as her eyes filled with tears. "These are…
A LOVING daughter has spoken out about her father’s terminal illness in a bid to raise awareness of the need for greater investment in research. Simran Poonia was left stunned after her father Baljit Mehat was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year. Poonia, a 34-year-old social worker from Potton,…
British Indian comedian Paul Chowdhry said he was attacked when he was driving in central London, in yet another incident of ethnic minority people becoming targets of thugs.He confirmed the incident in an Instagram message on Saturday but said he was “fine”.His message came in response to two posts which…
The Canadian police have said they are still working to determine the motive behind the targeted killing of Ripudaman Singh Malik, a 75-year-old Sikh man acquitted in the tragic 1985 Air India Kanishka terrorist bombing case. Malik was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia on Thursday. Malik and co-accused Ajaib…
BRITISH Sikh MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, best known as Tan Dhesi, has met US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in London. Last week, Tan Dhesi shared a picture of their meeting on Twitter. "When first hijab wearing woman elected to US Congress @IlhanMN meets first ever turbaned Sikh elected to any European…
BIRMINGHAM Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill has written to Warwickshire's chief executive Stuart Cain regarding racist abuse being directed at Indian fans at Edgbaston stadium recently. "Racism is cancer in our society and we all have a duty to act when it raises its ugly head," the MP wrote in…
PREET KAUR GILL along with 11 other West Midlands MPs with large Punjabi and Sikh diaspora have written to Birmingham Airport CEO Nick Barton about more regular direct flights to Amritsar, Punjab from Birmingham. Direct flights resumed in August last year as Covid travel restrictions were relaxed. But there is…
The City of Toronto has formally apologized to the World Sikh Organization of Canada for "any delay" in reinstating the Sikh security guard whose services were terminated over a "no-beard" policy. Effective from Tuesday (local time) the city will immediately permit "under-mask beard covers" as a reasonable accommodation option for…
Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has been missing from the silver screen for almost four years. His last release was Yash Raj Films’ Thugs of Hindostan in 2018, which bombed at the box office. Khan will next be seen in his home production Laal Singh Chaddha, which is an official remake…
Birmingham Airport authorities have urged the region’s parliamentarians to prevail upon Air India to operate more direct flights between the West Midlands city and India’s Amritsar.The airport chiefs said fleet shortages and spare part issues have hindered the efforts of two airlines’ to link the international destinations better.They, however, said…
HEALTH authorities need to overcome misconceptions about British Asian communities in order to change an “outdated” dementia care service, according to the researcher whose review found that the system had been “designed for white British patients”. Dr Karan Jutlla’s research highlighted that the system was “totally inadequate” to support dementia…
INDIA is not happy over the participation of Sikh delegations from both the UK and Australia in various events, according to a report. Last week, 12 Sikh soldiers of the British Army visited religious sites in Pakistan under the Defence Sikhs Network. Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Bajwa invited them…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson has said that he raised the issue of the arrest of Scotsman Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi Johal with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during his visit in April. He added that Johal has been “arbitrarily detained” in a Delhi jail, the Indian Express reported.…
There was no delay on part of the Gujarat government in requisitioning the Army to deal with post-Godhra 2002 Gujarat riots, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said and noted that former Punjab DGP KPS Gill had termed the state government's action as "prompt and neutral". He also attacked Congress over…
NAV BHATIA DISCUSSES HIS FILM, BEING A BASKETBALL SUPERFAN AND MEETING OBAMA THIS year’s London Indian Film Festival closes with Superfan: The Nav Bhatia Story. The inspiring documentary charts the story of Nav Bhatia from being an impoverished Indian immigrant in Canada to becoming first a successful businessman and then…
Khalsa Television Limited has surrendered its licence to broadcast in the UK after an investigation by the country’s media watchdog found its KTV channel breached broadcasting rules with Khalistani propaganda and issued a draft notice to revoke last month. The Office of Communications (Ofcom) announced on Tuesday that having received…
While fuel prices are going through the roof, an Indian-origin gas station owner in the United States takes a part of the burden on himself from his customers.Jaswinder Singh, who runs a Valero Food Mart in Phoenix in the southwestern US state of Arizona, buys fuel from his supplier at…
MAY 26 marked a special day for Lord Mohamed Sheikh as his book ‘An Indian in the House’ was released in the presence of Lord Meghnad Desai and many other dignitaries at a grand event held at the Nehru Centre in London. The book details the lives and times of…
Whether you are a sports enthusiast or not, you might very well know Karenjeet Kaur Bains, Britain’s first female Sikh powerlifter. In case you do not know much about her, you have landed at the right place to know a thing or two about her and how she is encouraging…
THE past 12 years has seen the London Indian Film Festival (LIFF) become a leading celebration of south Asian cinema globally. Europe’s largest Indian and south Asian festival now spans across multiple cities in the UK. Cary Rajinder Sawhney MBE has continually powered the fabulous annual film feast forward, as…
A NUMBER of distinguished guests came together at the Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh in the northern Indian state if Uttarakhand on Tuesday (7) – the fifth day of the week-long celebrations that are underway in the honour of the 70th birth anniversary of His Holiness (HH) Pujya Swami Chidanand…
British-Asian political and business leaders have paid tribute to “their inspirational Queen” for her “selfless service” ahead of her platinum jubilee. The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, told Eastern Eye that he remembered being a child celebrating her majesty’s Silver Jubilee in 1977, and he was “so excited to get a…
A Pakistani woman separated from her family during the 1947 India Partition met her brothers after 75 years in April, according to a media report. Mumtaz Bibi met her brothers Gurmukh Singh and Baldev Singh at the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan, the BBC reported. The Partition of India was…
After facing a series of setbacks, Aamir Khan’s hugely anticipated film Laal Singh Chaddha is finally nearing its theatrical release. On Sunday, the superstar shared the trailer of the film with the audience. The trailer shows the eventful journey of Khan’s character over the years. He plays a differently-abled Sikh…
The Arts of India auction at Roseberys on Tuesday June 14th features a wide array of art from the Indian subcontinent and encompass a vast range of artistic output. [caption id="attachment_186136" align="alignright" width="292"] A Gandhara life size standing standing figure of Buddha, 2nd/3rd century[/caption] Alice Bailey, Head of the Islamic & Indian…
UNFOUNDED claims that the gunman was born outside the US began to circulate on Twitter, Reddit and other social media platforms within hours of the shooting. According to media reports, two Telegram groups with ties to white supremacist figures proclaimed that the shooter illegally crossed over from the Mexico border…
Police fired tear gas and used batons Friday in Indian-administered Kashmir to break up a protest against the killing of a minority Hindu by suspected separatist rebels. Clashes are frequent in the divided territory, which is also claimed by Pakistan, but the police operation was the first in the Muslim-majority…
YOUNG boxing star Dylan Cheema on Friday (13) signed an exclusive long-term agreement with British professional boxing promotional company BOXXER, according to a statement. Cheema, 25, stormed his way to victory in last month’s BOXXER Series tournament in his home city of Coventry. According to the statement, the tournament run earned…
NEWLY released album Anomaly is an amazing introduction to awesomely talented British Asian artist Jasdeep Singh Degun. The award-winning sitar virtuoso’s dynamic debut combines classical compositions rooted in Indian tradition with a contemporary flair, which showcase his exceptional musicality and ability to effortlessly connect with cross-generational listeners. The 12-track release…
THE significance of DI Ray on ITV was that such a crime drama, with an Asian actress in the lead role, has been made at all – Parminder Nagra plays Detective Inspector Rachita Ray in the four-episode thriller which ended last week. Parminder – if I can call her by…
Award-winning English stand-up comedian and actor Paul Chowdhry’s father Darshan Singh Chowdhry passed away on Wednesday, May 4th. Chowdhry took to social media to share a touching post remembering his father. “On Wednesday, May 4th, my father transcended from his mortal life, leaving an incomparable legacy,” he wrote. In his…
Racist, divisive politics which pit Hindus against Muslims and Indians against Pakistanis must stop, say MPs and the mayor of London. The issue is something Eastern Eye has reported several times. But it has reared its head once again after last week’s local elections (5 May). Sources have told this…
A UNITED NATIONS working group’s ruling on the “arbitrary detention” of a British Sikh man in India is expected to mount pressure on the UK government to do more to secure his release.Jagtar Singh Johal, from Dumbarton in Scotland, was arrested by plain-clothes officers in the north Indian state of…
AWARD-WINNING journalist turned playwright Satinder Chohan has an impressive body of theatre work that includes Zameen, Kabaddi-Kabaddi-Kabaddi, Made In India, Half of Me, Gulliver’s Travels and The Girl of Ink and Stars. She has also written acclaimed audio dramas and is currently working on her first novel about the Punjabi…
BRITISH INDIAN boxer Jordan Flynn-Dhanjal has said that he wants to be the first Sikh world champion. Flynn-Dhanjal, who loves Indian food, has racked up four professional wins, with his fast hands attracting large crowds. He is all set for his fifth fight on Saturday (30) at Bracknell Leisure Centre,…
INDIA's former prime minister Indira Gandhi valued Rahul Gandhi’s “grit and determination”, according to a new book. It added that she often considered him mature enough to be taken into confidence on subjects she avoided discussing even with his parents when he was barely 14. The book Leaders, Politicians, Citizens…
APRIL is a time of many religious and cultural celebrations. As many of us come together to celebrate our different faiths, some have questions about how we can see our loved ones, without passing on coronavirus. Riyadul Karim, assistant director of primary care, Enfield, at NHS North Central London CCG,…
ACTOR Riz Ahmed has branded the UK government’s nationality and borders bill as “racist” and “immoral” in a video. Last week, Conservative MPs rejected amendments to the bill proposed by the House Of Lords which would have softened some of its measures. In a video posted on Twitter, Ahmed called for…
BRITISH prime minister Boris Johnson arrived in India Thursday (21) touting job-creating investment but facing long odds to get his reluctant counterpart Narendra Modi to back Western action against Russia. Johnson arrived in Gujarat -- Modi's home state and the ancestral home to half of the United Kingdom's British Indians…
In 1999, a court found a brother and mother guilty of murdering a 19-year-old Muslim woman. While he strangled her, their mother sat on her legs. Her crime was to be carrying the baby of her childhood sweetheart while her husband, by forced marriage, was in Pakistan. The story of…
HOMETOWN boy Dylan Cheema became the Boxxer series lightweight champion by defeating Rylan Charlton in the final in Coventry by unanimous decision. On his way to victory, Cheema knocked out Otis Lookham inside the first round of the opening quarter-final and beat Scott Melvin by a split decision in the…
IN a landmark moment for refereeing in English football, the highest-ranked Black referee along with the top referee from Britain's South Asian community will preside over Swindon vs Leyton Orient game on Easter Monday, reported Sky Sports. Sam Allison and Sunny Singh Gill will "break down barriers" when they officiate…
I AM so excited the Sikh festival of Vaisakhi is back this week after two years of Covid. Vaisakhi, also called Baisakhi, falls on Thursday (14). It is often mistaken as the Sikh New Year, but in actual fact, is a celebration of the founding of the Sikh community, the…
VARIOUS Sikh organisations have formed a team to retrieve Sikh scriptures from a gurdwara in Odessa, Ukraine and shifted them to the United Kingdom. The items were brought to the UK by charity United Sikhs, which found a way to take them from Odesa to avoid them being destroyed in…
David Warner and Prithvi Shaw hit attacking half-centuries to set up a convincing 44-run win for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League match against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday. The left-right opening pair of Warner (61) and Shaw (51) put on 93 runs to lay the foundation for Delhi's…
Book: Ammu Publisher: Eburry Press Review by: Mita Mistry COOKING in the confines of your own home became one of the most popular pastimes during the pandemic. For some, self-isolating meant they were unable to fill their bellies with home-cooked food they craved, and others lost elderly loved ones, which…
THE UK'S media watchdog has suspended the licence of Khalsa Television Limited to broadcast in the country after an investigation found its KTV channel breached broadcasting rules with Khalistani propaganda.The Office of Communications (Ofcom) announced its decision last week after serving a suspension notice to the company over a ‘prime…
Well-known Hindi filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt is set to bring stories of real-life Sikh heroes on screen with an upcoming digital show. The 16-episode docudrama series is titled Pehchaan - The Unscripted Show. The show will feature some of the world's most renowned Sikhs, such as Economist Montek Singh, Sant Seechewal,…
FOOTBALL club Arsenal has said it contacted a fan who was allegedly subjected to racial abuse and physical attack during its Premier League match against Liverpool in London last week.A Sikh fan was reportedly attacked and his turban knocked off in the toilets of the Emirates Stadium during the halftime…
