Post 9/11 Sikh and Muslim experiences get a hearing

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.: At an event here August 27 to mark the 10-year anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, harrowing stories were related of bullying in schools, workplace harassment, hate crimes based on religious affiliations and persecution by law enforcement agencies due to wearing faith-based hair coverings.

The three-hour hearing, "Unheard Voices of 9/11," dramatically presented the decade-long impact after 9/11 on Arab, Muslim and Sikh American communities.

"Most of the bullying that I faced happened in middle school," said Sarah O'Neal, a young hijab-wearing Muslim at the first panel on school bullying.

"I was called a 'towel head' and some students asked me if I had relatives in al-Qaeda." Currently a junior at Wilcox High School in Santa Clara, Calif., she added, "I felt marginalized, upset and unaccepted. I don't want other kids to experience what I experienced in school because of my religion and because I wear a hijab."

Navneet Singh, 16, of Redwood City, Calif., said, "I have felt isolated from elementary school onwards. In the fourth grade, I got punched in my face by a high school (student). I have been asked if I am related to any terrorist. I feel like I have to walk around with my guard up all the time."

Speakers at the program, organized by state Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Cupertino, Calif., the Sikh Coalition and the Council on American Islamic Relations, besides voicing their experiences, emphasized the need for policies and ideas to combat bigotry.

"The acts of discrimination, including violence and vandalism of property, harassment and bullying, are likely to increase in the next year, not only because of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, but also because of the upcoming presidential elections," said Islamic Networks Group chief executive Maha El Genaidi.

Cultural sensitivity by law enforcement personnel to recognize both subtle and overt forms of bullying and harassment was emphasized as a necessary step in being both proactive and reactive in dealing with discrimination.

The experts presented alarming statistics on bias crimes against Muslim and Sikh youth to demonstrate the need for effective implementation of "stop bullying" programs.

"It is important to draft policies to restore confidence and trust in our communities both via law enforcement and administration," said Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada, D-Davis, Calif.

"Racism is relentless and the attempts to combat racism also have to be relentless," opined William Wong, a member of the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs.

"Racism will not go away but situations can and will get better with dedicated efforts," he added.

"Not only punishment for perpetuators of bullying and hate crimes but discussion, community service and access to physiological counseling are important," chimed in Veena Dubal of the Asian Law Caucus in a panel discussion on hate crimes.

"Fear of law enforcement is one reason why people do not report hate crimes," the Indian American attorney said. "It is imperative for agencies to create trust for all people irrespective of their religious backgrounds."

"It is critical to track the ethnic identity of the victims of hate crimes for proper resolution," added Amardeep Singh, co-founder of the Sikh Coalition.

"It is absurd and ridiculous that (turban-wearing) Sikhs cannot serve in the police department in the South Bay, as is possible in the cities of London, Toronto and Vancouver," said Rajdeep Singh, director of law and policy at the Sikh Coalition. "It is imperative for policy makers to help pass policies for inclusion of people of diversity in law enforcement agencies."

Harsimran Kaur, legal director of the Sikh Coalition, suggested the media be more responsible in not inflaming public sentiment by abstaining from using terms like "Islamic fundamentalism."

"It seems like we are still living in the shadows of 9/11," said Wajahat Ali of the Center for American Progress. He quoted the center's new study, "Fear, Inc.: The Roots of Islamophobia in America," that reports a growing "Islam-bashing" network in the U.S., with considerable reach to the news media and such well-known politicians as Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann.

The report claims over $42 million have been paid by seven foundations to the Islam-bashing network in the past decade.

Others attending the program included Congressman Mike Honda, San Jose Councilman Ash Kalra, San Jose Police Chief Chris Moore and representatives from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Source: India-West

An Eid to remember for Biharis in Canada

PATNA: Bihar Association of Canada (BACA) and Bihar Foundation, Canada Chapter, celebrated Eid Milan at Centennial Park, Toronto on September 4 with traditional fanfare.

Over 300 NRBs living in Toronto area got together and celebrated Eid Milan just the way it is being celebrated in Bihar for centuries. "We Biharis are very happy to listen good things about Bihar and we pray for the growth and development of Bihar," said Menhaj Khan, vice-chairman of Bihar Foundation, Canada Chapter.

It was a very nostalgic experience for every one present in the park, with traditional Eid Mubarak greeting and feasting on delicacies such as chicken biryani, palak paneer, chicken korma and Bihari ghughni, dahi vada, sewai and many more mouth watering dishes for vegetarian and non-vegetarian crowd to feast on. The food was catered to by a local restaurant owned by a fellow Bihari.

Office-bearers of both organizations were in the park to meet and greet every member and make this Eid Milan a memorable experience for everyone.

It was Bihari brotherhood at its best. Children and adults enjoyed a day full of outdoor activities involving various games and a small "show and tell" about Bihar and its place in Indian history. It confirms that "one can take a Bihari out of Bihar but no one can take Bihar out of Bihari," said Rajesh Jha. It is the passion for our motherland that brought the best of Biharis living in Canada. "Such occasions provide us a platform to remember our common heritage as Bihari, which fits perfectly in a multicultural country like Canada," said Rajesh Nandan Singh, ex-president, BACA.

WWICS chief, son booked for trespass

Mohali, September 23
The Chief Managing Director (CMD) of the WWICS, Col BS Sandhu, his son Devinder Sandhu and estate manager of WWICS Ranjit Bajaj have been booked by the police for tresspassing, causing hurt, and intimidating Drashan Singh Kaler, owner of a piece of land in Karoran village.

Men injured at farmhouse

The complainant alleged that on September 20, Devinder Sandhu, son of Col BS Sandhu, along with WWICS estate manager Ranjit Bajaj and others entered his Sidhu Farm and injured his men present there. They are under treatment at the
Phase-VI Civil Hospital.

The complainant alleged that on September 20, Devinder Sandhu along with Ranjit Bajaj and others entered his Sidhu Farm and injured his men there. They are under treatment at the Phase-VI Civil Hospital. The complaint had moved the Punjab Human Rights Commission against the Mohali Police for not registering a case against those who had trespassed into his land. Following this, the police has booked the above-mentioned persons.aOn the basis of the complaint, the commission had directed the SSP, Mohali, to reply on the matter by September 23. The SP City, Harpreet Singh, is conducting inquiry into the matter. On the other hand, Col Sandhu said that he ownd the land and was falsely implicated. It is learnt that senior Punjab Police officials are also probing the matter.

Rs 1 lakh fine slapped on hospital for deficiency in service

Mohali, September 23
The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum has directed the Grecian Super Speciality Hospital to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to a Chandigarh resident for alleged deficiency in service.
BS Mehandiratta, president of the forum, ordered that the Grecian Hospital and Dr Vinod Nimbran, oncologist, should pay to the complainant a compensation of Rs1 lakh within one month from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. If this compensation was not paid within the aforesaid period, it would carry interest thereon at the rate of 9 per cent per annum from the date of institution of the complaint till the date of actual payment. The opposite parties were also asked to pay litigation costs of Rs 5,000. Satwant Kaur, resident of Sector 10, Chandigarh, told the forum that she was diagnosed as a case of breast cancer by the Command Hospital, Chandigarh, and advised mastectomy procedure to be performed at the earliest. She was referred to Grecian Hospital, one of the empanelled hospitals under the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS).
She was advised certain tests but during the process she got the impression that the hospital was allegedly prolonging the time line in order to justify the additional charges. Finally, the surgery was done on September 12, 2009. The complainant , however, got restless and frustrated due to the casual and indecisive behaviour of the doctors and other paramedical staff. A programme for administering her chemotherapy was planned after her discharge.
The complainant further alleged that her first chemotherapy was administered by a nurse without the personal supervision of any doctor amounting to negligence on the part of the hospital. The second cycle was also not carried out in a satisfactory manner.
The complainant alleged that the aforesaid acts of commission and omission on the part of the hospital amounted to deficiency of service. The hospital delayed the action and procedure at every stage, which was sure to have reduced the life span of the complainant and also caused her to bear pain and trauma for removal of her breast.
The opposite parties in their joint written statement have denied the allegations of the complainant. They have stated that in case the complainant was not satisfied with the treatment given by them or with the first cycle of chemotherapy, she could not have visited them again. The fact that she came to them for chemotherapy repeatedly showed that she was satisfied with their treatment. They have denied that at the time of administration of chemotherapy to the complainant, no doctor was present and have stated that Dr Ashutosh Mukharjee, who is MD, radiation oncologist, and was a consultant, had planned and administered the drug in his presence. The husband of the complainant at the time of every discharge filled feed back and satisfactory treatment/investigation certificate form.
The miraculous recovery of the complainant was possible only because of good treatment by the hospital and their doctors. Denying any deficiency of service on their part, the opposite parties have sought dismissal of the complaint. 

Sri Sai Kirpa Immigration firm chief held

Chandigarh, September 23
The special investigating team (SIT) of the UT police arrested the director of  in Sector 8 here in a cheating case today. The police arrested Mangat Ram, while his wife and co-accused Neena Sharma is on the run. The company is in the dock for duping at least 22 of their clients of Rs 22.3 lakh on fake promises of easy migration abroad.
A resident of Ropar, Mangat Ram was produced in court and remanded to three days’ police custody. DSP Anil Joshi said the accused had fled after closing his office in March when complainants approached the police. “The Ford Feista car of the accused has been impounded and we have seized his four bank accounts in Mohali,” said Joshi.
The accused was arrested under Sections 420, 465, 467, 468, 471 and 120-B of the IPC and 24 of the Immigration Act. The case against him was registered on July 29 on the complaint of Daljit Singh, a resident of Sector 23-D and 20 other complainants who were duped in a similar fashion by the immigration company by taking money from them for sending them abroad.
The complainants alleged that they had applied for work permit visa for Canada through Sri Sai Kirpa Immigration in Sector 8. All complainants had paid Rs 22.3 lakh, but they were never provided any visa nor were they refunded the amount.
It was also alleged that the company gave forged offer letters of Canadian companies to them. The company owners had also taken the passports in original of some of the candidates.
The police had earlier arrested employees of the company Vikram Jaiswal, a resident of Jagadhari district in Yamunanagar, and Tammana, alias Nidhi, also a resident of Yamunanagar.