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Bristol gurdwara
elects women members for the first time
WSN Network
LONDON: The Bristol Sikh Gurdwara is in the modst of a storm as
trouble once again flared up during voting for management elections
as at least 79 women were refused entry last Sunday.
The situation turned uncontrolable when people
began jostling each other and a pack of women surrounded a car and
attempted to roll it over. Six riot vans were dispatched to close
the road in Fishponds, Bristol, and one man was arrested and
cautioned for a public order offence during the seven-hour stand-off.Voting
finally finished at 4 pm and resulted in three women being voted
onto the management committee for the first time in the gurdwara's
history.
The situation came to a head when 79 women turned
up to vote for the first time.
Their opponents said they were not entitled to
vote because they had not registered in advance. Voting was due to
start at 10 am but it was delayed until midday when chief inspector
Rob Dean of Avon and Somerset police arrived to mediate between the
two sides.
The fracas ended at around 5.30 pm and when votes
were counted three female candidates Anita Kaur, Sheila Kaur and
Narinder Kaur, were elected to the management committee for the
first time.
Gurdwara spokesperson Satjeevan Kaur said the
election was an historical moment for Sikh women in Bristol..
6 August, 2008
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