India Extends Ban On Pro-Khalistani Group Sikhs For Justice: All You Need To Know

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) extended the ban on the pro-Khalistani terrorist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for another five years on Tuesday.

The group was initially banned in 2019.

Photo Credit: PTI

India Extends Ban On Pro-Khalistani Group

In a notification, the MHA stated that SFJ has been involved in activities that threaten India's internal security and public order. The ministry emphasized that SFJ's actions could potentially disrupt the peace, unity, and integrity of the country, as reported by Hindustan Times.

According to the ministry, SFJ has engaged in anti-national and subversive activities in Punjab, aiming to undermine India's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The group has been accused of maintaining close ties with militant organizations and activists, supporting violent extremism and militancy in Punjab and other regions to establish a sovereign Khalistan.

The MHA alleged that SFJ has been encouraging and assisting efforts to secede a part of Indian territory from the Union of India, supporting separatist groups in India and abroad for this cause.

The Centre has extended the ban on the pro-Khalistani terrorist outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for another five years. This decision, first enforced in 2019, was announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday.

In its notification, the MHA stated that SFJ has been engaging in activities detrimental to India's internal security and public order. The ministry emphasized that SFJ's actions have the potential to disrupt the peace, unity, and integrity of the country, as per media reports.

The MHA elaborated that SFJ has been involved in anti-national and subversive activities, particularly in Punjab, to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. The group has been accused of maintaining close contact with militant outfits and activists, supporting violent extremism and militancy in Punjab and other regions to establish a sovereign Khalistan out of Indian territory.

The ministry alleged that SFJ has been encouraging and aiding activities for the secession of parts of Indian territory from the Union of India, backing separatist groups fighting for this cause both within India and abroad.

The Centre voiced concerns that if the "unlawful activities of SFJ" are not controlled immediately, the pro-Khalistani outfit will escalate its "subversive activities," including attempts to carve out a Khalistan nation by destabilizing the government established by law, as reported by Hindustan Times.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a central figure in SFJ, is wanted in India on terror charges and holds dual citizenship in the US and Canada. Designated as a terrorist by the Centre in 2020, Pannun is one of the founders of SFJ and actively lobbies for a separate Sikh state, Khalistan, in the US, Canada, and the UK.

The Centre further warned that if left unchecked, the Pannun-led outfit will continue to advocate for Punjab's secession from India and the formation of Khalistan. This could propagate anti-national and separatist sentiments, compromise the country's territorial integrity and security, escalate secessionist movements, support militancy, and incite violence, as reported. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was designated as a terrorist by the Centre in 2020. He is one of the founders of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and actively lobbies for a separate state for Sikhs, which they call Khalistan, in the US, Canada and the UK.