The Indian Govt on Wednesday banned US-based The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for a period of 5 years. Sikhs for Justice was founded in 2007 and was formed with Avtar Singh Pannun as its president and Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as its legal advisor.
US-based The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) pushes for Sikh Referendum 2020 and its primary objective is to establish an “independent and sovereign country” in Punjab.
UK-based SFJ activists were in the spotlight during the India vs England World Cup cricket match at Edgbaston (Birmingham). Recently the group members were seen wearing T-shirts of Punjab Referendum 2020 and waving the Khalistani Flag at the Cricket match.
A meeting of the Union Cabinet decided to declare SFJ as outlawed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, a home ministry official said.
It openly espouses the cause of Khalistan and in that process challenges the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, another official said.
A Gazette Notification issued by the Home Ministry said that the Central Government is of the opinion that the SFJ is indulging in the activities which are prejudicial to the integrity and security of the country. The notification says that SFJ is involved in anti-national and subversive activities in Punjab and elsewhere, intended to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India; it is in close touch with the militant outfits and activists, and it is supporting violent form of extremism and militancy in Punjab and elsewhere to carve out a sovereign Khalistan out of India; and SFJ is encouraging and aiding the activities for secession and supporting separatist groups fighting for this purpose.
According to top MHA officials, “Central government has today sent a strong warning to fringe groups operating from foreign soils that it will not tolerate secessionist activities, whether carried out in India or abroad, and will take strong action against such entities under law.”
Ten cases have been lodged with Punjab Police while one case is with National Investigation Agency (NIA) in which 39 accused have been arrested.
Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh described it as the first step towards protecting the nation from the anti-India and secessionist plans and designs of the ISI-backed organisation. He said the association should be declared a terror organisation.
Punjab CM demands total Ban as terrorist group
Punjab CM Capt Amarinder said though the outfit deserved to be banned outright as a terrorist organisation, the Centre had at least taken a long-overdue stand against SFJ, which had unleashed a wave of terror and fear in Punjab in recent years.
Punjab CMO: CM Captain Amarinder Singh has hailed the Govt of India’s decision to ban Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as an unlawful association, describing it as the first step towards protecting the nation from the anti-India/secessionist designs of ISI-backed organisation. (File pic) pic.twitter.com/aMydtRhqav
— ANI (@ANI) 10 July 2019
With this step, the Centre had finally shown its much-needed intent to crack down on the organisation, which was covertly being backed by Pakistan’s ISI in its conspiratorial campaign over ‘Sikh Referendum 2020’, launched in 2014, said the Punjab CM.
He, however, asserted that the Centre would have to take more proactive measures to crack down on SFJ and its affiliates/operatives in the interest of national security.