Sikh for Justice
Less than two weeks are left for the G20 meeting in Delhi. Meanwhile, Khalistani slogans were written at 5 metro stations in Delhi on Sunday. Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, chief of the Sikh for Justice organization, has taken responsibility for these slogans by releasing a video. He said, 'The battle for G-20 Pragati Maidan has started today. Prime Minister Modi and India are on target.
Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) is an organization demanding a separate Khalistan for the Sikhs. It was established in 2007 in America. Gurpatwant Singh Pannu is one of the founders of SFJ. SFJ talks about freeing Punjab from Indian rule under its separatist campaign 'Referendum 2020'.
The SFJ in its August 2018 London Declaration had announced the holding of the first plebiscite among the Sikh community around the world on the question of secession from India and re-establishment of Punjab as an independent country.
SFJ had talked about voting for the referendum in November 2020. It was planned to be held in Punjab as well as in major cities of North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Kenya and Middle-Eastern countries.\
Pakistani connection: Got permission to open office in Lahore in 2018
In 2018, Pakistan also allowed SFJ to set up an office for 'Referendum 2020' in Lahore to facilitate voter registration and outreach to Sikhs.
Punjab Police claims that SFJ and 'Referendum 2020' are supported by Pakistan. According to intelligence officials, SFJ's websites share their domain with the Karachi-based website
Pannu herself issued a statement, in which she called upon Imran Khan to support 'Referendum 2020'. In this he had said that the work which could not be done in 1984, should be done now
Ban: SFJ banned in 2019, Pannu declared terrorist in 2020
Pannu is believed to be in touch with UK-based Babbar Khalsa International's Paramjit Singh Pamma, Canada-based KTF chief Hardeep Singh Nijjar and International Sikh Youth Federation's Malkit Singh Fauji. In 2019, the Central Government banned SFJ under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act i.e. UAPA on charges of running separatist activities.
The Ministry of Home Affairs in its notification said that in the guise of referendum for Sikhs, SFJ is supporting separatism and extremist ideology in Punjab. At the same time, it is working from safe bases on foreign soil and it is getting support from enemy countries.
In the year 2020, Pannu was accused of promoting separatism and encouraging Punjabi Sikh youth to take up arms. After this, the Central Government declared Pannu a terrorist under UAPA on 1 July 2020. In 2020, the government banned more than 40 webpages and YouTube channels linked to SFJ.
Case has been filed against Modi, Manmohan and Sonia in America
Pannu has campaigned abroad against many Indian leaders through Sikh for Justice. It claims that these leaders are linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots in India. SFJ has petitioned US courts to prosecute Congress leaders Kamal Nath, Sonia Gandhi and former PM Manmohan Singh.
In September 2013, the then PM Manmohan Singh went on a US tour. Meanwhile, the Federal Court of Washington had issued summons against Manmohan Singh on the petition of SFJ.
In 2016, the then Punjab CM Amarinder Singh had to cancel his visit to Canada following a case filed by the SFJ. Pannu has also filed a case against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and actor Amitabh Bachchan.
Nearly a dozen cases registered against Pannu in India
There are about a dozen cases registered against SFJ and Pannu in India. There are also three cases of sedition in Punjab. The dossier prepared by the Punjab Police lists various separatist posts on social media by the SFJ over the years.
In these posts, SFJ has refused to consider Pulwama attack as a terrorist incident. At the same time, Kashmiri seems to be supporting the separatists. In January 2021, the National Investigation Agency i.e. NIA had registered an FIR against Pannu amid the farmer's movement.
Also, summons were issued to many farmer leaders and workers regarding the source of funding. Pannu is quite active on social media. Releases audio and video messages in Punjabi language. Along with this, a reward of Rs 2 lakh has been announced for hoisting the Khalistan flag in government buildings.
The name of Sikh for Justice came to the fore even during the farmer's movement against the three agricultural laws. The NIA had filed a charge sheet in December 2020, in which the connection of leaders associated with the farmer's movement with this organization was revealed.
