The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal has upheld the decision of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to extend the ban on Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), led by pro-Khalistani figure Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, for another five years.
Tribunal's Findings
The Tribunal, headed by Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta of the Delhi High Court, ruled that SFJ has links with Khalistani terror organizations such as Babbar Khalsa International and Khalistan Tiger Force.
The evidence also pointed to SFJ's collaboration with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to promote militancy in Punjab.
Key findings include:
- SFJ's use of social media to recruit and radicalize youth.
- Financing terrorism through smuggling networks to procure weapons and explosives.
- Issuing death threats to key political leaders, including the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.
MHA notification
The MHA's July 9, 2024, notification declared SFJ as an unlawful association, citing its potential to disrupt peace, unity, and India's territorial integrity. The notification emphasized SFJ's role in anti-national activities aimed at destabilising the government and carving out a separate Khalistan state.
Also Read: Pro-Khalistani leader Pannun issues threat to Odisha event
SFJ's subversive activities
According to the MHA, SFJ maintains close ties with militant groups and promotes violent extremism in Punjab and other parts of India. It accused SFJ of:
- Supporting militancy to achieve its Khalistan agenda.
- Threatening India's sovereignty and territorial integrity through its extremist actions.
- Planning to escalate subversive activities to destabilise the nation.
The tribunal's decision reinforces the government's stance on combating terrorism and protecting the nation's unity. The extension of the ban highlights the serious threat posed by SFJ and its leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, to India's peace and stability.
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