KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
20-Mar-2023
The British Conservative MP (Member of Parliament), Bob Blackman on March 20 expressed that the majority of Sikhs living in the United Kingdom (UK) ‘totally reject’ the Khalistani project. He further urged the police to handle separatist groups in the UK effectively. He said, “This is a very small, ultra-small section of the Sikh community. The vast majority of Sikhs in this country absolutely reject the Khalistani project... It's not going to happen as we know...My message is very simple to the police, when this happens, those people need to be arrested & dealt with properly.”
20-Mar-2023
After pro-Khalistani protestors pulled down India's national flag on March 19, the Indian High Commission in London responded by hoisting an even larger tricolour flag in the building. The officials from the Indian High Commission stated that the attack was unsuccessful, and the new tricolour flag was now flying with even greater grandeur.
19-Mar-2023
United Kingdom (UK) based pro-Khalistan activist, Avtar Singh Khanda was arrested for pulling down the Indian flag at the Embassy in London on March 19. According to sources, Avtar Singh Khanda is the son of Kulwant Singh Khukrana who was a terrorist of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF).
19-Mar-2023
Khalistani supporters pulled down the Indian national flag flying atop the Indian High Commission building in London on March 19. While chanting pro-Khalistani slogans and holding Khalistani flags, the protesting group also caused damage to the High Commission building's window. However, no injuries were reported in the incident. Following the event, a man was taken into custody on suspicion of initiating the violent act.
18-Feb-2023
Khalistani supporters on February 18 raised anti-India and pro-Khalistani slogans outside the Indian High Commission in London in United Kingdom (UK). According to reports, Khalistani supporters not just raised Pro-Khalistani slogans but also chanted anti-India slogans outside the Indian High Commission.
15-Feb-2023
During the last week, the British government highlighted that a small group of pro-Khalistan activists is spreading a false story that Britain is colluding with India to oppress Sikhs. In its counter-terrorism review, stated that though the existing threat to the United Kingdom (UK) is low from the pro-Khalistan movement, it could intensify in the future. Warning about “pro-Khalistan extremism emerging from the UK’s Sikh communities”. Sources also said that a similar story is evolving in Australia where Khalistan groups have been trying to muster support lately.
10-Feb-2023
Radicalisation of the Muslims in United Kingdom (UK) on the issue of Kashmir and “potentially toxic” pro-Khalistan extremism are major concerns for the country, said a review into the UK government's counter-terrorism early intervention Prevent strategy published recently. The review warned that rhetoric from Pakistan is impacting UK Muslim communities when it comes to "inflaming anti-India sentiment, particularly around the subject of Kashmir". It also warned against a false narrative being disseminated by a tiny number of pro-Khalistan groups operating in the UK. The review, on the issue of pro-Khalistan extremism, said, "Prevent should also be mindful of pro-Khalistan extremism emerging from the UK's Sikh communities. A false narrative is disseminated by the tiny number of pro-Khalistan groups operating in the UK that the government is colluding with its counterpart in India to persecute Sikhs." "Such groups' narratives glorify violence carried out by the pro-Khalistan movement in India. While the current threat is low, praise for violence overseas and a simultaneous belief in a state-led campaign of repression domestically is a potentially toxic combination for the future," said the report.
06-Feb-2023
The Indian High Commission in London stated that United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Rishi Sunak attended the meeting between British National Security Advisor (NSA) Tim Barrow and Indian NSA Ajit Doval in London. According to sources, Doval did some “plain speaking on Sikh radicalism, pro-Pakistan groups and BBC documentary” with UK officials. Radical Sikh actions against India and assaults on the Indian diplomatic mission have been worse recently, and the local government hasn’t responded appropriately, Doval told them. Similarly, anti-India Pakistanis are active in the UK, according to the sources, who also noted that this group frequently influences British MPs’ views on India.
26-Jan-2023
According to reports, anti-India demonstrations were held outside Indian High Commission in London and the Indian Consulate in Birmingham. The protesters termed India’s Republic Day as Black Day and asked the British government to intervene and halt the ongoing genocide in “Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir”.
03-Nov-2022
According to reports, Khalistani supporters of Jaggi Johal (34) who is lodged in Delhi’s Tihar jail, have launched a fresh worldwide campaign to get him freed from India. Johal is a citizen of the United Kingdom (UK). Jaggi Johal alias Jagtar Singh Johal was arrested by Punjab police on November 4, 2017, in Jalandhar under the arms Act. Under the campaign christened “Free Jaggi Now” the Khalistani activists have announced holding protests on November 4, in 5 cities of the United States (US) including New York and California. The Canadian radicals will gather in two cities, Toronto and Vancouver while In the UK protests will be held in four main cities including London and Manchester. The free Jaggi protests are now directed toward the British – earlier they were targeting India – as a recent BBC report revealed that Jaggi was arrested in India on the basis of information provided by the intelligence agencies of the UK. According to the BBC Johal’s activities in the UK as a fundraiser for Sikh separatists active in Punjab were in the knowledge of the British intelligence agencies. He was also involved in translating pro-Khalistan Punjabi literature into English for publication in newspapers and on websites. This information was passed over to the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) following which Johal was arrested by the Punjab police. Jaggi has been named as an accused in seven cases, five of those being murder charges (targeted killings) and two being attempt to murder charges (attempted targeted killings). Activists and members of right-wing Hindu outfits, the Dera Sirsa followers, and even a Christian activist (a pastor) were targeted in these killings.
01-Aug-2022
According to reports, a section of British Sikhs has written to the United Kingdom (UK')s Prime Minister (PM) contenders Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak, asking them to clarify their views on issues faced by the community. The national press secretary of Sikh Federation (UK), Jaspal Singh on August 1 said that the community's main issues were the release and return of Scottish national Jagtar Singh Johal who has been jailed in India for five years, UK home secretary Priti Patel's alleged comments labelling British Sikhs as extremists, and addressing anti-Sikh hate in the same way as antisemitism and Islamophobia.
31-Mar-2022
United Kingdom (UK) regulator Ofcom suspended the license of Khalsa Television Limited which broadcasts to the Sikh diaspora on its pro-Khalistan Punjabi TV channel KTV after one of its programmes called on UK-based Sikhs to travel to Punjab to engage in violent crime and disorder to achieve a separate Khalistan state. The license was suspended with immediate effect on March 31 when UK foreign secretary Liz Truss landed in Delhi. “The presenter of the programme made a number of statements throughout the programme which, taken together, promoted violent action, including murder, as an acceptable and necessary form of action to further the Khalistani cause. This was a serious breach of our rules on incitement of crime and disorder,” Ofcom said in its written decision.
26-Feb-2022
According to intelligence sources, the banned “Punjab Politics TV” operating from the United Kingdom (UK) had been spreading hate against India and propagating pro-Khalistani sentiments in the country and in Punjab for the last one year. Sources confirmed that this social media channel and application was launched by pro-Khalistan sympathisers just ahead of the Punjab elections, and was being widely circulated in the hinterlands of Punjab with the agenda of keeping some political party out of power in the state and to spread Khalistani sentiments among the people of Punjab. The digital platform “Punjab Politics TV” bears the company name “Politics Punjab Broadcasting Ltd” and is registered in the UK with the Companies House, under the government of the United Kingdom. The company was incorporated in March 2021 and since then, it has been active both in the UK and in Punjab. Intelligence agencies have said that they were tracking the activities of this digital media since the last six months when it became quite active in Punjab, keeping in mind the recently held Assembly elections in the state. The intelligence agencies had shared a detailed report with the Ministry of Home Affairs about the activities of this media company and how they had been propagating hate, fake news against Sikhs in India.
03-Feb-2022
A peer in the House of Lords and chairman of the British Sikh Association, Lord Rami Ranger, said that United Kingdom (UK) home secretary Priti Patel was “right” to say during a speech to a United States (US) think tank that "Sikh separatist extremism has caused considerable tensions in recent years”. He said that as home secretary of the UK, Patel “is right to ensure Britain never becomes a launchpad for terrorists”. “Every British citizen who has taken an oath of alignment to Her Majesty the Queen must be loyal and work hard to become an asset to the nation. Engaging in criminal activities against any nation is punishable by law. With the new nationality bill, they could be removed from the country and stripped of their citizenship,” he said. Ranger urged “anti-India Sikhs” to be like the Sikh Gurus who “were committed to their Mother India and paid supreme sacrifices to preserve India’s ancient civilization”. “Anti-India Sikhs should learn from the Kashmiri militants who have been terrorizing their fellow Kashmiris for three decades and have gained nothing except to hinder the progress of Kashmiris along with causing death and destruction to their fellow citizens,” Ranger added.
02-Feb-2022
United Kingdom (UK) home secretary Priti Patel has been accused of smearing Sikhs after she referred to Sikh separatist extremism as a “shared security threat” the UK had with the US in a speech she gave on November 19, 2021. In the speech in Washington DC to the Heritage Foundation, a think tank which promotes Conservative public policies and values, Patel spoke about “the global picture and the various threats” that the UK and US face as allies, all of which “endanger our shared freedom and prosperity”. While discussing Islamist extremism, Daesh and extreme right-wing terror groups, she said, “Sikh separatist extremism has also caused considerable tensions in recent years. While we stoutly defend freedom of expression, it must always be within the law. We have expanded our disruptions capability to better address those people who seek to radicalize but who operate, often intentionally, below legal thresholds.” Meanwhile, Dabinderjit Singh, principal adviser of the Sikh Federation (UK), said that he had been raising this “quietly” with ministers ever since November asking them to explain her comments. He said, “No one has been able to. This is not just a speech but a speech on the UK government website. If Sikhs had carried out a bomb blast in Britain, it may have been legitimate to say that. We are shocked the home secretary has made such remarks… What incident in Britain would make the home secretary start saying she is worried about Sikh separatist extremists? Is it on the back of the 2020 Khalistan referendum in Britain? She says she has banned the political wing of Hamas and the undertone is that is why she is mentioning Sikhs.”
29-Jan-2022
The Chairman of the British Sikhs Association and the ruling Tory Party’s Lord Rami Ranger has called Sikh For Justice (SFJ)’s chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun a Pakistani agent for his campaign for the creation of an independent state for Sikhs called Khalistan. In a debate on the Republic TV, the millionaire British Indian businessman hit out at the SFJ and its main leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun who has already been declared a “terrorist” by the India state over his activism for the state of Khalistan. It is believed that SFJ will be taking legal actions over the serious allegations.
26-Jan-2022
According to Pakistani media, nearly a hundred Khalistani activists, including Khalistani terrorist Paramjeet Singh Pamma, gathered at the London Indian High Commission and held a protest for two hours to condemn India’s official celebrations and register their protest against India.
25-Jan-2022
The founder of Dal Khalsa and UK-based Sikh separatist leader, Jaswant Singh Thekedar accused Pakistan of using Sikhs to fulfill its nefarious motives against India. Thekedar, who is a pro-Khalistan leader himself, said that Pakistan is least bothered about the welfare of Sikhs. In a TV interview, he said, “Pakistan has never been a sympathiser of Sikhs and will never be. They can never help Khalistanis. If Pakistan wanted to help Khalistanis, then why it did not give passports to those seeking political asylum. They don’t even have a residence permit. Pakistan is using Sikhs as props for the last 40 years to target India.” He also acknowledged the steps being taken by the BJP-led India government for the welfare of the Sikhs. He also slammed Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US-based member of banned pro-Khalistan outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), saying he does anything only at Pakistan’s direction. “Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is not even a Sikh, he parrots Pakistan's script. He makes statement only at the direction of Pakistan and just for money. He can never fight for Khalistan and never did in the past. His motive is to only make money and not Khalsa. He is only instigating the people of India. They get money for making statements against India and causing violence,” he added.
19-Jan-2022
The self-styled president of Khalistan, Sewa Singh Lalli welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement to observe December 26 as “Veer Bal Diwas”. Lalli, in his social media post in Punjabi, said, “this government has encouraged and initiated some virtuous deeds towards Sikhism. Let’s encourage it even more. Hints are enough for the wise.” He wrote, “The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly welcomes the martyrdom of Sahibzada Zorawar Singh Ji and Sahibzada Fateh Singh Ji, as Veer Bal Diwas in India”. “The history of Sahibzada’s unique sacrifice can now be read in government institutions and schools, colleges, educational institutions all over India. It is the duty of the responsible Sikh leaders in particular to respect this decision and to further encourage the historic decision taken in favour of Sikhism”, he added.
16-Jan-2022
According to reports, Sikh community in the United Kingdom (UK) has started to push back against the anti-India campaign led by the Khalistani elements. The leaders of the UK Sikh community, on January 16, gathered at Gurdwara Shri Guru Singh Sabha, located in Park Avenue, Southall, and passed a resolution thanking Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government for doing so much for the Sikh community and helping to bridge the misunderstandings.