KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
30-Mar-2024
On March 30, the Bradshaw Gurdwara in Sacramento, California, United States, was busy with preparations for the upcoming Khalistan Referendum scheduled for March 31. Some Sikhs voiced concerns about ongoing repression and transnational threats, advocating for their right to self-determination through the referendum.
22-Mar-2024
According to reports, Khalistani supporters are set to gather on March 31 at the California Capitol to participate in a Khalistani referendum event organized by the banned Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in Sacramento, California, in the United States (US).
21-Mar-2024
The Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), via posts on social media site X on March 21, condemned the trend of pro-Khalistan elements targeting the Hindu community during protests and the portrayal of Hindus as perpetrators of violence against Sikhs during the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. CoHNA president Rishabh Sarswat condemned Khalistani protest posters depicting Hindus as perpetrators of violence, labelling it as 'deeply disturbing' and conducive to Hinduphobia. Subsequent posts by CoHNA emphasized the risks posed by Khalistani supporters' violence against law enforcement, diplomats, and the media, calling for urgent attention to Hinduphobia.
20-Mar-2024
United States (US) on March 20 urged India to swiftly and transparently investigate allegations of Indian government involvement in an assassination attempt on US citizen and Khalistan terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of the banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). US Congressman Dean Phillips questioned the State Department about imposing sanctions on Indian officials, while Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu stated that the Biden administration is continuing to collaborate with India to address the matter effectively. India reportedly informed the US that rogue operatives, not sanctioned by the government, were involved in the plot but has yet to publicly announce findings from its probe.
17-Mar-2024
Khalistani terrorist outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on March 17 organized a rally of trucks and cars demanding the release of imprisoned Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh and his associates, causing traffic congestion on the highways leading to Sacramento, California, in the United States (US). SFJ's chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, branded the detainees as prisoners of conscience.
16-Mar-2024
According to sources, on March 31, a Khalistan referendum organized by the Punjab Referendum Commission is expected to take place at the State Capitol Building in Sacramento, California, United States (US). Despite objections from the Indian government, the US has permitted the referendum under the First Amendment.
14-Mar-2024
Eminent Indian Americans in Silicon Valley recently met with senior officials from the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and law enforcement officials from Milpitas, San Francisco, Fremont, and Newark to address the increasing hate crimes against Hindus in California, United States (US). They expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of action against individuals supporting terrorism in India and highlighted the presence of the Khalistan movement in the US, including threats against Indian diplomats and temples. Over the past four months, more than 11 temples in the Bay Area in California alone have been attacked, vandalized, or defaced with hateful graffiti. Concerns were raised about the safety of these places of worship and the need for proactive measures to safeguard them against further incidents.
08-Mar-2024
According to reports, the Gurdwara Sahib Sikh Temple in Stockton, California, United States, serves as a centre for protest and advocacy for Khalistan, a Sikh separatist movement. Tensions have recently escalated, with allegations of government-sponsored assassinations and Khalistani militants operating abroad. While some support armed struggle, temple leaders emphasize the use of referendums. However, the community faces threats and intimidation, highlighting the discord between proponents of Khalistan and those opposed, both within and outside the temple premises.
06-Mar-2024
During a press briefing in Washington D.C., on March 6, Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the United States (US) State Department, confirmed that the investigation into the Indian government's assassination attempt on a Sikh activist in the US is still ongoing.
24-Feb-2024
A musician (ragi) with a Sikh kirtan group, identified as Raj Singh alias Goldy, was shot dead in a suspected hate crime outside a gurdwara at Selma in Alabama in the United States (US) on February 24. His family awaits post-mortem results and seeks justice, as well as the arrest of the perpetrators. This marks the second murder of an Indian-origin individual in the region this month, prompting concerns over hate crimes.
19-Feb-2024
The Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (SCCEC) and the American Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (AGPC) voiced their support for the farmers' protest in India during a convention held at Gurdwara Dashmesh Darbar in Carteret, New Jersey, in the United States (US) on February 19. They urged the Indian government to enact an ordinance legalizing Minimum Support Prices (MSP) to cover input costs and provide a 50% overhead premium for 23 crops. Additionally, they demanded the dismissal of Union Minister Ajay Mishra, whose son was linked to the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, and the withdrawal of criminal cases against the involved farmers.
10-Feb-2024
United States (US) Sikh bodies, including the Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast (SCCEC) and the American Gurdwara Parbhandak Committee (AGPC), issued a joint statement strongly condemning the Maharashtra Government's attempt to amend the Nanded Sikh Gurdwara Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib Act of 1956, labelling it as interference in Sikh Gurdwara affairs. SCCEC and AGPC pledged to challenge this move in the Supreme Court of India and intend to raise the issue with international bodies such as the United Nations Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF) and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
02-Feb-2024
Members of the Bay Area Sikh community, led by the Jakara Movement, have condemned the recent vandalism targeting Hindu temples in Newark and Hayward, California, in the United States (US). The incidents, involving graffiti referencing Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and the Khalistan movement, are viewed as potential hate crimes. Law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), are investigating, but no leads on suspects or motives have emerged. Both Hindu and Sikh community leaders emphasize the need to prevent further escalation of tensions and condemn the vandalism. The Hindu American Foundation calls for swift action to address what they see as a pattern of escalating Khalistan separatist activities, citing previous incidents targeting Hindu institutions.
01-Feb-2024
The Biden administration's proposed major armed drone sale to India, initially blocked by Congress due to allegations involving an Indian government agency in a murder-for-hire plot against a United States (US) national and Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is set to proceed after February 1, following assurances from Senator Ben Cardin, who engaged in discussions with the administration. Cardin, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, raised concerns about the timing of the sale amidst the ongoing plot investigation. The State Department notified Congress of the drone sale just a day after the public disclosure of the Pannun linkage, signalling progress in the clearance process. General Atomics, the drone manufacturer, informed India of Congress's clearance. Cardin emphasized human rights and stressed the importance of accountability in his statement, highlighting the need for mutual trust in the US-India partnership. The case adds complexity to US-India relations, with lingering questions about the Modi government's investigation assurances and demands from the Biden administration.
01-Feb-2024
Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, in an interview with ARY News in San Francisco, United States (US), stated that he remains undeterred by India's violent tactics. Pannun mentioned that he advocates for Khalistan through democratic means, citing a surge in youth participation observed in recent referendums in countries like the US.
28-Jan-2024
According to reports, more than 127,000 American Sikhs participated in the Khalistan Referendum on United States (US) soil, organized by the Khalistani terror outfit Sikh For Justice (SFJ) in San Francisco. Amid diplomatic tensions with India, the referendum saw heavy security following an earlier alleged assassination attempt on SFJ chief and Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Pannun vowed to intensify the campaign against India, citing alleged genocidal policies and expressing a desire for self-determination among Sikhs.
28-Jan-2024
A video uploaded on January 28 on social media captures violent clashes during a purported 'Khalistan referendum' in San Francisco, United States (US), showing individuals assaulting each other amidst security personnel's attempts to restore order. Notably, participants are seen brandishing Khalistani flags, with rival factions represented by Major Singh Nijjar's group and the Sabi gang, both backed by the Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ).
26-Jan-2024
Khalistani activists and supporters staged anti-India protests outside Indian Consulates in San Francisco and Washington, DC, in the United States (US) on January 26, India’s Republic Day.
25-Jan-2024
According to sources, around 5,000 Sikhs from Fresno, California, are expected to travel to San Francisco in California in the United States (US) on January 28 for the non-binding Khalistan referendum. Organizers of the referendum aim to pressure India into holding a binding referendum in Punjab, with former Bush administration official Dane Waters overseeing the process.
20-Jan-2024
Ritesh Tandon, the Democratic candidate running for election to the United States (US) House to represent California's 17th Congressional District, claimed on January 20 via a post on the social media site X that multiple temple vandalizations had taken place in the past two weeks in the US. He also criticized Senator Aisha Wahab for alleged inaction and suggested a recall. Despite Wahab condemning the attacks, Tandon organized a protest at her office, noting its closure during office hours and questioning the use of tax dollars. Recent incidents include pro-Khalistan graffiti on a Hindu temple in Hayward and anti-India graffiti on the Swaminarayan temple in Newark, California, US.