KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
22-Sep-2024
New York Police on September 22 arrested a Khalistani protester and prevented a group from breaching a designated Free Speech Zone to disrupt Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's community event in Nassau County, New York State, United States (US). Police removed provocative banners, including one depicting PM Modi with a sniper scope on his face and others reading 'Target - Enemy of America' and 'Face of India's Hindu Terror.'
22-Sep-2024
On September 22, a group of Khalistani extremists from Canada and the United States (US) gathered to protest against Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in Wilmington, Delaware, US. Among the protesters was Khalistani extremist Bakhshish Sandhu, associated with the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). A journalist questioned Sandhu's medical credentials, as he reportedly graduated from CETEC, a university in the Dominican Republic that was shut down for issuing fake diplomas.
22-Sep-2024
Over 13,000 people gathered, waving both Indian and American flags, to hear Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi addressing the strength of the Indian American community at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, New York, on September 22. Modi praised the diaspora as 'Bharat's strongest brand ambassadors' and highlighted the growing bond between the US and India.
22-Sep-2024
On September 22, outside the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island, New York, where Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was addressing the Indian American community, around 600 protesters from various faiths and communities gathered to criticise Modi's leadership. They expressed concerns over religious intolerance and violence in India under his rule, displaying banners such as 'MODI=HITLER, RSS=KKK,' and labelling him the 'Face of Hindu Terror.' Some Khalistani protesters also struck an effigy of Modi with shoes as part of the demonstration.
20-Sep-2024
Khalistani activist Pritpal Singh, founder of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, expressed his gratitude to United States (US) officials via the social media site X on September 20 for their vigilance in protecting Sikh Americans. This followed a White House meeting on September 19 with pro-Khalistan activists, including representatives from the Sikh Coalition and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), where US officials assured them protection from any “transnational aggression” on American soil.
19-Sep-2024
The White House on September 19 met with a group of Sikh organizations, including the American Sikh Caucus Committee, Sikh Coalition, and Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), marking the first official engagement with Khalistan sympathizers, in Washington, D.C., United States (US). The meeting occurred ahead of Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi's US visit, amidst growing concerns over the shelter provided to separatist elements in North America. Initiated by the White House, the meeting assured Sikh Americans of "protection from any transnational aggression on its soil." Notably, SALDEF has supported Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and accused India of his killing.
17-Sep-2024
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has reportedly filed a lawsuit in New York, United States (US), against the Indian government and senior intelligence officials, accusing them of orchestrating assassination plots. The lawsuit names Nikhil Gupta, currently in a Brooklyn prison, senior intelligence officer Vikram Yadav, former Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Goel, and India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval. This comes after the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, an incident that India denies involvement in.
16-Sep-2024
On September 16, the Consulate General of India in New York, via the social media platform X, strongly condemned the vandalism of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple in Melville, calling it 'unacceptable' and urging United States (US) law enforcement to take swift action against the perpetrators. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) also condemned the desecration, noting that similar hate crimes had occurred at Hindu temples across North America. They called for peace and religious harmony, and appealed to the US Justice Department to investigate, linking the attack to a recent threat by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
15-Sep-2024
Khalistani terrorist and chief of the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, claimed that Rahul Gandhi's statement in Washington, D.C., acknowledging the existential threat faced by Sikhs in India, will boost the Khalistan Referendum campaign. Pannun stated that Gandhi's remarks validate Punjab's secession and the formation of an independent Khalistan. He further accused Hindutva groups, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), and Jana Sangh, of being enemies of Sikhs and asserted that they will be held accountable for their actions.
15-Sep-2024
The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, United States (US), was desecrated with hate messages on September 15.
14-Sep-2024
The case against Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta, accused by the United States (US) in a 'murder-for-hire' plot targeting Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, was postponed to October 18 in New York City (NYC). Judge Victor Marrero granted the delay at the request of both the prosecution and defense to allow time for evidence review.
10-Sep-2024
On September 10, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sparked controversy by stating, 'The fight in India is whether a Sikh will be allowed to wear a turban and kada, and go to a gurdwara,' during an event in Washington, DC, United States (US). Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri condemned Gandhi’s remarks, stating that his language echoed that of Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a fugitive wanted on terror charges. Puri questioned whether Gandhi was in contact with Pannun. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress party of aligning with terrorists, criticizing Gandhi’s statement as an attempt to gain support from foreign terrorist organizations while lacking domestic backing.
10-Sep-2024
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on September 10 attended an event in Herndon, Virginia, United States (US), where pro-Khalistani elements from Baba Makhan Shah Gurdwara, known for supporting anti-India protests, were present. During the event, Gandhi sparked controversy by stating, 'The fight in India is whether a Sikh will be allowed to wear a turban and kada, and go to a gurdwara.'
22-Aug-2024
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on August 22 spoke with Khalistani separatist Satinder Pal Singh alias Raju, a close associate of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, regarding a drive-by shooting that targeted him on August 11 in Woodland, California, United States (US). Earlier, in an interview with Reuters, Raju revealed this information and expressed his belief that the attack was intended to intimidate supporters of the Khalistan movement, which advocates for Punjab's secession from India.
21-Aug-2024
Gerry Shih, India bureau chief of The Washington Post, clarified that a doctored social media post falsely attributed to the newspaper, claiming an article with the headline 'An assassination plot on US soil reveals a darker side: Pannun may have staged an attack on himself to implicate India,' was indeed photoshopped.
18-Aug-2024
In an interview, Indian national Nikhil Gupta, who was extradited to the United States for his alleged involvement in an assassination plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, claimed he is innocent and being framed by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Gupta described the harsh conditions he faces and alleged that the case against him is politically motivated to influence Indian elections. He expressed frustration with the lack of support from the Indian government and called for assistance, asserting that he and his family have been abandoned.
12-Aug-2024
According to a Reuters report, California Assembly member Bains has been subjected to severe threats and harassment since introducing her resolution recognizing the 1984 Sikh killings as genocide. She has received over 100 threatening messages, been surveilled, and had her property vandalized. Sikh activists in the United States (US) and Canada are reportedly facing similar intimidation, with ongoing investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Canadian authorities. India has denied any involvement in these incidents.
11-Aug-2024
According to the Khalistani terror outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), on August 11, Satinder Pal Singh Raju, a close associate of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, survived an ambush when the truck he was traveling in was sprayed with bullets on Interstate 505 near San Francisco, United States (US).
11-Aug-2024
On August 11, Satinder Pal Singh alias Raju, a close aide of the slain Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, was attacked while driving on Interstate 505 in California, United States (US). After going underground following Nijjar's death in June 2023, Raju re-emerged in October 2023 and played a significant role in organizing Khalistani referendum events across several Canadian cities. Known for his close ties with Khalistani terrorist and Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) chief Gurpatwant Pannun, Raju has remained actively involved in the Khalistan movement despite being targeted in multiple attacks.
06-Aug-2024
United States (US) Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Linda Thomas-Greenfield visited the Oak Creek Sikh Temple in Wisconsin on August 6. She honoured the Sikh victims of the 2012 Milwaukee gurudwara massacre and emphasized the need to combat bigotry, hate, and gun violence.