Why ‘Sikhs For Justice’ That Allegedly Funded Kejriwal’s AAP Was Banned – Republic World

‘Sikhs for justice’ | Image: social media

New Delhi: More trouble seems to be piling up for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Monday recommended a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe against Kejriwal for alleged political financing banned extremists. outfit ‘Sikhs for Justice’. The Delhi LG’s recommendation is based on a complaint filed against the AAP ruling for allegedly receiving $16 million from the pro-Khalistan group for facilitating the release of Devendra Pal Bhullar and embracing of the Pro-Khalistani sentiments. Ashoo Mongia of the World Hindu Federation India had filed a complaint in this regard.

The latest development, meanwhile, appears to increase the potential challenges for the AAP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Delhi. Not only this, it could create more trouble for the Delhi Chief Minister, who is already in Tihar Jail after he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a money laundering case related to the Delhi liquor policy scam case.

Meanwhile, alleged suspicious funding by the ‘Sikhs for Justice’ has thrust the banned terrorist organization into the spotlight amid the ongoing political strife in India. Let us know everything about the terror group ‘Sikhs for Justice’.

About ‘Sikhs for Justice’

The ‘Sikhs for Justice (SFJ)’ is a fringe organization, led by a few radical Sikhs from abroad, mainly in the United States (US), Canada and the United Kingdom (UK), led by the New York-based Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. The persons belonging to the group also have a foreign nationality.

The NIA investigated the case related to the SFJ and revealed that the group was trying to radicalize Indian youth to commit acts of terror.

The Indian government banned the outfit in 2019

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government at the Center had banned the terror group in 2019 for its anti-India activities. The Central government, in its notification dated July 10, 2019, had declared the SFJ as an unlawful organization under the provisions of Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activity (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The government of India, which banned the SFJ, had said the terror organization’s main objective was to establish an independent and sovereign country in Punjab. The Center added that the Sikhs for Justice openly embrace the cause of Khalistan and in the process question the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. The ban was later upheld by the Delhi High Court.

Who is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun?

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is an American citizen who works as general counsel of Sikhs for Justice. The pro-Khalistan lawyer was a key organizer of non-binding referendums seeking a separate Sikh state called ‘Khalistan’, which were held in countries with large Indian diasporas such as Canada, Britain and Australia.

Pannun was born in the village of Khankot on the outskirts of Amritsar in Punjab. He is believed to have graduated from Punjab University in the 1990s and founded the group in 2007. SFJ, the New York-based organization, advocates an independent Sikh state called ‘Khalistan’ to be carved out of India.

The Indian government, a year after banning the SFJ in 2019, declared Gurpatwant Singh Pannun an ‘individual terrorist’ under the UAPA for promoting secessionism and allegedly encouraging Punjabi Sikh youth to take up arms to take.