Terror Group Designation: India’s Push Against SFJ

Context:

This analysis examines India’s efforts to have the separatist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) designated as a terrorist organisation by the U.S. and New Zealand, amid concerns over its activities promoting Khalistan referendums. The article details the implications of such a designation and India’s diplomatic moves, offering insights into national security and international cooperation as of March 23, 2025.

1. India’s Demand: The Indian government has urged the U.S. and New Zealand to ban SFJ, a separatist group advocating for Khalistan, citing its role in organizing referendums and glorifying violence.
2. Diplomatic Talks: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh raised the issue with U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, requesting SFJ’s designation as a terror group and its ban in the U.S.
3. SFJ Activities: SFJ has praised Kanishka bombing mastermind Talwinder Singh Parmar and assassins of Indira Gandhi, while pushing for a Punjab secession referendum, intensifying India’s concerns.
4. Domestic Action: India banned SFJ in 2019 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), renewed recently; 122 cases have been filed against it since 2018, with 105 arrests by state police and the NIA.
5. U.S. Designation Process: A U.S. ban, decided by the Secretary of State, would freeze SFJ’s assets, restrict key figures like founder G.S. Pannun (an immigration lawyer), and enable prosecution as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
6. Global Procedures: The U.K. uses the Terrorism Act, Canada the Anti-Terrorism Act, and New Zealand its Terrorism Suppression Act to designate terror groups, each with distinct evaluation processes.
7. Five Eyes Impact: A ban by one “Five Eyes” nation (U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand) could trigger others to follow due to shared intelligence, amplifying the effect on SFJ.
8. Implications: Designation would disrupt SFJ’s funding, mobility, and operations, signaling global rejection of its agenda, though it requires evidence of terror activities under each country’s laws.
9. India’s Evidence: Includes SFJ’s referendum campaigns, online threats, and links to past attacks, presented to bolster its case for international action against the group.

Key Terms:

• SFJ: Sikhs For Justice, a separatist group pushing for Khalistan independence.
• Khalistan: Proposed sovereign Sikh state, a goal of SFJ’s referendum efforts.
• UAPA: Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, India’s law banning terror groups like SFJ.
• FTO: Foreign Terrorist Organization, U.S. designation freezing assets and enabling prosecution.
• Five Eyes: Intelligence-sharing alliance of U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Talwinder Singh Parmar: Kanishka bombing mastermind glorified by SFJ.
• G.S. Pannun: SFJ founder and lawyer, a key target of India’s ban requests.

Link To The Original Article – https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/what-does-a-terror-group-branding-entail/article69362990.ece