Union Cabinet bans pro-Khalistani group 'Sikhs for Justice' for unlawful activities

Pro-Khalistani group The Sikhs for Justice was on Wednesday banned by the government for its alleged anti-national activities, officials said. US-based The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) pushes for Sikh Referendum 2020 as part of its separatist agenda. A meeting of the Union Cabinet decided to declare SFJ as outlawed under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, a home ministry official said. 

The group's primary objective is to establish an "independent and sovereign country" in Punjab. It openly espouses the cause of Khalistan and in that process challenges the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, another official said. 

Sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs said the Punjab Police and the NIA busted several modules of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) indulging in various subversive activities in Punjab. "Probe revealed that activists were radicalised and funded by foreign-based SFJ handlers Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Harmeet Singh and Paramjit Singh Pamma," sources told news agency ANI.

"The Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and its secessionist campaign referendum 2020 is supported by Pakistan. Official website of the SFJ and referendum 2020 were sharing and sourcing content from Karachi-based website of a number of SFJ activists were also linked with same Pakistani websites," added the sources.