Basement Referendums to National Threats: SFJ’s Khalistani Extremism Exposed

1. Unmasking the Referendum Facade

Since 2021, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a US-based Khalistani front banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has conducted unofficial referendums across London, Canada, the US, Australia, and Europe. These events, often held in gurdwaras and public parks, are framed as exercises in “Sikh self-determination” but lack any legal or democratic validity. What appears to be activism is in fact a coordinated disinformation and radicalization campaign targeting India’s unity.

Canada alone witnessed a minimal attendance at one such event in Surrey in October 2023 despite hectic mobilization by SFJ. These are not grassroots democratic movements, they are choreographed propaganda shows designed to provoke, recruit, and internationalize a separatist agenda rooted in decades-old insurgency.

2. Criminality Behind the Curtains

On June 18, 2025, SFJ operative Resham Singh was arrested for orchestrating coordinated acts of vandalism across Punjab. Statues of national icons were defaced with “Khalistan Zindabad” and “Pakistan Zindabad” graffiti. These actions were not isolated. Singh operated under direct instruction from Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and Surinder Singh Thikriwal, both foreign-based handlers of SFJ.

This was not Singh’s first arrest. He had previously been booked under the UAPA. The events coincide with Operation Blue Star anniversaries, often used as flashpoints for instigation.

3. Funding, Diaspora Networks and Foreign Soil

SFJ’s activities are not sustained by domestic sentiment but by extensive foreign funding. Intelligence agencies have tracked money trails from the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom routed to operatives in Punjab. Diaspora communities are used as both shield and sword-providing legitimacy through referendums and funding for on-ground extremism.

In 2025, India submitted a formal request to the United States urging the designation of SFJ as a terrorist organization. Diplomatic notes have also been issued to Canada, the UK, and Australia. Despite India's efforts, weak enforcement abroad continues to allow SFJ to use foreign soil to export extremism.

4. SFJ’s Terror Playbook

SFJ has issued direct threats to Indian diplomats, placed bounties on elected officials, and openly called for the secession of Punjab. The group has promoted bomb threats and incited attacks on Indian embassies abroad. It is linked with other banned outfits like the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF), all of which have established ties with Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

Their communication strategy relies on viral videos, deepfakes, inflammatory speeches, and manipulated social media campaigns to recruit young Sikhs. Their digital activism is matched by logistical backing for acts of sabotage, desecration, and communal provocation.

5. India’s Counter-Offensive

India’s response has been multi-pronged and firm. SFJ was first banned in 2019. In 2024, the UAPA Tribunal upheld the continuation of this ban for another five years, citing clear threats to national sovereignty and public order. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Punjab Police have successfully dismantled multiple sleeper modules and are now expanding surveillance to counter diaspora-linked operations.

Legal actions, asset freezes, and enhanced coordination with international policing agencies like Interpol are underway. Arrests like Resham Singh’s send a strong signal that India will not tolerate subversion masked as activism.

6. Statistical Snapshot

Conclusion: No More Illusions

The idea of Khalistan is not a matter of freedom of expression. It is a foreign-funded, ISI-backed, diaspora-leveraged threat to India’s integrity. The so-called referendums are a smokescreen. The real intent is sabotage.

India’s firmness in law enforcement, its diplomatic outreach, and its legal efforts are already pushing back. The message is clear: Khalistani extremism will not be tolerated in any form. Activism will not be allowed to camouflage terrorism. And the idea of a fractured India will never pass, not in Punjab, not abroad, not anywhere.