January 31, 2025: The banned Khalistani organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has been accused of inciting separatist sentiments among minority communities in India, particularly in Manipur. A background note prepared by intelligence agencies and included in a Home Ministry tribunal order states that SFJ has been actively provoking Muslims, Tamils, and Christians to push for secession from the country. The report was part of the government's decision to extend the ban on the organisation for another five years.
According to the intelligence findings, SFJ has been using religious divisions to further its anti-India agenda. The organisation has reportedly urged the Christian community in Manipur to demand a separate country, encouraged Tamils to call for ‘Dravidstan,’ and has stoked fears among Indian Muslims by claiming they are victims of persecution. The intelligence note also accuses SFJ of trying to provoke Dalits against the Indian government and inciting Sikh personnel in the army and police forces to desert their positions.
The report highlights SFJ’s continued involvement in extremist activities, including issuing threats against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. It further claims that the organisation has been working in collaboration with gangsters, Kashmiri separatists, and radical elements while receiving support from Pakistan. The intelligence findings also bring a new dimension to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Manipur, where violence has been raging since May 2023 between the Meitei and Kuki communities.
The Meiteis, who dominate the Imphal Valley, are largely Hindus, while the Kuki tribes, residing in the hills, are predominantly Christians. The ethnic tensions have been fueled by demands for political representation, land rights, and identity-based recognition, with the Meiteis seeking inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category and the Kukis calling for a separate administration. Over 250 people have lost their lives in the conflict, and nearly 50,000 have been displaced.
The intelligence note also refers to an alleged larger conspiracy involving a plot to carve out a Christian country spanning parts of Bangladesh, Myanmar, and India’s northeast. Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had warned about such a movement in May 2024, stating that efforts were being made to create a Christian nation with a base in the Bay of Bengal. Her claim, however, was followed by political upheaval in Bangladesh, which saw her being ousted and Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus taking over as the interim head of government.
The Indian government has reiterated its commitment to combating secessionist forces and maintaining national unity. The Home Ministry’s order extending the ban on SFJ lists 104 cases against the organisation and its supporters under various laws, including the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and the IT Act. The authorities are now closely monitoring SFJ’s activities and have pledged to take strict action against any attempts to destabilize the country.
As tensions in Manipur persist, the revelations of SFJ’s involvement in inciting separatist sentiments add another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation. The government’s stance remains firm in preventing any attempts to divide the nation and ensuring that security forces continue to curb extremist activities.