The Indian government has formally notified the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) of the extension of its ban for an additional five years, giving the organisation 30 days to respond.

The Indian government's notice, sent via registered mail from the High Commission in Ottawa, was received at the Sikhs for Justice's (SFJ) Toronto office on August 29. Following the receipt of the letter, SFJ's general counsel, Gurpatwant Pannun, reached out to Canada's Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly. In his correspondence, Pannun urged the Canadian government to “aptly respond to India’s extra-territorial move against a Canadian organisation and interference in Canada’s internal affairs.”

The letter, signed by Jitendra Pratap Singh, Registrar of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, stated that the central government, exercising its powers under sub-sections (1) and (3) of Section 3 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, had extended the designation of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) as an unlawful association “for a further period of five years from the 10th day of July 2024.”

The notice requested that Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) respond within 30 days and pointed out why it “should not be declared as unlawful and why order should not be made confirming the declaration made in the above-mentioned notification.” It stated that objections or written statements could be submitted within this period, and that SFJ representatives could appear before the Tribunal on September 26 at 2:30 pm, either in person or through a duly authorised counsel or advocate. The letter was sent in compliance with Indian legal provisions, and the government's decision was formally communicated to SFJ, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Pannun noted that, to his knowledge, a similar letter had not been received in the United States and did not recall receiving one in 2019 when SFJ was first proscribed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. In its letter to the Canadian Ministers, SFJ referenced the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the head of its Canadian chapter for the so-called Khalistan Referendum, which occurred on July 18 of the previous year.

The letter also referenced Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s statement in the House of Commons three months later, where he mentioned "credible allegations" of a possible link between Indian agents and Nijjar's killing. Describing the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) as "draconian," SFJ characterised the notice as a "direct challenge to the sovereignty of Canada" and an attempt to silence and intimidate a Canadian organisation operating within Canada.

India has consistently dismissed Trudeau's allegations as "absurd" and "motivated."

Image source: Firstpost