London (UK) auction house removes Sikh scripture from sale after community outrage

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Sikh community outrage regarding the sale sacred Sikh scripture led to an auction house removing Angs (meaning limbs, referring to pages) of Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Sikh scriptural Guru) from its listings.

Auction house Roseberys London was advertising several lots of Sikh scripture from a private seller earlier this month. In response, individual members of the Sikh community sent emails to the auction house, expressing “utter outrage and deep offence” regarding the sale. Roseberys London responded by saying that they “apologise wholeheartedly for any
offence caused”, whilst removing the auction listing.

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Guru Granth Sahib Ji is regarded as the living Guru for Sikhs, and is therefore treated with regal protocol by Sikhs, and anything other than such treatment is considered beadbi (sacrilege). The idea of these manuscripts not being treated with due respect, and being sold for profit, is therefore very upsetting to the Sikh community.

The items put on sale included six large Angs from an 1850 Saroop (form of Guru Granth Sahib Ji), 15 Angs from an early 20th century Saroop, as well as an illustrated bifolio from a dispersed Sikh religious document containing GurBani (Guru’s word, referring to Sikh scripture).

A petition to prevent the sale preceded wider community action, with over 8000 signatures demanding the following of the auction house:

  1. Immediately withdraw the GurBani from the auction.
  2. Acknowledge the religious and cultural sensitivity surrounding these sacred texts.
  3. Commit to never auctioning sacred religious texts.
  4. ⁠To agree to enter into mediation regarding the handling of Gurbani and Birdh Saroops in
    their possession.

The response from Roseberrys – sent to many who emailed the 30+ year old auction house – stated the “vendor had good title to sell and comes from within the community”. It is unclear as of yet whether the vendor is Sikh or just part of the Asian community. Despite the listing being removed, many Sikhs are still concerned about the ultimate home the Angs will go to.

Sikhs in Law, a representative body for Sikh legal professionals, have contacted Roseburys London since their response. In their letter, they state:

“This is not the first time such an incident has occurred, and we expect it will not be the last. As such, we are in the process of working with Sikh academics to draft an educational document for auction houses as a source of reference for items related to the Sikh religion, and also a voluntary pledge document to not deal in items that comprise of Sikh religious text.”

The auction house has been invited to work on this education document and make a pledge to it.

The issue is a reoccurring debate within Sikh circles, as there are several manuscripts of GurBani in circulation in UK museums, libraries and with private sellers. Many believe these Saroops were stolen from Sikhs, in some cases violently, during the British occupation of Punjab and taken back to Britain. Almost all of these Saroops are not treated with respect Sikh educators would mandate for GurBani.

Unlike other artefacts stolen by the British from other countries, there is not effort to see Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib Ji repatriated to the land from which they were stolen. Many Sikh orgs feel these Saroops should be entrusted into local Sikh communities.

Repatriation of these Saroops is very important to the Sikh community, and a key point in the Sikh Manifesto (Section 5) put out by the Sikh Federation for this upcoming general election.

“Utter BS”- Harjit Singh Sajjan responds to anti-Sikh Globe And Mail article

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A Globe And Mail (GAM) article suggesting Canada’s former Sikh Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan showed favour to saving Sikhs in an Afghanistan emergency evacuation has been called “Utter BS” by the former Defence Secretary, whilst the World Sikh Organization also called the article “influenced by bias against his Sikh identity”.

The article – written by Steven Chase and Robert Fife, journalists with a history of misrepresenting Sikh issues – was released on 27th June by the right-wing Toronto based newspaper, claiming “Sajjan instructed Canadian special forces to rescue about 225 Afghan Sikhs…” which “took resources away” from “getting Canadian citizens” in a 2021 operation during the US withdrawal and Taliban takeover.

The article immediately prompted a wave of anti-Sikh rhetoric on social media, due to its salacious allegation of Sikh bias by then cabinet member Sajjan, a longtime senior member of Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party. Some outright called for Sikhs to be prevented from being in government positions due to this alleged bias, whilst others called for Sajjan to be “charged with treason”, in hyperbolic reactions to the outlandish allegations towards him.

Sajjan himself dismissed the allegations during a press conference when pressed on the GAM claims, saying they also show a lack of understanding of military operations.

Community figure Jaskaran Sandhu described the article as having an agenda to claim “Sikhs wield disproportionate influence in government to the detriment of Canada”, whilst the Manmeet Singh Bhullar Foundation – one of the world’s leading Afghan Sikh support groups – went even further to “unequivocally dispute” the GAM claims. In a statement, the group say any rescue of Sikhs was part of the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada policy, whilst also reminding “keyboard warriors” that during that period in Afghanistan “it was made absolutely clear that it was the responsibility of the Afghan Sikhs…to make their own way to the airport” for evacuation.”

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The World Sikh Org also highlighted how the article ignores the persecution Sikhs have faced in Afghanistan, which was peaking around the period. Just over a year before the operation, ISIS massacred 25 Sikhs – including a three-year-old – in a Kabul Gurdwara, and less than a year after there was another Gurdwara attack in Kabul too. The WSO also highlighted how a “failed last-minute evacuation attempt” was “ironically” being “mischaracterized as special treatment”.

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The article comes along with an ongoing upping of anti-Sikh articles from largely right-wing supporting media orgs and individuals. As highlighted by Sikh PA this week, pro-Indian Nationalist propagandists have been found trying to fund right-wing Canadian voices into taking up anti-Sikh rhetoric.

Sikh PA have previously raised concerns about anti-Sikh conduct from Globe And Mail, whilst just this week the WSO also highlighted GAM’s propagation of Indian nationalist narratives around the Hardeep Singh Nijjar story. Last year Sikh media voice Rena Heer also highlighted issues around GAM’s coverage of Sikh stories.

Sikhs selected from Gurdwara comp medal at British Powerlifting Championships

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In an encouraging sign of the impact of Sikh org effort to get sangat (Sikh congregation) into sport and fitness, five Sikhs, selected from a Gurdwara competition, medaled at the British Powerlifting Championships last month.

The national event, held from 18th-19th of May in Coventry, saw two Kaur (Sikh females) and three Singh (Sikh males)
athletes rise to the occasion, earning top honours in their respective categories. The athletes were chosen from the Guru Arjan Dev Ji Gym (GAD Gym, Derby, UK) powerlifting competition held last year, an event which is proving to be a significant stepping stone for Sikh athletes to take their talents to a national level.

The GAD Gym team members, representing their community for the first time at the BPF British
Championships, brought home the following results:

  • Harshani Kaur Dhanda (22) competed in the Women’s category
  • Sarabjit Kaur Nath competed in the Women’s Masters category and placed first
  • Avtar Singh Jawanda competed in the Men’s Masters category and placed first
  • Ranjit Singh Ranu (18) competed in the Juniors 16-19 category and placed first
  • Harsahib Singh Sudle (20) competed in the 71.5kg BW category and placed first
  •  Taranjit Singh Pandher (23) competed in the 97.6kg BW category and placed first

Harsahib Singh and Taranjit Singh broke the British Record for Deadlifts in their respective weight categories, with Harsahib lifting with 252.5kg and Taranjit lifting 255kg. The team’s exceptional performance was widely praised by Sikh community members. The GAD Gym team, expressed their immense pride for the competitors, saying in an online statement: “We are super proud of all our competitors who have trained so hard and put our community on the map by stepping up into National Level regulated competition.”

Ranjit Singh Ranu, one of the standout performers, shared his thoughts on competing at a national level for the first time, saying “It was a surreal opportunity. From lifting weights and competing in the local Gurdwara gym competitions to competing on a national stage was a big jump. It felt amazing to be a part of it.”

He further emphasised the role of the GAD Gym competition in his journey, “Without the GAD gym Gurdwara competition, I would never have got the opportunity to do this competition. GAD Gym is the foundation of my powerlifting journey.”

Taranjit Singh Pandher also reflected on his experience, saying “I won’t lie, I was very nervous leading up to the competition, but seeing the support on the day got rid of all my nerves. It was a rewarding day as I showcased all the work I had put in over the last few months. What made it even better was doing it alongside other Sikhs with the same goals.”

Taranjit also highlighted the impact of the GAD Gym Gurdwara competition, “The GAD competition inspired not only myself but others to compete in powerlifting. The support of the Gurdwara allowed us to be invited to an official competition. I am now very passionate about this sport and can’t thank GAD Gurdwara enough for their events.”

Both athletes are optimistic about the future of UK Sikhs in powerlifting. Ranjit believes that “the future of UK Sikhs in powerlifting is up and coming.” Taranjit added, “I know we can definitely get more UK Sikhs to compete professionally. This is only the start for many of us, and I’m proud of everyone that competed on the day.”

The success of these athletes at the British Powerlifting Championships not only empowers the Sikh community but also paves the way for future Sikh powerlifters. The GAD Gym’s initiative in promoting powerlifting through local competitions has proven to be a catalyst for national success, helping to lead the way for Sikhs in sport in the UK and beyond.

Hindu Indian American charged with hate crime for threats to Sikh org

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A Hindu Indian-origin resident of Texas has been charged with a federal hate crime and for violent threats towards an American Sikh non-profit organization, including a threat to “shave” their employees.

Bhushan Athale, a 48-year-old based in Dallas, faces sentencing for his actions in threatening Sikh staff of the unnamed org with a dangerous weapon and one count of an interstate threat to injure another person. These charges stem from incidents that occurred in 2022 and 2023, in what is a disturbing example of Hindutva (Hindu extremism) in the USA.

On 17th September 2022, Athale made a series of threatening calls to an organization that advocates for the civil rights of Sikh individuals in the United States. Over the course of an hour, Athale left seven voicemails that expressed extreme hatred toward Sikhs, which included threats to kill or injure the org’s staff. In his voicemails, Athale stated his intention to “catch” the Sikhs at the organization, and forcibly “shave” them. He threatened to use a razor to forcibly “cut” their hair and make them bald, and he also mentioned forcing them to smoke and eat tobacco, saying he would “show [them] the heaven”. Tobacco consumption and cutting hair are forbidden in Sikhi, with Amritdhari (initiated) Sikhs committing to never partake in either. Many Sikhs have historically have sacrificed their lives rather than do either act.

The harassment did not stop there. In March 2023, Athale again called the same Sikh organd left two more voicemails. These messages were similarly filled with violent imagery and hatred, this time extending to Muslims as well. He suggested that the Indian Government and Mumbai Police should “catch them and beat their ass” and used further
obscenities towards the Sikh org’s staff.

The investigation into Athale’s actions revealed a long history of making religious-based hate comments and threats. He previously used a professional networking site to express hatred toward Pakistan and Muslims to a former co-worker, stating, “I hate you, I just don’t know how to kill your whole family including you? Tell me??? I will figure it out. Probably I will hire a Jew, they will be most happy”.

If convicted, Athale faces a maximum penalty of 10-years in prison for interfering with federally protected activities and a maximum penalty of five years in prison for transmitting an interstate threat. Both charges also carry a penalty of up to a $250,000 fine. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the US Sentencing
Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Read the official legal notice on Athale’s crimes here.

There has been a notable increase in anti-Sikh hate crime in the US, from both American citizens in racist and Islamophobic attacks, and from some Indians who believe in Hindu supremacy and view Sikhs as against Indian nationalism, which is entwined with Hindutva due to the belief of India belonging to Hindus.

The charge against Athale comes after years of amplified anti-Sikh hate, allowed to grow on social media sites like Twitter/X, as well as the Indian State’s own direct anti-Sikh transnational repression campaign.

Read about an Indian nationalist fanatic rampaging through a California Gurdwara last year here.

Nijjar assassin arrested close to wedding with “who’s-who of Delhi’s Sikh enemies”

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New information on the assassination of Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar has revealed one of the men in custody was arrested the day before a Toronto wedding that many prominent Khalistan activists attended.

The news about the arrest of Amandeep Singh in Brampton (Ontario) on 3rd November 2023 was revealed by CBC news last week, with the news outlet saying the wedding “brought together a who’s-who of New Delhi’s Sikh enemies“, suggesting Amandeep may have been there to assassinate attendees.

There are worries within the Sikh community about what could have happened if Amandeep – a noted criminal on the radar of Canadian authorities – was still at large during such a gathering. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the General Counsel of Sikhs For Justice who is one of India’s most wanted targets, was set to attend before deciding against it due to security concerns. An Indian State plot to murder Pannun was later thwarted by the FBI.

Amandeep Singh is one of four men on trial for the murder of Shaheed Nijjar in Surrey (BC) in June last year. Amandeep was stopped twice before he was arrested in November, which saw him found in possession of a gun. He was initially charged only with firearms, drug and breach offences. Amandeep then spent six months in pre-trial detention before he was hit with an additional first-degree murder charge in the case of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Last month Global News discovered that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) attempted to pull Amandeep over on the 26th March 2023, about four kilometres from Guru Nanak Temple where Nijjar was shot. Amandeep failed to stop and was charged for the crime on the same day. He was released on an undertaking to appear in court in Surrey on the 16th June. Nijjar was killed two days later.

“This was the general perception in the community, that I would be attending a religious function, because that’s the only function I have ever attended in the past,” Pannun said to CBC. “If somebody is so close to our organization and so close to the Khalistan referendum campaign, I do go sometimes and attend their religious ceremony in the gurdwaras. Until a day or so (before), I was very sure that I would go.”

Community figure and BC Gurdwaras Spokesperson Moninder Singh, a close friend of Shaheed Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar who also received a “Duty to Warn” letter from the RCMP spoke, reiterating information from the FBI’s foiling of the Pannun assassination, which revealed there were “many targets” India was trying to kill.

“Looking back on that weekend, the types of arrests that were made of the fourth shooter in Hardeep’s case, now it seems like there’s a lot of dots that could be connected for that weekend. We have the U.S. indictment that comes out a couple of weeks later that says that it wasn’t just Hardeep. There were three or four other Sikh Khalistani leaders in Canada allegedly targeted by India. There may have been not a better opportune time than that weekend, when a lot of us were gathering, for something to actually potentially happen.”

The trial of Amandeep Singh, along with Karandeep Singh, Karan Brar and Kamalpreet Singh continues.

Indian police corruption in 13-year-old Sikh girl rape case prompts global outcry

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Shocking police corruption around the abduction and rape of a 13-year-old Sikh girl sent shockwaves through the Sikh world last week, as community groups accuse Indian police of trying to protect the “wealthy” culprits.

The case only came to light after weeks of police neglect due to the intervention of leading Sikh body Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee last week, which further prompted more Sikh organizations to get involved to press police into action, finally resulting in arrests.

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On 28th April, Sahab (also spelled Saab) Singh, a Granthi (meaning ‘knowledgeable one’, referring to a person in charge of Sikh scripture) at a Gurdwara in Pilibhit in the state of Uttar Pradesh was conducting Rehras (evening meditation/prayer) while his 13-year-old daughter was outside the Gurdwara. Four men in a white car were seen kidnapping the child from the Gurdwara gate whilst everyone else was inside. The next day (29.05.24) an FIR (First Information Report) was filed and and on the 30th the child was recovered from her abusers.

The police identified all four of the attackers but only arrested one on the 10th May. The family continued to go to the police station to demand action, but the police refused to arrest the other three men and threatened to arrest the family if they continued to come to the station, later also threatening the father with a false case. Seemingly to refute the family’s allegations, authorities claim the girl’s mother wanted to file the FIR without explaining the reason.

Sikhs in Uttar Pradesh soon began to claim the police were not looking to arrest help the “wealthy accused persons”. The accused group are believed to be of *upper-caste Hindu background. The Indian caste-system has created a culture of exploitation and normalised corruption in favour of those believed to be of higher background, a philosophy which is often cited as being at the heart of Sikh conflict with the Indian State.

Canada based anti-violence/sexual abuse group The Kaur Movement also acted on the story, posting updates online before affiliate sevadaar (selfless servant) and community figure Amritpal Singh Mehron arrived in the area to press police into action. Upon arrival, a four-hour meeting was held with the police, after which another culprit was arrested and charged in front of the community on (30.05.24) The other two men are yet to be arrested.

On Thursday (30.05.2024) the Jathedar (leader) of the Akal Takht (meaning Eternal Throne, referring to the leading Sikh authority), Giani Raghbir Singh gave an ultimatum to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath, stating if he does not expedite the arrest of all four accused in the next week, then the Sikh community will be forced to take action themselves. However, police say they have arrested and charged all they can based on evidence.

Yogi Adityanath, one of the leading fanatical Hindu national BJP politicians in the country, has previously claimed that in his state, a person who mistreats a daughter or sister in one square will be shot dead in the next square. However, the lack of action in this case has again left Sikh communities again suffering due to his governance, as has been seen previously in Uttar Pradesh.

President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, Bhai Harjinder Singh Dhami has also called for the immediate arrest of the attackers, and supports the one week ultimatum given by Akal Takht. The SGPC also reminded Yogi Adityanath of his promise of harsh treatment and strict legal action against those who threaten the protection of daughters and sisters.

An update on the arrest of the two remaining culprits or SGPC action for it are expected shortly.

*The Sikh Press Association, like all panthic groups/orgs, do not subscribe to any belief in caste. The reference to caste is to relay the reality of hierarchies within Indian culture, and how it contributes to the subjugation of minorities and so-called lower-castes.

Reaction: Sikh political prisoner Amritpal Singh elected as MP

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Election results in India this week confirmed that Bhai Amritpal Singh – the Sikh community leader at the centre of the biggest manhunt ever last year and currently imprisoned – has been elected as an independent member of parliament (Lok Sabha).

Bhai Amritpal Singh rose to global prominence as a voice for Sikh communities after being selected to be the head of social reform group Waris Punjab De, replacing charismatic actor turned activist Deep Sidhu, who passed after a suspicious car accident in 2022. On 4th June he was confirmed as the newly elected MP for Khadoor Sahib, gaining over 400,000 votes in the Punjab constituency.

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Bhai Amritpal Singh – lead of Waris Punjab De – ran for election having been imprisoned since last April, after a month evading police capture before he gave himself up for arrest, ending the manhunt which began with one of the largest paramilitary operations seen in Punjab in recent history. Having returned back to Punjab from Dubai, the young charismatic leader became a hugely popular figure in global Sikh circles for tackling Sikh issues on-the-ground in Punjab, whilst advocating for Sikh sovereignty.

Since his arrest, Amritpal Singh’s wife has been forced to remain in India despite being a British passport holder, whilst he himself has reported torture. How his election may change those circumstances, or how he will run his seat from his cell in Dibrugarh in Assam over 2000km from Khadoor Sahib, remains to be seen.

Here we share examples of the reaction to his election which reflect wider sentiments.

Initial reaction saw the victory hailed as “shock to the Delhi political establishment”, as well as a “stunning” victory which “has shattered the Indian narrative that Khalistan has no support within Punjab”. The parents of Amritpal Singh were given his victory certificate. The level of the victory underlines the fact that Amritpal Singh ran after being requested to by sangat (Sikh congregation), who wanted an opportunity to vote for a respected panthic (Sikh path/community focused) figure, something iterated by Sikh Canadian associate of Amritpal, Gurkeerat Singh.

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The victory has also been aligned with the election of Sarabjit (also spelled Sarabjeet) Singh Khalsa, the son of revered shaheeds (martyrs) Beant Singh (the freedom fighter behind Indira Gandhi’s assassination) and Bimal Kaur. The elections were seen as “history unfolding”.

Many are also hoping Amritpal Singh will be able to push panthic (Sikh community/path focused) initiatives, which includes support for Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) movements.

In what may be a symbolic gesture of seeds being planted for Sikh sovereignty, supporters of Amritpal Singh and Sarabjit Singh handed out seedling plants to celebrate their elections.

After the recent former President and current Presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted of crimes, facing possible prison before the election race, many compared Bhai Amritpal Singh’s win with the possibility of a Trump win from prison.

The Trump comparison’s came within wider global news coverage of the election wins.

Overall, the election was also of note due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi no longer holding a majority with the BJP any more. However, many will remain fixated on the Bhai Amritpal Singh situation, waiting to see how a prisoner can run a seat won fairly through election.

Canadian Sikh had meeting planned with Indian diplomat before murder, son now warned of threat

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The murder of a Canadian Sikh community figure before he was due to meet an Indian diplomat is being investigated for “likely” Indian government involvement, whilst his son has also now been warned about a threat to his life.

A CBC News exclusive by respected reporter Evan Dyer has revealed the news, stating that Canadian authorities “have been probing whether the government of India was behind the killing” of Ripudaman Singh Malik, a well-known Canadian Sikh figure. The news came out after his son received a “Duty to warn” letter from police last week. Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar was also warned before he was killed a year later.

The report (22.05.24) reads, “The reported threat against Hardeep Malik (Ripudaman’s son) could support the theory the Indian government’s alleged campaign of assassination in Canada did not begin with Nijjar’s killing on June 18, 2023.” Nijjar was killed in Surrey Guru Nanak Gurdwara for his leadership within the Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) movement, approximately a year after Malik was murdered a short drive away in 2022 in another targeted hit.

The CBC revelations come from being given access to Ripudaman’s cellphone messages and data, which relayed plans to meet with infamous Indian diplomat Amar Jit Singh, who is also being investigated for his role in the Nijjar assassination. The close ties of Ripudaman and Indian State figures comes despite him being accused of a role in the 1985 Air India bombing, which was alleged to be a Khalistan terror attack. This has always been denied by the vast majority of Khalistan and wider Sikh groups.

The information about Amar Jit Singh arranging a meeting with Ripudaman and also exchanging calls with him shortly before he was killed is also being looked into by investigators, who arrested two known gang members for the murder weeks after the hit last July. Amar Jit Singh is believed to have helped Ripudaman be granted a visa into India, after he was previously blacklisted for his alleged Khalistan ties.

The arrested gang members are suspected to have been contracted to carry out the killing, as has long occurred across Canada through various gangs. The information taken from Ripudaman’s phone connecting diplomat Amar Jit to seeing him that day is seemingly what has led to the threat against Hardeep Singh Malik, who is now one of over a dozen Canadian Sikhs believed to be possible targets of the Indian State.

The late Malik Snr, now being investigated as a possible target of the Indian regime, was also a public supporter of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a position which reflects the tail end of a complex relationship between Malik and India. CBC describe that he was the beneficiary of a period from the late 90s onwards where “India began to offer former Sikh separatists in Canada a deal: forgiveness for past deeds in return for renunciation of their separatist goals”. However, some Sikh orgs and commentators argue that the relationship was more suspicious.

Ripudaman Singh Malik became notorious in Canada for a link to the 1985 Air India flight bombing, an incident which is linked to the Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) movement but labelled as a “false flag” operation by many Sikh groups, designed to malign the Khalistan movement. Malik Snr was acquitted in 2005 of mass murder and conspiracy charges related to the incident.

The reasoning behind beliefs the Khalistan movement was framed for the tragic act of terrorism has been intricately relayed by various Sikh figures, to the extent that many groups also openly call for reinvestigation into the incident, especially given ongoing revelations about Indian interference in Canada. The issue has even been raised by former Canadian diplomat Bhupinder Singh Liddar.

After his very public acquittal, Malik Snr went on to become what CBC describe as a “wealthy businessman”, whilst Punjabi Sikh community outlet Baaz note his well-known Sikh philanthropy, helping open Sikh schools across the Vancouver area. Yet, his ties to infamous Indian State figures runs deeper, with his brother revealing in an interview the family had become connected to Samant Goel, the head of Indian intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) who was named by the Washington Post as one of the senior Indian government figures who motioned the assassination of Nijjar. Goel oversaw a large transition of Sikh activists/alleged Sikh activists from being blacklisted from India to being allowed to reenter the country from 2019, before he resigned from his post a week after the assassination of Nijjar.

Reporter Evan Dyer recently stated Canada’s investigations now focus on India as the sole culprit behind the Nijjar assassination, based on his liaison with authorities. Now with the assertion “it’s likely that both Nijjar and Singh Malik were targeted by the government of India” in his recent article, the growing focus on India as the perpetrators of terror across Canada will only increase pressure from panthic (Sikh path/community focused) groups demanding prosecutions of senior Indian diplomats like Amar Jit Singh to follow.

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Indian State terrorist confesses govt involvement in “political” American Sikh assassination attempt

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The Indian State terrorist who tried to arrange the assassination of an American Sikh activist last year has confirmed it was a “mission assigned by the Indian government”, as part of an extradition appeal which has now been rejected.

Nikhil Gupta, the known trafficker and criminal, who was arrested in the Czech Republic last June for organizing an assassination attempt on New York based lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, confirmed the involvement of Narendra Modi’s Indian government within an appeal against extradition to the USA, which has now been rejected by the Czech Republic’s highest court.

The Czech Constitutional Court rejected Gupta’s challenge (22.05.24) against rulings by the Municipal Court and High Court of Prague that allowed his extradition to the USA. The Municipal Court in Prague approved Gupta’s extradition to the US in November 2023 after he was first arrested in June. A similar ruling by the High Court in Prague in January 2024 also backed the US request to extradite him. Despite this, Gupta’s legal team, who have met with India Consular services on several occasions, filed the petition to the country’s Constitutional Court.

The petition was based on the claim that the “political nature of the act he was accused of…was not sufficiently assessed” by Czech authorities, with Gupta seemingly suggesting the attempt to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun should be classified as a diplomatic mission, saying he “was hired by an Indian government agent who is in charge of security matters and is therefore likely to be on a mission assigned by the Indian government”.

Gupta’s target Pannun is the General Counsel of the Sikhs For Justice advocacy group, and lead of their global democratic non-binding Khalistan (free Sikh homeland) Referendum campaign, for which India has labelled him a wanted terrorist. The referendum has seen hundreds of thousands of diaspora Sikhs participate, showing widespread support for Khalistan, based on the idea of a sovereign Sikh ruled Punjab carved out of India.

Last year, India seemingly decided to begin assassinating prominent Khalistan figures, with the assassination of Paramjit Singh Panjwar in Pakistan in May and then Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June in Canada (Surrey, BC, Vancouver area). UK Sikh groups continue to also maintain that Avtar Singh Khanda was also poisoned as part of the assassination campaign. Many also say the campaign has extended into 2024 in India, with activist Rattandeep Singh and journalist Preet Singh Saini both dying suspiciously in Punjab. A Guardian newspaper investigation revealed it is almost certain that Panjwar was killed by Islamic Extremists used by the Indian government to target Sikh dissenters.

Within a week of Nijjar’s killing in Canada, US authorities had arrested Gupta after he paid an undercover FBI agent to kill Pannun. In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau confirmed India’s involvement in the assassination of Nijjar, prompting a global geopolitical shift in India’s perception, which was soon added to by US revelations of the foiled plot to kill Pannun.

The extradition still requires an official signing off from Czech Republic Justice Minister Pavel Blažek, which is expected to be a formality.

Sikhs the world over remain following the North American prosecution of Indian State terrorists who were directed to target Sikh activists, with four also in custody in Canada.

American Sikh orgs launch campaign against “transnational repression”

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Sikh Organizations have come together in a campaign to challenge India’s transnational repression against American Sikhs.

The coalition, consisting of seven Sikh organizations, has produced a document going into detail on how it is important to “act now” to protect Sikhs in America and “bring India and all responsible officials to account“, through actions including demanding President Joe Biden “sign the Transnational Repression Policy Act”.

The groups involved are California based community advocacy group Jakara Movement, genocide documentation and data focused Ensaaf, legal and political advocacy groups The Sikh Coalition and SALDEF, educational outlet The Sikh Research Institute, Sikh LGBTQIA+ Oral History Project, and politically focused outlet Kaur Repulic Media Group.

The campaign comes after a year in which the repression from the Indian state that Sikhs across the world have been
feeling has come to light in the Western media, partly due to US authorities thwarting an effort to kill American Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York last year.

Shaheed (martyr) Bhai Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s assassination in Canada has been confirmed as being orchestrated by Indian authorities by a subsequent Canadian investigation after he was murdered in Surrey Guru Nanak Gurdwara last June. Following that, in November last year, New York based lawyer Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, lead of the Khalistan Referendum campaign, was the target of a failed Indian assassination. Both incidents have triggered legal investigations, with arrests now having been made and prosecutions pending.

The document explains how “A senior field officer with the Indian government ordered the assassination of a Sikh American on U.S. soil. The intelligence official, based in India, recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman, who, unbeknownst to them, was a confidential informant for the DEA. They intended to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh activist and lawyer.”

In the summer of 2023, the FBI warned several Sikhs in the US that their lives could be in danger too and this January the FBI sent out a Punjabi language message encouraging members of the Sikh community to report issues of transnational repression.

With the history of injustice against Sikhs by the Indian state and evidence the current authoritarianism
and fascism of Modi’s government has breached foreign borders, many American Sikhs have been vocal on how it is incredibly important to protect the constitutional rights and human rights of Sikhs in the US.

Sikhs and other marginalised communities in the US fear that they could also be targeted by India in the same way that Pannun has been, which includes family land confiscated in a move which is viewed as a major human rights breach by many.

The Sikh orgs state that “India will undoubtedly continue to violate the rule of law and longstanding human rights principles inside the U.S., and other states will follow their example and engage in similar acts of repression, targeting their critics abroad.”

So, what can you do?

The document sets out ten points on what the community can do to hold the US government
accountable for protecting Sikh rights. This includes expressing solidarity with the Sikh community and regularly convening conversations about authoritarianism and human rights in India, and generally demanding justice, action, and transparency from the US state.

Read the full document here: https://assets-global.website-
files.com/5e29591964852b5d27d96ea4/664b6f73857d29a225b91f32_Act%20Now%20to%2
0Protect%20Sikhs%20in%20America.pdf