SIKH FOR JUSTICE (SFJ) GROUP

 

For: Preliminary & Mains

Topics covered: Sikh Referendum 2020, Sikh for Justice, Why the group was banned and what now has done, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act

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News Flash

The government has set up a tribunal to adjudicate whether or not there is sufficient reason to impose a ban on pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which was declared as an unlawful organisation last month.

 

Why the government had imposed a ban last month?

• The Union home ministry had 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.
• Has been pushing for Sikh Referendum 2020 as part of its separatist agenda.

 

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act

The Ministry of Home Affairs constitutes a tribunal after banning the organisaation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to give the outfit a chance to present its case.

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 5 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), the Central Government hereby constitutes an Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, consisting of Justice DN Patel, Delhi High Court Chief Justice, for adjudicating whether or not there is sufficient cause of declaring the SFJ as an unlawful association.

 

Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group

• The US-based SFJ pushes for “Sikh Referendum 2020” as part of its separatist agenda.
• The fringe organisation, run by a few radical Sikhs of foreign nationality in the US, Canada, the UK, etc., was declared unlawful under the provisions of Section 3(1) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
• The SFJ is mostly active in online platforms and has more than two-lakh supporters.
• The SFJ is also planning to conduct a Khalistan referendum on pilgrims who would visit Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in Pakistan’s Kartarpur in November this year.

 

Sikh Referendum 2020

• An organisation operating out of Canada, has declared 2020 as the year for a referendum for a separate Sikh nation.
• Sikhs for Justice, have launched a virtual blitz on the social media for the 2020 referendum as they call it.

 

Source: Hindustan Times

 

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