India has asked the United States to list a separatist SIJ group as a terrorist organization, a source from the Indian government said on Tuesday, more than a year after the United States said it had frustrated a plot with Indian ties to kill a group leader in the United States.
Washington became public about the plot in November 2023 and then accused a former Indian spy service officer of directing the plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a dual citizen of US-Canada and the general advisor of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), in an episode that proved the growing friendship of India-Use.
India denied any official connection with the plot, established a panel to investigate Washington’s accusations and said in January that the panel had recommended legal actions against an unidentified person.
India’s request to the United States to list SFJ as a terrorist group occurred during the conversations between Indian Minister of Indian Defense Rajnath Singh and visiting the US Chief of National Intelligence. UU. Tulsi Gabbard, said the source of the Indian government, who refused to be identified as the discussions was confidential.
Indian media also reported the application.
Formed in 2007, SFJ has referendums to advocate for a separate state for the Sijs called Khalistan in Hindu India.
SFJ was labeled as an “illegal association” by India in 2019, citing its support for extremist and secessionist activities, and Pannun appeared as an “individual terrorist” in 2020.
India has had a diplomatic dispute with Canada during the June 2023 murder of another SIJ separatist there.
SFJ has rejected the accusations of New Delhi.
“Who is the terrorist? Pannun said in a statement shared with Reuters On Tuesday, referring to the native state of Sikhs in India.
“Or is it (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi’s India, which is involved in a violent transnational repression and hires the success to kill the organizers of the Khalistan referendum?” said.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defense of India declined to comment.
A spokesman for the United States Embassy said they had nothing to add beyond a statement about the conversations between Singh and Gabbard issued by the Indian Ministry of Defense on Monday, which mentioned the deepening of security ties, but did not mention SFJ.
The Gabbard team and the National Intelligence Director’s office did not immediately respond to the emails looking for comments.
At a geopolitical conference in New Delhi on Tuesday, Gabbard said that during his trip he had heard of his Indian counterparts “about the very serious concerns he has here for his own security interests,” without elaborating.
