Govt Blocks 40 Websites Of Banned Pro-Khalistan Group 'Sikhs For Justice'; Ban Imposed Due To Anti-National Activities

The decision to declare SFJ as an unlawful association had been taken after major Sikh bodies raised alarm over the secessionist activities of SFJ and so the government decided to curb the potential threat.

New Delhi: The Centre on Sunday blocked 40 websites linked to pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) for ‘a campaign for registering supporters for its cause’. "Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), an unlawful organisation under the UAPA,1967, launched a campaign for registering supporters for its cause. On the recommendation of MHA, MEITY has issued orders under Sec. 69 A of the I.T. Act, 2000, for blocking 40 websites of SFJ," a home ministry spokesperson said. ALSO READ|Delhi CM Kejriwal Says 'No Need To Panic', Urges Covid Recovered Patients To Donate Plasma

Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), an unlawful organization under the UAPA,1967, launched a campaign for registering supporters for its cause. On recommendation of MHA, MeitY has issued orders under sec. 69 A of the I.T. Act, 2000, for blocking 40 websites of SFJ@AmitShah @HMOIndia

— Spokesperson, Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) July 5, 2020

The move comes after the government designated nine more individuals as “terrorists” under the anti-terror law for their links to various separatist Khalistani groups. Among the separatist groups are Wadhawa Singh Babbar, Pakistan-based chief of Babbar Khalsa International (BKI); Lakhbir Singh Rode, who heads the Pakistan-based International Sikh Youth Federation; Ranjeet Singh Neeta, based in Pakistan and chief of Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF); and Paramjit Singh Panjwar, the head of Pakistan-based Khalistan Commando Force.

Haryana Police had also registered an FIR against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, chief of the banned outfit "Sikhs for Justice" on charges of sedition and secessionism at Bhondsi Police Station in Gurugram. A spokesperson of Haryana Police said that Pannun has been seen running a "secessionist" campaign through automated phone calls against India from the US and "indulging in unlawful activities aimed at threatening the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of India". The association had been receiving backing from Pakistan's ISI in its conspiracy campaign 'Sikh Referendum 2020' as part of its secessionist agenda. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is the nodal authority for monitoring the cyber space in India.

Last year, the home ministry had banned the SFJ for its alleged anti-national activities, according to news agency PTI. The SFJ pushed for Sikh Referendum 2020 as part of its separatist agenda. The US-based organisation had declared July 4 as the inaugural day for registration of referendum on Khalistan.