New Delhi: Ahead of US President Donald Trump’s maiden visit to India, White House officials met members of pro-Khalistani group 'Sikhs For Justice' (SFJ), which has been banned by India as an unlawful association for supporting militancy and secessionism in Punjab.


Hours after Trump announced that the trade-deal between India and the United States will not be taking place during his India visit,  a delegation of the ‘Sikhs For Justice,’ a proscribed group in India, met with White House officials on Thursday.

The Government of India has not made any official statement regarding this, keeping in view the first visit of the US President Donald Trump. However, while talking to ABP News, top government revealed said that India is definitely disappointed by the meeting between the secessionist group leaders and the White House officials. It would have been better if the US administration had called off the meet at such a crucial time, because it can strengthen the anti-India forces.

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SFJ, had staged demonstrations at several places during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent US visit.

It was banned by India in July last year under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

The fringe group is run by a few radical Sikhs of foreign nationality in the US, Canada and the UK, a Home Ministry statement had then said, adding that all the major representative bodies of the Sikh community, during consultations by the Centre, have categorically supported the government action. The Ministry said that SFJ is a New York-based fringe group run by a few radical foreign Sikhs and doesn't have any support or traction in the Sikh community.

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