BRITISH SIKH ACTIVISTS
(TRUK0021)
Statement from British Sikh Activists Regarding the Khalistan Referendum and Transnational Repression
We, as Sikh activists, are peacefully campaigning for the Khalistan Referendum, a global, non-binding vote on whether Punjab should become an independent state. The referendum, organized by Sikhs for Justice, began on October 31, 2021, at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London, Parliament Square, and has since taken place in multiple countries worldwide. Nearly a million Sikhs have already participated in this democratic exercise, with the next voting session scheduled for March 2025 in Los Angeles.
As British citizens, we have faced ongoing threats to our families in India simply for supporting the Khalistan Referendum. These threats include warnings that our relatives will be arrested, tortured, or harmed if we continue our advocacy. Disturbingly, we have been told that the atrocities of the 1984 Sikh Genocide will be repeated, with explicit threats of sexual violence against Sikh women.
These threats are not abstract fears; they are actively conveyed by individuals linked to India House—the Indian High Commission in London. We have encountered intimidation at community events, in direct face-to-face confrontations, and through phone calls, some from Indian numbers and others disguised as UK numbers.
British Sikhs live in fear of assassination attempts similar to those that have taken place in other countries. The brutal murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, where he was shot dead in a Gurdwara car park, serves as a stark warning. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has openly accused Indian government agents of orchestrating Nijjar’s assassination, making it clear that a foreign power engaged in extrajudicial killings on Canadian soil.
Further evidence of India's transnational repression was exposed when U.S. security services thwarted an assassination plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a leader of Sikhs for Justice. Several Indian agents, including Nikhil Gupta, have since been indicted.
Despite these alarming incidents, British authorities have failed to conduct any meaningful scrutiny of Indian intelligence operations in the UK. This lack of action leaves British Sikhs vulnerable to threats and potential violence on UK soil.
The Indian government’s transnational repression extends beyond threats of violence. Many of us have received phone calls warning that "unknown men" will be sent to kill us. These threats are not limited to private communications; social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), are rife with posts inciting violence against Sikhs advocating for Khalistan. A simple search of the term "Khalistan" reveals numerous calls for murder, illustrating how online spaces are being used to intimidate and silence Sikh voices.
Moreover, Indian authorities have weaponized visa cancellations as another form of coercion. Sikhs who speak out against human rights abuses in Punjab face restrictions on their ability to travel. The case of Jagtar Singh Johal, a British citizen imprisoned in India since 2017 on fabricated charges, is a glaring example of how dissenting voices are targeted.
We demand immediate and concrete action from the UK government to address these threats. Specifically, we call for:
The UK government must recognize that the safety and security of British Sikhs are being directly compromised by a foreign power. Lip service is not enough—we need decisive action to uphold British sovereignty and protect the fundamental rights of our community.
(Feb 2025)