Govt blocks 40 sites of banned Khalistani outfit

NEW DELHI: As part of sustained crackdown on banned outfit Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) that has been illegally espousing the cause of Khalistan and running a global campaign on social media for Sikh Referendum 2020, the home ministry has got the ministry of electronics and IT to block 40 of its websites.
“Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), an unlawful organisation under the UAPA,1967, launched a campaign for registering supporters for its cause. On recommendation of MHA, MeitY has issued orders under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000, for blocking 40 websites of SFJ,” a home ministry spokesperson tweeted on Sunday.
The home ministry on Wednesday had declared US-based founder of SFJ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as an “individual terrorist” under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Last year, the home ministry had declared SFJ as an unlawful association under the UAPA.
As per the home ministry notification issued on Wednesday, Pannun had been issuing appeals and propagating through social media to Punjab-based gangsters and youth to fight for the cause of independent state of Khalistan, thus challenging the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country. His central demand is creation of a separate state of Khalistan.
Pannun, presently residing in the US, is instigating and abetting youths to join them in Khalistan Referendum 2020 and providing financial help to youths in region for creating violence or fear to disturb peace in the region, the home ministry added.
SFJ has major presence in social media. With the blocking action by MeitY, the SFJ main website, Facebook page and other social media accounts can no longer be accessed in India. Of late, many Indians have been receiving calls on their mobiles from international numbers, mostly from the US, seeking support for SFJ and Sikh Referendum 2020.