ISLAMABAD: The United States-based separatist organisation Sikhs forJustice (SFJ) has appealed to President Donald Trump to place India on thelist of countries facing restrictive entry measures, claiming that thegovernment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi constitutes a direct threat toAmerican public safety and national security.
In an open letter addressed to the White House, the pro-Khalistan groupcalled for comprehensive travel restrictions on Indian nationals whilecarving out an exemption for Sikhs it described as victims of political andreligious persecution. The proposed measures, SFJ argued, would bring Indiain line with nineteen other nations already subjected to heightened entryscrutiny under previous and current administrations.
The organisation presented four principal allegations to justify itsdemand. First, it accused major Indian information technology firms ofsystematic abuse of the H-1B visa programme, asserting that such practicesdisplace American workers and undermine domestic employment in thetechnology sector. Second, SFJ pointed to federal indictments in the UnitedStates that allegedly link Indian chemical companies to the supply ofprecursor materials used in the manufacture of fentanyl, contributing tothe ongoing opioid crisis.
Third, the group repeated longstanding claims that Indian intelligenceagencies have orchestrated assassination attempts and extremist operationson foreign soil, including in North America. Finally, SFJ maintained thatthe Modi administration systematically targets the Sikh community throughextrajudicial measures, necessitating special protection for Sikh asylumseekers and activists wishing to enter the United States.
The letter framed these demands as fully consistent with an “America First”policy approach, insisting that restricting Indian travel would safeguarddomestic jobs, curb the flow of deadly narcotics, and counter transnationalthreats. SFJ further requested that any future executive action explicitlyexempt individuals fleeing what it termed state-sponsored persecution inIndia.
While the Trump administration has not yet responded publicly to theappeal, the letter has reignited debate over India’s inclusion in futureimmigration and visa policy reviews. Observers note that similar calls fromdiaspora groups have gained limited traction in Washington in recent years,though the incoming administration’s stance on country-specific travelrestrictions remains uncertain.
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Source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sikhs-for-justice-urges-trump-to-impose-travel-ban-on-india-101733028741920.html
Source:https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/sfj-writes-to-trump-seeking-travel-ban-on-indians/
Tags: Sikhs for Justice, Khalistan, Donald Trump, Narendra Modi, H-1B,Fentanyl, India, United States
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