WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — For the first time, the White House reached out to representatives of pro-Khalistan groups, assuring them they will be protected from “transnational aggression” on U.S. soil. The meeting comes at a time when India is increasingly voicing concern that the United States and Canada are providing refuge for Khalistani separatists. What surprised many is that it was the White House that initiated the dialogue.
The White House reaffirmed its pledge to protect the lives of all American citizens from any form of harm on U.S. soil. This is the first public engagement by the U.S. National Security Council with Khalistan supporters. Three groups attended the meeting: the Sikh Coalition, the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF), and the American Sikh Caucus Committee.
“Yesterday we got the opportunity to thank senior federal officials for protecting Sikh Americans, and we will hold them to their assurances that they will continue to do so,” said Pritpal Singh, founder of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, in a social media post on X.
The meeting comes amid escalating tensions between India and Canada over the latter’s alleged support for Khalistani activists. Khalistan is a banned separatist movement in India, with suspected links to terrorism. While the U.S. has not made an official statement on granting asylum to these groups, Canada has defended its stance under “freedom of speech” protections.
India’s Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, reiterated that freedom of speech does not equate to supporting separatism or giving political space to those who advocate violence. He emphasized that in a rules-based society, the background of individuals, including their passports and entry into the country, should be thoroughly scrutinized.
Jaishankar further stated that the presence of individuals in the U.S. and Canada with questionable documents indicates that vote-bank politics have taken precedence over the rule of law.
The White House meeting occurred just hours before Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to arrive in the U.S. for the Quad summit in Delaware and to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York at the “Summit of the Future” event.
In a related development, U.S. Congressman Adam Schiff introduced the “Transnational Repression Reporting Act of 2024,” which requires federal agencies to report cases of transnational repression against individuals living in the United States. SALDEF, a prominent Sikh advocacy group, welcomed the bill, stating that it “sends a strong message against violating Americans’ constitutional rights.”
One of the key figures associated with the Khalistani movement is Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a man India considers a terrorist who operates from the United States. Born in Khankot village on the outskirts of Amritsar, Pannun founded Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in 2007. The group was banned by India in 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for anti-India activities. Pannun has claimed responsibility for several terrorist attacks in India and issued threats against Prime Minister Modi in 2023. He holds dual citizenship in Canada and the U.S.
