SFJ blockades Indian consulate in San Francisco with Indira Gandhi floating

SAN FRANCISCO/LONDON: Sikhs in support of Khalistan for Justice (SFJ) blockaded and besieged the Indian consulate in San Francisco, challenging India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visiting the US, with a scent depicting her murder Indira Gandhi by Satwant Singh and Beant Singh.

Hundreds of SFJ activists participated in the blockade and rally. The Khalistan freedom rally marked the 35th anniversary of the martyrdom of Shaheed Satwant Singh and Shaheed Kehar Singh as they traveled from the Berkeley Marina to the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, SFJ said.

With more than 1,000 vehicles, the rally started at Marina Berkeley, proceeding towards Indian Consulate San Francisco. The participants exuded enthusiasm as they passionately shouted slogans in support of Khalistan.

The Khalistan Freedom Car Rally, organized by the separatist group SFJ ahead of the Jan. 28 Khalistan Referendum vote in San Francisco, serves as a stark reminder to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that “violence begets violence,” at a time when — according to with Indian media reports — an NIA team is currently visiting the US.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, SFJ General Counsel, pointed out that Modi, who instigated the cycle of violence through the orchestrated killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, should be mindful of the historic Sikh response to the violence unleashed by the Indian state in October 31. 1984.

Citing India’s acts of violence, Punnun said, “Modi who started the cycle of violence by orchestrating the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar should not forget on October 31, 1984 that Sikhs have always responded to violence perpetrated by the Indian state.”

The Khalistan Referendum voting campaign is being organized under the supervision of the independent Punjab Referendum Commission (PRC).

Voting started on 31 October 2021 from London, UK and has so far taken place in many cities across the UK, Geneva Switzerland, Rome and Milan (Italy), Australian cities Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney. and the Canadian cities of Brampton, Mississauga, Malton (Ontario) and Vancouver (British Columbia).

A team of four senior NIA officers is currently visiting the US to meet FBI officials, discussing cases like the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco and the extradition of Pakistani-born Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana. The team is headed by a DIG officer from the Mumbai branch.

In his December 11-12 visit to India, marking the first FBI Director in 12 years, Christopher A Wray held talks with NIA Director Dinkar Gupta and other officers of the central agency at their headquarters.

Ahead of the meeting, NIA officials prepared presentations covering various issues, including cases and evidence against Rana for his alleged involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attack.

The presentations also covered the case of US-based gangster Darmanjot Singh Kahlon, who supplied weapons for an attack on Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, and Khalistan supporters accused of vandalizing the Indian consulate in San Francisco last March.

During his meeting at NIA headquarters, FBI Director Wray engaged in frank discussions covering a variety of topics, including activities of terrorist organized criminal networks.

The talks also touched on the ongoing US investigations into the attack on the Indian consulate in San Francisco, as well as investigations into cyber terrorism and cyber crimes. The FBI has assured the NIA of its aggressive pursuit of the San Francisco consulate attack investigation.