In a move aimed at reassuring the Sikh community in the United States, White House officials held a meeting with a group of Sikh activists. This meeting, attended by representatives from the American Sikh Caucus Committee, Sikh Coalition, and Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF), aimed to assure the community that the US government is actively committed to safeguarding American citizens from any threats of transnational aggression.
This assurance comes at a critical juncture, preceding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s upcoming three-day visit to the United States. During his visit, Modi will participate in the Quad summit in Delaware and address the ‘Summit of the Future’ at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Pritpal Singh, founder of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, expressed gratitude to the White House officials for their commitment to protecting Sikh Americans, emphasizing that further action is needed and that the community will hold the government accountable for their promises.
This meeting marks the first instance of the National Security Council engaging directly with Sikh activists and separatists. While details of the meeting remain scarce, it is clear that the White House initiated the dialogue, reflecting the growing awareness of the threats faced by the Sikh community.
Adding to the context of this meeting, Congressman Adam Schiff recently introduced the Transnational Repression Reporting Act of 2024. This legislation mandates the Attorney General, in coordination with other relevant federal agencies, to report cases of transnational repression against individuals residing in the US. SALDEF highlighted the significance of this bill, emphasizing that it sends a clear message to both allies and adversaries that violations of the constitutional rights of American citizens will not be tolerated.
Further compounding the concerns of the Sikh community is a civil lawsuit filed against the Government of India and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval by Khalistani separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. This lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, follows an indictment unsealed in November 2023, alleging that Nikhil Gupta, who holds dual US and Canadian citizenship, conspired with an Indian government employee to assassinate Pannun. The court has issued summons in the case.
The convergence of these events – the White House meeting with Sikh activists, the introduction of the Transnational Repression Reporting Act, and the ongoing lawsuit against Indian officials – underscores the growing concern about transnational threats targeting Sikhs living in the United States. The White House’s reassurance and the legislation proposed by Congressman Schiff offer a glimmer of hope for the Sikh community, but the challenges they face demand a sustained and robust response from the US government.
