18 March 2024 :-India has urged the United States to designate Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a U.S.-based Sikh advocacy group, as a terrorist organization. This request came during talks between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard. SFJ, led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, peacefully advocates for the Khalistan Referendum, calling for a democratic vote on Punjab's independence. Pannun responded by accusing India of "violent transnational repression" and highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role in the 2002 Gujarat massacre, where over 1,000 Muslims were killed. Modi, once banned from entering the U.S. and other Western countries for his alleged complicity, has faced continued criticism for India’s deteriorating human rights record. Ongoing Human Rights Violations in India India's treatment of religious minorities has worsened in recent years, with increased reports of extrajudicial killings, crackdowns on journalists, and the suppression of dissent. Human rights groups have criticized India for its handling of the farmers' protests, violence against minorities, and curtailment of civil liberties. Despite India’s attempt to discredit SFJ, democratic nations like Canada, the UK, and the U.S. have recognized the peaceful nature of the Khalistan Referendum movement and allowed its continuation under free speech protections. As India seeks international backing against Sikh advocacy, its own record on human rights remains under intense global scrutiny.