In the heart of the United States, a dangerous narrative is quietly gaining traction under the deceptive guise of community activism. The Sikh Youth Alliance (SYA), which presents itself as a youth-focused cultural and religious organization, is in reality, a thinly veiled propaganda machine for the Khalistan separatist movement—a movement rooted in extremism and violence, with a long history of bloodshed in India.
At the core of SYA’s operations lies a leadership that raises serious concerns. One of its key figures, Jasvinder Singh Jandi, is not simply a community leader—he is a former militant of the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF), a group officially designated as a terrorist organization. Jandi, now the President of the Fremont Gurdwara in California, has seamlessly transitioned from the battlefield to the boardroom, using his platform to spread separatist ideology to unsuspecting audiences under the banner of Sikh advocacy.
SYA’s pro-Khalistan messaging is not subtle—it’s overt and persistent. The organization hosts annual events glorifying Khalistani terrorists and commemorating individuals responsible for violent attacks in India. These gatherings are not about celebrating Sikh culture or fostering unity; instead, they serve to rewrite history, portraying violent extremists as martyrs and normalizing separatist ideology to a new generation of Sikh youth in the West.
One particularly revealing event featured Shamsher Singh, the founder of the National Sikh Youth Federation (NSYF)—a leading voice for Khalistan separatism in the West. Shamsher Singh, like many others welcomed by SYA, openly endorses the dismantling of India and the creation of a Sikh ethnostate, all while glorifying past acts of terrorism as acts of valor. By platforming such voices, SYA is not just enabling extremism; it is actively nurturing it.
This is not advocacy for Sikh rights. This is the radicalization of Sikh youth on American soil. The Khalistan movement, born in the bloody insurgency of the 1980s, left thousands dead and fractured communities across Punjab. Reviving this violent ideology under the false pretense of cultural pride is both irresponsible and dangerous.
What’s particularly alarming is how SYA hijacks Sikh identity to shield its extremist agenda from scrutiny. Criticizing SYA’s activities is often mischaracterized as an attack on Sikhism itself. This false equivalence is designed to silence critics, preventing necessary conversations about the toxic blend of religious identity and political separatism being fostered within these networks.
It’s time to call SYA what it truly is: an extremist propaganda vehicle masquerading as a youth organization. Its embrace of former militants, its glorification of terrorism, and its overt advocacy for the violent Khalistan agenda should not be ignored by US authorities. Community organizations should uplift, educate, and unite—not radicalize.
For the sake of Sikh youth, for the sake of peace, and for the sake of truth, SYA’s extremist influence must be exposed and countered. The future of Sikh-American youth cannot be allowed to be hijacked by the ghosts of a violent past.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Khalsa Vox or its members.
