The Khalistani organization Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which continuously spews venom against India from foreign soil, has been declared a terrorist organization by the Indian government for this very reason. Young men and women from India who travel to the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. in search of work—many of them via illegal routes—are being approached and manipulated into carrying out unlawful activities under the influence of this group.
SFJ is now attempting to influence U.S. policy. According to federal filings submitted in mid-April, the group has once again hired The Livingston Group to advance its agenda at the highest levels of the U.S. government. As per the registration filed in April, The Livingston Group has designated former Congressman Robert L. Livingston, former Chief of Staff J. Allen Martin, and associate Cathryn Kingsbury as lead lobbyists for SFJ.
Their official lobbying mandate includes major U.S. institutions such as the White House, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, the State Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense. The filing states that the lobbying efforts are focused on “issues related to the intimidation and harassment of U.S. citizens of Sikh ethnicity by individuals and organizations outside the United States, due to the expression of their personal and political views.”
This marks the third time SFJ has formally engaged in lobbying activities in Washington. What makes this effort particularly noteworthy is its timing—it comes just as the Trump administration begins its new term in January 2025. Analysts suggest this move is part of a calculated campaign—allegedly backed by Pakistan—to divert U.S. policies against India.
Under the leadership of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, SFJ has long been pushing for a separate Khalistan carved out of India’s Punjab region. Their re-engagement in formal lobbying indicates the organization’s persistent efforts toward its goal. Some analysts also believe this situation exposes gaps in America’s current transparency and screening systems, which are allowing a banned foreign outfit to operate openly in the capital.
As SFJ’s quarterly reports emerge, attention will turn to Capitol Hill and the White House to see whether U.S. officials respond to the group’s appeals—or reject them in favor of reaffirming the strategic alliance with one of the world’s largest democracies, India.
