Sikhs for Justice Pledges $1 Billion to Push Khalistan Referendum on Global Stage

WASHINGTON: U.S.-based pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice has pledged $1 billion to participate in an international peace initiative associated with former U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to elevate the Khalistan issue into the global diplomatic arena.The announcement, made in Washington, D.C., positions the pledge as part of a broader strategy to secure a peaceful, internationally supervised referendum on creating an independent Sikh state in India’s Punjab region — a move strongly opposed by New Delhi, which considers it a threat to its sovereignty. Hundreds of Sikh diaspora members attended the event, where leaders stressed that the Khalistan issue remains a political dispute that demands international attention and dialogue. The financial commitment, they said, seeks to ensure that the proposed peace forum formally addresses their concerns and promotes a democratic resolution. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the group’s General Counsel, urged Trump to engage with Indian authorities on a referendum under international oversight, highlighting that Sikh activists and youth advocating the cause have faced arrests and alleged harassment.Analysts view the move as an effort to internationalise the longstanding Khalistan campaign and exert diplomatic pressure on New Delhi, even as India continues to reject separatist referendums. The proposed Board of Peace has not yet issued a formal response to the pledge.