Delhi Court Convicts Sajjan Kumar for 1984 Sikh Killings

On 12 Feb, the Rouse Avenue Court, Delhi convicted Sajjan Kumar—three term Member of Parliament from the Indian National Congress (INC)—for the murders of Jaswant Singh and his son Tarundeep Singh during the 1984 Sikh genocide. The arguments on the sentence are scheduled for 21 Feb. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) proved Kumar incited a mob in Saraswati Vihar, leading to the victims being burned alive. Singh's wife (name withheld) had registered a complaint against Kumar for killing her husband and son during the violence which erupted following former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s assassination in 1984 in which thousands of Sikhs were killed in Delhi and throughout India. Kumar is already serving a life sentence in Tihar Jail for the killing of five Sikhs at Raj Nagar. He now faces a maximum penalty of death. Survivor families welcomed the decision and have called for an exemplary sentence. Sikh groups, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, applauded the conviction but urged the Union government to expedite all genocide-related trials. Many have demanded capital punishment for Kumar, arguing that burning people alive required the harshest retribution. A parallel affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court of India revealed that while 650 cases were initially filed, convictions occurred in only 39 cases, highlighting a stark discrepancy between the scale of violence and the limited number of guilty verdicts. Sajjan Kumar’s conviction is seen as a vital milestone against impunity for those shielded by political influence. Legal experts note that this conviction may set a precedent for other pending appeals involving 1984 killings, especially the ongoing trial of another INC leader Jagdish Tytler who too has escaped punishment for the last four decades and potential charges against national INC leader Kamal Nath.

On 13 Feb, Akal Takht (Eternal Throne; AT) Jathedar (Leader) Raghbir Singh issued a statement condemning the sacking of Takht (Sikh throne of sovereignty) Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), linking it to the 2 Dec 2023 AT directives. He criticized the SGPC and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leadership for undermining the independence of Sikh Takhts, calling the removal ‘extremely condemnable and unfortunate.’ Giani Harpreet Singh’s dismissal had also sparked widespread backlash from Sikh circles, with many demanding clearer action from AT Jathedar Raghbir Singh. The AT Jathedar’s statement raised questions about the SAD leadership’s claim of fully accepting the 2 Dec directives, further complicating the party’s internal dynamics. Amid the controversy, on 17 Feb, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami resigned taking moral responsibility for the decision to sack Giani Harpreet Singh. Dhami also requested removal from the AT appointed seven-member committee to oversee SAD’s reorganization and membership drive. Dhami’s resignation is seen as a significant setback for the SAD, particularly Sukhbir Singh Badal’s camp, which faces criticism for allegedly manipulating the party’s membership drive and disregarding AT’s directives. Giani Harpreet Singh accused SAD leaders of weakening Panthic (Sikh collective) institutions for personal gains, stating that those representing Panthic ideology are being forced out or pressured to resign. The SGPC’s actions have reignited debates over the lack of formal guidelines for appointing and removing Sikh leaders pending for the last decade. Amritpal Singh’s new political party Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) has now announced plans to establish clear rules for such processes, emphasizing the need to protect the sanctity of these revered positions. As the seven-member committee prepares for its next meeting, the future direction of the SAD remains uncertain.

On 15–16 Feb, the second and third US military C-17 Globemaster aircrafts carrying Indian deportees landed at Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport. The total deportees in these two flights included individuals from Panjab (98) Haryana (77), Gujarat (42), Uttar Pradesh (5), Goa (2), Maharashtra (2), Rajasthan (2), Himachal Pradesh (2), Uttarakhand (1) and Jammu & Kashmir (1). The deportees were shackled and handcuffed during the journey. Sikh deportees were forced to remove their turbans. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) condemned the US authorities for violating Sikh religious sentiments. Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann criticized the Union government for choosing Amritsar as the landing site, accusing it of defaming Panjab and Panjabis. He argued that illegal immigration is a national issue, not exclusive to Panjab, and urged the Union government to divert flights to the national capital New Delhi. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded that flights were landing in Amritsar because it is the nearest airport. This is wrong because the flight path shows the aircraft bringing back the deportees flying over Gujarat to reach Panjab. The irony is Indian authorities do not consider Amritsar as a port of arrival or destination to the US, allow no civil flights from or to US from the airport, causing significant inconvenience to people from Panjab who need to go to Delhi when they travel to or from the US. BJP criticized Panjab for carrying interviews with those deported and claimed no one from Gujarat has spoken. This betrays the BJP’s dictatorial tendency to suppress negative news. Recently, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Donald Trump and emphasized the need to dismantle the ecosystem of human trafficking, expressing India’s willingness to take back its nationals living illegally abroad. However, he did not say a word on how the US was mistreating and humiliating these deportees.

Following the deportation of 104 Indian immigrants from the US on 5 Feb, Panjab police has registered multiple First Information Reports (FIR) against travel agents accused of defrauding families by promising legal entry to the US but sending them through illegal routes. Amritsar police booked travel agent Satnam Singh for allegedly duping deportee Daler Singh, who paid USD 69K (Rs 60 lakh) after mortgaging his farmland. Haryana police also registered FIRs against three agents based on complaints from deportees Shubham and Sumit Singh, who claimed they were charged USD 46K and USD 48.9K, respectively, but were sent via the dunki (illegal donkey route) route. Panjab Non-Resident Indians (NRI) Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal emphasized that the deportees are victims, not criminals, and initiated legal action against fraudulent agents. Panjab police has formed a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by Additional Director General of Police Parveen Sinha to probe illegal emigration and human trafficking. Chandigarh Police has conducted raids on illegal immigration firms, arresting seven individuals, including two women, for operating unauthorized consultancies and deceiving clients. The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) urged the Panjab government to strengthen anti-human smuggling laws, citing the failure of existing measures to curb illegal migration. NAPA highlighted the growing trend of Panjabi and Hindi-speaking asylum seekers in the US, with Panjabi speakers forming 66% of Indian asylum petitions from 2001 to 2022, while Hindi speakers saw a 30% rise between 2017 and 2022. The Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund expressed concerns over the deportation of Sikh asylum seekers, advocating for due legal process and humane treatment. In another development, Simran Preet Panesar, a suspect in Canada’s largest gold heist worth USD 20 million, was traced living Chandigarh and arrested while Canadian authorities await his surrender.

On 12–13 Feb, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Donald Trump at the White House, where they announced a deal making the US a top oil and gas supplier to India and discussed F-35 fighter jet sales. Trump announced reciprocal tariffs, singling out India for imposing high duties on US goods. Discussions covered expanding bilateral trade to USD 500B by 2030, nuclear collaboration, technology transfer and synergy, and possible cooperation on Artificial Intelligence and critical minerals. If India follows Trumps diktats it will have to forgo cheaper Russian oil and turn its back on the Russian offer to build fighter jets locally. The offer from both US and Russia has come at a time when the Indian Air Force's squadrons have fallen to 31 from an approved strength of 42. Before Modi arrived at Washington, Trump had signed the executive order pausing the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of 1977 for at least 180 days, until the US Attorney General completes a review of the legislation. This is a possible relief to industrialist Gautam Adani who is deemed to be close to Modi and is being investigated for bribery in the US. Trump also approved extradition of 2008 Mumbai terror suspect Tahawwur Rana, signalling counterterror cooperation. With renewed impetus on forging robust Indo-US ties, the question remains whether human rights and diaspora safety will receive adequate attention alongside economic deals, defense pacts, and diplomatic breakthroughs. In the meeting between the premiers, neither did the US treatment of illegal Indian migrants come up, nor did the leaders discuss India’s transnational repression of Sikh activists in the US or the case against India on the attempt to assassinate Sikhs for Justice leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannu.

Talks between protesting farmers and the government on a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) resumed in Chandigarh after a year-long deadlock. Indian Union Food Minister Prahlad Joshi represented the Union govt. and farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal—on a fast since 26 Nov 2024—led a 28-member delegation from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Although the farmers pressed for MSP legalization, debt waivers, pensions for farmers and labourers, withdrawal of police cases, and justice for victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, Joshi deferred the MSP discussion until Indian Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan joins on 22 Feb. Panjab ministers and senior officials, including Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, also attended the meeting. Previous rounds on 8, 12, 15, and 18 Feb 2024 had stalled, as farmers rejected the temporary govt. proposals. Undeterred and barred from marching to Delhi, farmers have camped at Shambhu and Khanauri interstate border points between Panjab and Haryana since 13 Feb 2024. Dallewal and other leaders insist that only legalized MSP, based on recommendations of the National Commission on Farmers, 2007 (Swaminathan Commission) can revitalize agriculture and curb youth emigration. On 14 Feb, farmer representatives again met the Union govt., but talks remained inconclusive. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait held a Mahapanchayat (big gathering) in Sikandrarao town, Hathras, calling for a nationwide MSP movement. He urged farmers not to sell their land and to prepare at least one family member for protests, warning that abolition of mandis (grain markets) would hurt crop prices as seen in Bihar. While the govt. has appealed to Dallewal to end his hunger strike, he remains firm that the agitation will continue until MSP is guaranteed by law.

A National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) study has found that multiple Indian states will see further rises in debt-to-GDP ratios by 2027-28, with Panjab expected to surpass 50%. Titled The State of the States: Federal Finance in India the report notes that half of the 20 large states experienced debt ratio increases exceeding 10% between 2012–13 and 2022-23, with Panjab’s debt climbing most sharply at 15.8%. By continuing this trend, the state may add another 6.9% to reach 53.7%. The study urges a ‘fiscal grand bargain,’ offering heavily indebted states some debt relief in exchange for ceding more control to the Union government, as many states weigh expansionary welfare spending. Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana High Court (PHHC) rejected the Panjab govt.’s request to recall an order requiring disclosure of advertising expenditures and new police vehicle purchases from 1 Apr 2024 to 20 Jan 2025. Officials from Panjab’s forensic laboratory had earlier testified to a shortage of funds for critical testing equipment, prompting the court to question whether govt. money was being diverted to promotion rather than essential criminal justice needs. Though the govt. later alleged that funds were unused, the court found no basis to withdraw its directive and granted four more weeks for compliance. A separate PHHC bench also demanded personal affidavits on advertising outlays in litigation concerning arrears owed under the Sixth Pay Commission. The state argued that up to USD 2.1B in arrears for employees and pensioners would be staggered until 2030-31. The court’s firm stance reveals transparency concerns over large-scale spending priorities. Even as Panjab aims to address its growing debt crisis, it faces judicial scrutiny over how resources are allocated, and questions on meeting fiscal obligations and responding to public welfare needs.

The Panjab Cabinet approved disbursing USD 1.69B in pending arrears for employees and pensioners. Panjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, ‘The Cabinet has given approval to release arrears of revised pay, pensions, and leave encashment for the period between 1 Jan 2016 and 30 Jun 2022. Additionally, pending Dearness Allowance (DA) from 1 Jul 2021 to 31 Mar 2024 will also be released for pensioners and employees.’ He added that the sum will be disbursed in stages, benefiting nearly 600K individuals—300K employees and 300K pensioners.The Cabinet also approved the creation of new posts in the Punjab State Legal Services Authority for setting up 22 new Lok Adalats (people's courts) across the state. Cheema said, 'The Cabinet has approved the creation of 476 new posts in the department. Additionally, the nomenclature of Inspectors has been changed, and they will now be designated as State Taxation Officers.' To improve healthcare services, the Cabinet approved the revival of 822 Group C posts in the Health and Family Welfare Department, enhancing the department’s efficiency. 50K new jobs are expected from the Integrated Manufacturing Cluster initiative. Meanwhile, the state grapples with infrastructural backlogs: Ludhiana’s long-overdue sewage treatment plant, inaugurated in Dec 2020 at an estimated USD 921K, has yet to start despite repeated assurances. Similarly, over 40% of Block Primary Education Officer positions remain vacant, with Rupnagar reporting nine out of ten posts unfilled, prompting calls for urgent recruitment. On the employment front, the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited introduced 2,500 Assistant Lineman vacancies, offering a monthly salary of USD 230. It must be noted the Cabinet had not met for four months because the state executive was busy with the Delhi elections. Now that the Aam Aadmi Party has lost the Delhi elections, the Panjab government is taking proactive steps.

Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde recently visited Nanded. During his visit, members of the Sikh community submitted a memorandum urging cancellation of the amended Sections 6 and 11 of the Takht (Sikh throne of sovereignty) Nanded Sikh Gurudwara Sachkhand Shri Hazur Apchalnagar Sahib (Amendment) Act, 2015 1956. The amended sections grant the government power to appoint the Gurdwara board chairman instead of holding democratic elections. The memorandum stressed that local Sikh voices were disregarded when these revisions were passed, denying the community its rightful representation. Shinde reportedly gave a positive response, assuring that a suitable decision would soon be taken. Prominent figures, including MLA Hemant Patil, ex-president Laddusingh Mahajan, and former secretary Bhogendrasingh Ghadisaj, joined others in expressing concern about the prolonged absence of an elected chairman. Meanwhile, Sikhs in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala prepare to build their own Gurdwara. Recently they laid the foundation stone on a 25-cent site in Shastri Nagar, Karamana. Presently, the city only has a Gurdwara inside Pangode’s army cantonment, rendering public access difficult due to security restrictions. The new facility, overseen by Gurudwara Guru Nanak Darbar, is especially significant given the city’s historical ties to Guru Nanak, who is believed to have visited during the early sixteenth century. With roughly twenty Sikh families residing in Thiruvananthapuram, they have long sought a dedicated civilian Gurdwara where ceremonies such as weddings and last rites can be conducted without military protocols. The Sikhs also face hurdles obtaining marriage certificates, as the existing cantonment Gurdwara cannot issue them to civilians. Construction will rely on donations, with the building planned in a style reflecting Kerala’s architectural heritage. Kerala’s second civilian Gurdwara after Kochi became possible through efforts by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Governor Arif Mohammed Khan.

On 10 Feb, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Paris to a reception from the Indian diaspora and a 15-member Sikh delegation led by Iqbal Singh Bhatti. Dhols (drums) played and chants of ‘Modi, Modi!’ rang out as the delegation praised Modi’s inclusive approach, including his gestures honoring Sikh Gurus. During this three-day French visit, Modi co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit with President Emmanuel Macron, held bilateral talks, and engaged with business leaders. He traveled to Marseille, where he visited the Mazargues War Cemetery alongside Macron to pay tribute to Indian soldiers who fought in World War I. However, there was no mention of the soldiers mostly being of Panjabi Sikh descent. Marseille holds additional historical significance for Indian nationalists, as it was here in July 1910 that Veer Savarkar escaped British custody by jumping out of a ship’s porthole—an episode that sparked diplomatic disputes over extradition and asylum. France has a longstanding connection to Sikh valor, as Sikh regiments were part of the Indian Corps that fought in the country during World War I. After the bloody battle of Neuve-Chapelle in France in March 1915, different regiments of Sikhs had lost 80% of their men. Ypres, La Bassée, Festubert, Loos, and Givenchy are some of the other French battlefields where Sikh soldiers showed their courage. Their heroics against German forces have been recognized in numerous centenary events. A French documentary titled 100 Years showcased the sacrifice of iconic figures like Subedar Manta Singh, who saved a British comrade under enemy fire but lost his life. Leaders on both sides hope these interactions will strengthen cultural ties, enhance trade, and honor India’s shared history with France.