International Sikh Youth Federation Explained

International Sikh Youth Federation
Native Name:ਇੰਟਰਨੈਸ਼ਨਲ ਸਿੱਖ ਯੂਥ ਫੈਡਰੇਸ਼ਨ
Caption:Logo of the ISYF
Foundation:23 September 1984
Leader:Jasvir Singh Rode
Status:Active
Country:India
Motives:The creation of a Sikh independent state of Khalistan
Dates:1984 – Present
Area:India
Ideology:Sikh Sovereignty
Financing:Sikh diaspora

The International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) is an organisation that aims to establish an independent homeland for the Sikhs called Khalistan.[1]

Origin

International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) was formed on 23 September 1984 in Walsall, UK after the Operation Blue Star conducted by the Indian Military. It was founded by Jasbir Singh Rode, the nephew of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Its first conference was held in Walsall, UK.[2]

History and activities

In 1984, the All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) started the ISYF in the United Kingdom as an international branch.[3] [4]

The 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182 off Ireland, the deadliest aircraft terror attack until the September 11, 2001 attacks, and the attempted bombing of Air India Flight 301, were allegedly carried out by Sikh extremists.Inderjit Singh Reyat, a dual British-Canadian citizen and member of the ISYF, was found guilty of manslaughter for making the bombs and had to spend more than 20 years imprisoned in Canada, and is the only individual convicted in these attacks as of 9 Feb 2009.[5] [6] [7]

ISYF members have engaged in terrorist attacks, assassinations, and bombings against both Indian figures and moderate Sikhs opposing them.[4] The organisation has also collaborated and associated with other Sikh militant organisations, including Babbar Khalsa,[3] the Khalistan Liberation Force,[4] and Khalistan Commando Force.[4]

Lord Bassam of Brighton, then Home Office minister, stated that ISYF members working from the UK had committed "assassinations, bombings and kidnappings" and were a "threat to national security." In 2001 it was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the British government for its attacks.[8]

ISYF head Lakhbir Singh Rode was accused by a chargesheet for a bomb blast in a Ludhiana Court on December 23, 2021. It resulted in 1 death and 6 injuries.[9] [10]

Leadership

Jasvir Singh Rode is the nephew of Bhindranwale and student of Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal. After Operation Bluestar while in Pakistan Rode used the Sikh shrines at Pakistan to make anti-India speeches and provoked the audience to attack the Indian diplomats who were present.[11] Rode arrived in the United Kingdom in July 1984 with the aim to connect young Sikhs worldwide in support of Khalistan.

On 23 September 1984 the formation of International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) was announced by Harpal Singh and Jasvir Singh Rode.[12] The group had a 51-member panel headed by Pargat Singh.[13] But, by December 1984, Rode was expelled from the UK under pressure placed by the Indian Government.

Rode was arrested by Indian authorities in Manila while seeking asylum in a chase spanning Thailand and the Philippines. He was imprisoned for two years in India.[11] Upon his release, he moderated, now advocating pursuing constitutional changes within Indian framework.[14] This mode disappointed many of his followers and created a rift in the UK branches roughly along north/south lines: the northern branches known as ISYF (Rode) followed Rode's moderate stance while the southern branches instead followed Dr. Sohan Singh.[14]

The former leader of ISYF, Lakhbir Singh Rode, was sought for trial in India. He was wanted in cases of arms smuggling, conspiracy to attack government leaders in New Delhi, and spreading religious hatred in Punjab. As per Indian sources, he resided in Lahore, Pakistan after he had escaped to Pakistan due to his association with illegal activities in India while his family settled in Canada. He died of a heart attack in December 2023 in Pakistan's Lahore.[15] [16] [17]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF). Institute for Conflict Management. 18 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924094703/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/states/punjab/terrorist_outfits/ISYF.htm. 24 September 2015. live. dmy-all.
  2. Web site: INTERNATIONAL SIKH YOUTH FEDERATION (ISYF) . 2023-05-02 . Khalistan Extremism Monitor . en . 2 May 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230502130119/https://www.khalistanextremismmonitor.org/Groups/International-Sikh-Youth-Federation-(ISYF) . live .
  3. News: 2009-04-06 . Currently listed entities . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090626183402/http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/ns/le/cle-en.asp#ISYF . 2009-06-26 . Government of Canada.
  4. Book: Hamilton, Dwight . Terror Threat: International and Homegrown Terrorists and Their Threat to Canada . Rimsa, Kostas . Dundurn Press . 2007 . 978-1-55002-736-5 . 206–207 . registration.
  5. News: Ken's adviser is linked to terror group. Gilligan. Andrew. 2008-04-21. The London Evening Standard. 2009-05-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20090612112108/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-mayor/article-23479477-details/Ken's+adviser+is+linked+to+terror+group/article.do. 2009-06-12. live.
  6. News: Air India bombmaker sent to holding centre. Bolan. Kim. February 9, 2008. Ottawa Citizen. 2009-05-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20121109171020/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=9bfcf081-3b29-45ea-8bb3-ad82c051bcbb. November 9, 2012. live. mdy-all.
  7. News: Convicted Air India bomb-builder Inderjit Singh Reyat gets bail. July 9, 2008. CBC News. 2009-06-10. https://web.archive.org/web/20080710234916/http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/07/09/bc-air-india-reyat-bail.html. July 10, 2008. live. mdy-all.
  8. Web site: Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organisations) (Amendment) Order 2016 – Hansard. hansard.parliament.uk. 29 July 2019. 29 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190729141151/https://hansard.parliament.uk/Lords/2016-03-17/debates/7F78B639-B4B5-492C-9FA2-3ED971D9B954/TerrorismAct2000(ProscribedOrganisations)(Amendment)Order2016. live.
  9. Web site: 2023-01-20 . Ludhiana court blast: NIA conducts searches; recovers cash, phones, diaries . The Indian Express . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20230120173632/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/ludhiana-court-blast-nia-searches-recovery-8394741/lite/ . 20 January 2023 . 2023-04-28.
  10. Web site: 2023-01-08 . Pak-based Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode planned 2021 Ludhiana court blast . 2023-04-28 . TimesNow . en . 10 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231010123158/https://www.timesnownews.com/india/pak-based-khalistani-terrorist-lakhbir-singh-rode-planned-2021-ludhiana-court-blast-article-96835768 . live .
  11. News: There will be no sell-out of the Sikh community: Jasbir Singh Rode . 26 July 2018 . India Today . 31 March 1988 . 26 July 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180726234153/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/special-report/story/19880331-there-will-be-no-sell-out-of-the-sikh-community-jasbir-singh-rode-797086-1988-03-31 . live .
  12. Book: Tatla . Darsham Singh . The Sikh Diaspora: The Search For Statehood . 2005 . Routledge . 141 . 9781135367442 . 26 July 2018.
  13. Book: Carol R Ember . Encyclopedia of diasporas: immigrant and refugee cultures around the world . Melvin Ember . Ian A. Skoggard . Springer . 2004 . 978-0-306-48321-9 . 1089 . 24 September 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230927203729/https://books.google.com/books?id=7QEjPVyd9YMC . 27 September 2023 . live.
  14. Book: Lauterpacht, Elihu . International Law Reports . Greenwood, C. J. . Oppenheimer, A. G. . Cambridge University Press . 1998 . 978-0-521-58070-0 . 395.
  15. Web site: 28 June 2002 . US to freeze assets of Babbar Khalsa, Intl Sikh Youth Federation . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121011031057/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=12067 . 11 October 2012 . 11 December 2022 . The Indian Express . Reuters . dmy-all.
  16. Web site: Who Was Lakhbir Singh Rode, Pak-Based Khalistani Terrorist Wanted In India . 2024-10-21 . NDTV.com.
  17. News: PTI . 2023-12-05 . Khalistani terrorist Lakhbir Singh Rode, nephew of Bhindranwale, dies of heart attack in Pakistan . 2024-10-21 . The Hindu . en-IN . 0971-751X.

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