SFJ exercise a survey, not referendum: Dal Khalsa

Dal Khalsa spokesman Kanwarpal Singh spoke to The Indian Express on his reservations on ‘Referendum 2020’ campaign.

Two radical political groups in Punjab, Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), have questioned the ‘Referendum 2020’ campaign. Dal Khalsa spokesman Kanwarpal Singh spoke to The Indian Express on his reservations.

What are your reservations about ‘Referendum 2020’?

Dal Khalsa and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) are two indigenous groups working for Khalistan. We have been working on the field in Punjab. Obviously referendum is about Punjab and it should be held in Punjab, but there is no branch or network of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) in Punjab. How will SFJ conduct referendum in Punjab without its presence in field? It is a very basic question we have been asking. Is it possible to ignore indigenous bodies working for sovereign Punjab movement and conduct the referendum. All this naturally creates questions on the idea of referendum being propagate by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu of SFJ.

But what could be the reasons to to keep Dal Khalsa and SAD(A) out of the loop?

It should be answered by SFJ. So far they have been saying that it is people’s movement and not organisation based campaign.

But sovereignty referendums cannot be faceless. It cannot only be a people’s movement.

What according to you the SFJ is doing then?

It can be a good public relations exercise for the idea of sovereign Punjab. It can raise the pitch for Khalistan. But it won’t deliver. There are only two kind of referendums which can deliver result. One is UN sponsored and other is conducted by occupied country. In the SFJ case, both are not involved. Only Pannu is conducting it and at best we can say that it is a survey to know how many Sikhs stand for Khalistan. But it is not a referendum.

But doesn’t the Dal Khalsa also demand a referendum?

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Yes, we have demand of referendum but we want UN to conduct it….But at this moment no such factor is at play for the UN to conduct a referendum in Punjab. Also real referendum is always for a region, not for religion. All the communities living in that region have right to vote for such a referendum. So what SFJ is doing is not a referendum….If I have to give SFJ benefit of doubt then I would say he want to prove that there are huge number of Sikhs in favour of Khalistan and you should not call those demanding Khalistan just handful people.

There are allegations that it is fight for funds between pro-Khalistan groups

I can speak for the Dal Khalsa. We do not accept funds from unauthorised and unknown persons. All the members of Dal Khalsa contribute to raise funds. We do not go to gurdwaras to collect the funds. So funds are not an issue here. Our main concern is that we are indigenous groups. We have suffered in the fight for the moment. SFJ has faced nothing like this.

Do see any conspiracy behind the exercise?

One thing is very clear that the ground on which they have been advocating referendum is prepared on our sacrifice. If they think they will get an online referendum then they should also understand that 85 per cent rural population of Punjab does not use Internet and 80 per cent of the remaining 15 per cent urban Sikh population will vote negatively for Khalistan online. If they are only counting on the yes votes of Sikhs living outside India then it would be an obvious reaction of India that you should make Khalistan out of Punjab. Pannu faces many
questions.

Kamaldeep Singh Brar

Kamaldeep Singh Brar is a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, primarily covering Amritsar and the Majha region of Punjab. He is one of the publication's key reporters for stories involving the Akal Takht, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), and the sensitive socio-political issues of the border districts. Core Beats & Specializations Religious & Panthic Affairs: He has deep expertise in the internal workings of the Akal Takht and SGPC, frequently reporting on religious sentences (Tankhah), Panthic politics, and the influence of Sikh institutions. National Security & Crime: His reporting covers cross-border drug smuggling, drone activities from Pakistan, and the activities of radical groups. Regional Politics: He is the primary correspondent for the Majha belt, covering elections and political shifts in Amritsar, Tarn Taran, and Gurdaspur. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His work in late 2025 has been centered on judicial developments, local body elections, and religious controversies: 1. Religious Politics & Akal Takht "Akal Takht pronounces religious sentences against former Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh" (Dec 8, 2025): Covering the historic decision to hold the former Jathedar guilty for granting a pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015. "YouTube suspends SGPC’s channel for a week over video on 1984 Army action" (Nov 20, 2025): Reporting on the digital friction between global tech platforms and Sikh religious bodies. "As AAP govt grants Amritsar holy tag, a look at its fraught demand" (Nov 28, 2025): An analytical piece on the long-standing demand for declaring Amritsar a "holy city" and its political implications. 2. Crime & National Security "Mostly Khalistanis on Amritpal’s hit list: Punjab govt to High Court" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on the state government's claims regarding jailed MP Amritpal Singh orchestrating activity from prison. "Punjab man with links to Pakistan’s ISI handlers killed in encounter" (Nov 20, 2025): Detailing a police operation in Amritsar involving "newly refurbished" firearms likely sent from across the border. "15 schools in Amritsar get bomb threat emails; police launch probe" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering the panic and police response to mass threats against educational institutions. 3. Political Analysis & Elections "AAP wins 12 of 15 zones in SAD stronghold Majitha" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant shift in the 2025 rural elections where the Akali Dal lost its grip on a traditional fortress. "Tarn Taran bypoll: woman faces threats after complaining to CM Mann about drug menace" (Nov 9, 2025): A ground report on the personal risks faced by citizens speaking out against the illegal drug trade in border villages. "AAP wins Tarn Taran bypoll, but SAD finds silver lining" (Nov 14, 2025): Analyzing the 2025 assembly by-election results and the surprising performance of Independents backed by radical factions. 4. Human Interest "Two couples and a baby: Punjab drug addiction tragedy has new victims" (Nov 20, 2025): A tragic investigative piece about parents selling an infant to fund their addiction. "Kashmiri women artisans debut at Amritsar’s PITEX" (Dec 8, 2025): A feature on financial independence initiatives for rural women at the Punjab International Trade Expo. Signature Beat Kamaldeep is known for his nuanced understanding of border dynamics. His reporting often highlights the "drug crisis in the underprivileged localities" (like Muradpur in Tarn Taran, Nov 9, 2025), providing a voice to marginalized communities affected by addiction and administrative neglect. X (Twitter): @kamalsbrar ... Read More

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