The United Nations (UN) has received a USD 10,000 “donation” from the pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), an outfit banned by India, reports The Times of India on March 14. SFJ is simultaneously lobbying the UN to set up a “commission of inquiry” to investigate alleged mistreatment of farmer protesters in India. A spokesperson for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva, said, “We confirm we received a contribution of USD 10,000 on 1 March from an individual representing the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group via our online donation function. In general, we do not decline online contributions, unless they are from groups or individuals listed on UN sanctions lists or the organisation/individual is engaged in activities manifestly contrary to the UN Charter or its principles.”
US-based Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, SFJ’s general counsel, said a further USD 1.3 million had been pledged from the Sikh community to establish a UN commission of inquiry (CoI) “to investigate India’s use of violence and sedition charges against protesting farmers”. “As of my knowledge the UN has not established the commission. But we are pursuing the matter through the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights,” Pannun said.