London / Delhi, Apr 08 : Experts in India have strongly condemned a move by the United Kingdom to lift a 15-year-old ban on International Sikh Youth Federation, a group associated in the past with terrorism against India. Recently, Britain’s Minister of state in the Home Office John Hayes signed the statuary instrument relating to the Terrorism Act 2000 (Proscribed Organizations) (Amendment) Order 2016, lifting the ban on the International Sikh Youth Federation. Both houses of British Parliament approved the motion to drop the organisation from the list of proscribed organizations. Formed in 1984, the International Sikh Youth Federation was engaged in terrorist attacks, assassinations and bombings against both Indian figures and moderate Sikhs opposing them. A member of the organization, Inderjit Singh Reyat was involved in the 1985 bombing of Air India Flight 182 off Ireland in one of the deadliest aircraft terror attacks. Formed with an aim to establish Khalistan, an independent homeland for the Sikhs, the International Sikh Youth Federation is banned under India, Japanese, Canadian and American terrorism laws.
