Fremont Gurdwara Sahib, one of the largest and most prominent Sikh religious sites in the US, has written a letter to the US Department of Justice seeking an investigation into the Pennsylvania-based Hindu American Foundation. The gurdwara alleges that the Hindu American Foundation is acting as a “foreign agent” for the interests of the Indian government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party, which may be a violation of the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FERA). The issue has exacerbated already existing tensions between the Sikh community and the Indian government. The matter has also been highlighted by international media, such as the Guardian and Al Jazeera, which has heightened the gravity of the matter.
What is the matter
Fremont Gurdwara Sahib, which is located in California, is a major hub for the Sikh community. It had written an open letter to the US Department of Justice in June 2025, accusing the Hindu American Foundation of advocating for the interests of the Indian government and advancing the policies of the BJP in the US political system. The gurdwara says that the Hindu American Foundation arranged meetings with US lawmakers for Indian political representatives and advocated for the policies of the Indian government. At the same time, the gurdwara demanded that the activities of the Hindu American Foundation be examined from a national security perspective and whether the Hindu American Foundation needs to be registered under FERA. FERA is a US law that requires organizations representing foreign governments or entities to make public details of their activities and financial transactions.
If the Hindu American Foundation is considered a foreign agent, it will have to show transparency about meetings with US politicians, financial agreements and other activities.
Hindu American Foundation’s response
The Hindu American Foundation has categorically denied the allegations, saying that it is a non-political, tax-exempt American charity whose primary purpose is to serve and promote education for the American Hindu community. The Hindu American Foundation also claimed that the allegations are part of an organized campaign by supporters of the Khalistan movement, who are trying to tarnish the reputation of the Hindu American Foundation. The Hindu American Foundation said in a statement that we strongly reject this accusation of dual loyalty and the claim that we work in collaboration with the Government of India is completely baseless.
“What facts does the Gurdwara have?”
Fremont Gurdwara Sahib has cited some documents in its letter, which according to it, link the activities of the Hindu American Foundation to the Indian government. These documents have not been made public explicitly, but an investigation by Al Jazeera claims that the activities of the Hindu American Foundation have increased since Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014 and that it has been active in supporting the policies of the Indian government. Al Jazeera reported that the Hindu American Foundation arranged meetings with American politicians and promoted the policies of the BJP in American politics. In addition, the Guardian also highlighted this issue, saying that the appeal of the Fremont Gurdwara is part of the ongoing tension between the Sikh community and the Indian government. According to the Guardian report, the Sikh community feels that the activities of the Hindu American Foundation promote anti-Sikh policies, including attempts to suppress the Khalistan movement. The Gurdwara believes that the activities of the Hindu American Foundation pose a threat to the safety and rights of the Sikh community. They say that the Hindu American Foundation has tried to influence American politicians to support Indian government policies, including policies that affect the Sikh community.
Why are there tensions between the Sikh community and the Indian government?
There has been a long-standing tension between the Sikh community and the Indian government. The Khalistan movement, which is associated with the demand for a separate Sikh state, has been against the policies of the Indian government. The June 84 Sikh pogrom and anti-Sikh massacre in the 1980s left a deep impression on the Sikh community, and the Sikh community living abroad, including in the US, has raised its voice against it. In recent years, incidents of assassinations of Sikh leaders, such as the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, have further increased the suspicion of the Sikh community. According to a report in the Financial Times, the US government suspects that Nijjar’s murder Indian agents were involved in the case, and the US had also issued a warning to the Indian government in this regard. At the same time, charges have also been framed against a suspect in the case of conspiracy to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in a US court. All these issues strengthen the suspicion of the Sikh community that organizations like the Hindu American Foundation are working on American soil for the interests of the Indian government.
The Sikh community feels that their complaints are not being taken seriously by the US Justice Department. The US and India have strong diplomatic relations, and the US government acts cautiously on issues that could sour relations with India. Launching an investigation into the Hindu American Foundation could affect Indo-US relations, which is why the Justice Department is perhaps taking a slow step in this matter. The Indian embassy in Washington has
There has been no clear response on the issue, which shows the complexity of the matter.
The Sikh community is receiving support from international media and organizations, which has motivated them to raise their voice more strongly.
