Western countries, particularly the US and Canada, must act on open threats issued by Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India, top intelligence sources told News18 amid reports that the United States thwarted a plot to kill the Sikhs for Justice ‘general counsel’ on American soil.
In his latest diatribe against India, Pannun, who says he is a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, mentioned January 26, 2024 – India’s Republic Day — as ‘D-Day’ and the iconic Red Fort as ‘ground zero’.
Titled ‘Violence Begets Violence, Is India Ready to Face Consequences?’, Pannun’s latest communication accused New Delhi of using “bullets” to stop the Khalistani referendum. “Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) is using “Ballot” to liberate Punjab while India is using “Bullets” to stop the ongoing Khalistan Referendum – the motive behind India’s efforts to kill me.”
“India is using mercenaries to kill pro-Khalistan Sikhs. Hence, I dare the Modi government to declare open armed conflict with Punjab and history is a witness that the Sikhs will defend with equal force and continue to campaign for liberation of Punjab from the Indian occupation.”
“At this time, my focus is not threats to my life but to organise American phase of Khalistan Referendum scheduled to start from San Francisco on January 28, 2024, which Indian government is attempting to block.”
Top Indian intelligence officials told News18 that details of Pannun’s open threats of violence have been shared with US and Canada, but no action has been forthcoming.
“He is spoiling the fabric of the country for his own personal gains and money-making immigration business. India soon will share fresh evidence and will ask foreign partners to hand over custody of this terrorist,” an official said.
A Financial Times report has cited senior Biden administration officials as claiming that the United States authorities thwarted a plot to kill Pannun. The US is treating the plot with utmost seriousness and has raised the issue with the Indian government “at the senior-most levels”, the White House said on Wednesday.
Asked about the FT report, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Washington had shared “some inputs” that were being “examined by “relevant departments”. Bagchi said the inputs pertained to the “nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others”.
“India takes such inputs seriously since it impinges on our own national security interests as well,” he said.
The US claims come two months after Canada alleged there were “credible” allegations linking Indian agents to the June murder of Sikh separatist leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in a Vancouver suburb. India has rejected the allegation.
The National Investigation Agency filed a case against Pannun on Monday stating that he warned flag carrier Air India passengers in video messages shared on social media this month that their lives were in danger.
The case comes against the historical backdrop of a bombing in 1985 of an Air India aircraft flying from Canada to India that killed 329, and for which Sikh militants were blamed.
Pannun is the general counsel of Sikhs for Justice, which India labelled an “unlawful association” in 2019, citing its involvement in extremist activities. Pannun was listed as an “individual terrorist” by India in 2020.
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