Pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issues threats directed at India. In a video message, Pannun warns India of an attack akin to the surprise assault launched by Gaza strip’s Hamas fighters against Israel, which had resulted in over 2,200 casualties. Drawing a parallel between the Israel-Palestine conflict and the situation in Punjab, Pannun cautions PM Narendra Modi to anticipate a similar “reaction” in India if what he termed as the ‘occupation’ of Punjab continues.
His exact words were, “Modi, learn from Israel-Palestine conflict. If India keeps occupying Punjab, there will be a reaction, and you will be held responsible. SFJ believes in a democratic approach, but India must choose: ballot or bullet.”
This video message was not Pannun’s first public statement. Only a month prior, he had released another video urging Indians to leave Canada, making controversial remarks against Indo-Hindus in Canada. Furthermore, he has openly expressed support for Hamas, urging Palestinians to rally against India and even called for an attack on the Indian Embassy on the 21st of October.
Khalistani Leader #GurpatwantSinghPannun Threatens India With '#Hamas-Like Attack'#KhalistaniTerrorist #Khalistani pic.twitter.com/SKhM6cIQP1
— Madhuri Adnal (@madhuriadnal) October 10, 2023
Born in Amritsar, Punjab, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is a significant figure in the Khalistan movement, which aims to establish a separate Sikh nation out of India. He has been actively involved in Khalistani activities abroad, having been designated a terrorist by India under the grounds of sedition and secessionism. Pannun’s recent threats against Indian Consulates in G7 nations, including shutting them down in cities like Vancouver, Washington DC, London, Frankfurt, and Milan, have further heightened concerns.
Given the gravity of Pannun’s statements, the Hindu Forum of Canada has expressed profound concerns, especially as they stand in solidarity with Israel, condemning the acts of Hamas terrorists. In an urgent appeal to Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, Dominic LeBlanc, they urged the Canadian government to bar Pannun’s entry into Canada if he’s not a citizen. If Pannun holds Canadian citizenship, they seek a comprehensive investigation into his activities and potential charges in connection with hate crimes.
The recent threats come at a time of heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, particularly after the assassination of pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, in June. Posters by Khalistani groups have even surfaced in Canada, calling for the assassination of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, leading to increased security measures for the latter.
It remains to be seen how this situation will unfold, but it’s clear that the international community will be keenly watching the developments.