Deputy PM Chrystia Freelandeven did not comment on why Nijjar was on the no-fly list, why his bank accounts were frozen, or why such a person was paid tribute in Parliament.
Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Chrystia Freeland stumbed over a question posed to her on why Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was on the no-fly list and had his bank accounts frozen before his death, is now being honoured with a tribute in the Canadian Parliament.
In a video that has now gone viral on social media, a journalist asked Freeland on the paradox of honouring Nijjar despite past government actions against him.
The journalist questioned the reason behind this sudden change.
Freeland responded, emphasising the recent solemn anniversary and condemning the murder of a Canadian on Canadian soil. She praised Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s stance post-assassination, calling it necessary but challenging.
“I do want to start by saying that this week was a very sad and solemn anniversary of the murder. I was in the House of Commons, and I guess all three of us were (referring to the two men sitting beside her). It was important to have a moment of silence to recognise this was the murder of a Canadian in Canada on Canadian soil, and that is entirely unacceptable. Second of all, I do want to say I was very proud of the prime minister and of the strong position he took after the murder.”
Chrystia Freeland @cafreeland is stumped with this question asking why Hardeep Singh Nijjar who, before his death was on the no-fly list and his bank accounts were frozen, now after his death he is being given tribute in the parliament….what exactly changed?
She further stated, “It was the right thing to do, but it wasn’t an easy thing to do.”
Freeland reiterated Trudeau’s commitment to equality under Canadian law and protection against threats, regardless of consequences. However, she evaded direct answers on why Nijjar was on the no-fly list, why his accounts were frozen, or the rationale behind Parliament’s tribute to him.
“The government of Canada will enforce our laws and protect all Canadians regardless of who is threatening them and what the consequences might be. Doing that was a big thing for the prime minister, and I think all of us should feel safer and more secure knowing that he will stand for Canadians and against the killers of Canadians no matter what”, she said.
However, Chrystia Freeland avoided answering the question of why there was sudden support for Nijjar after his death when the same government had put restrictions on him when he was alive.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Canadian PM Justin Trudeau at the G7 Outreach Summit, in Apulia.
The minister even did not comment on why Nijjar was on the no-fly list, why his bank accounts were frozen, or why such a person was paid tribute in Parliament.
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, born in the Jalandhar district of India’s Punjab, migrated to Canada in 1997 and worked as a plumber in British Columbia. Desingated as a Khalistani terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) Nijjar was fatally shot outside a Surrey Gurudwara on June 18 last year by unidentified assailants. (ANI)
After temples, Khalistanis target Indian consulate in Brisbane.
There is no gainsaying the fact that Punjab has been exposed in recent months to the after-effects of a lot of pro-Khalistan activities that were taking place outside India — particularly in the US and Canada — instigated by our adversaries, writes D.C. Pathak
At least two protagonists of Khalistan won the parliamentary elections in Punjab with large margins making it easier for them to further push the separatist agenda in the sensitive border state.
Khalistan ideologue Amritpal Singh lodged in Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act, secured victory with a margin of 1.93 lakh votes — the highest in this election in Punjab.
Significantly, the Akali Dal registered a decline — winning only the Bathinda seat — which could be interpreted as a weakening of the moderate Sikh voice.
The AAP got three seats that did not set any trend but the relative performance of the Congress and the BJP showed interesting pointers. The BJP increased its vote share from 6.6 to 19 per cent without scoring any victory while Congress lost its vote by a corresponding 13 per cent and won 7 of the 13 seats in the state.
The Jat Sikh and Dalit vote apparently shifted to the Congress while the Hindus seemed to have rallied behind the BJP.
Incidentally in the parliamentary election in nearby Haryana, the Congress and the BJP equally shared the ten seats of the state — all at the cost of regional groupings — which was welcome to the extent it showed the voter’s preference for mainstream politics.
Anything that accentuates community differentiation in Punjab has to be avoided as that would only benefit radicals and separatists — Hindu-Sikh unity founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak was an intrinsic political antidote for the Khalistan movement.
It may be recalled that the Khalistan terror witnessed by Punjab last time had seen targeted killings of Hindus. There is no gainsaying the fact that Punjab has been exposed in recent months to the after-effects of a lot of pro-Khalistan activities that were taking place outside India — particularly in the US and Canada — instigated by our adversaries. There were incidents like attacks on temples abroad to create a Hindu-Sikh divide — the intention obviously was to create a communal backlash in Punjab as well.
Three trends are currently in play that should cause concern. One is the unmitigated process of build-up of the Khalistan advocacy seen in Canada, the US, Australia and even the UK attributable to anti-India forces — with a clear indication of Pak ISI’s hand in it. Pak establishment was known to be in league with Amritpal Singh — it had arranged his stay in Dubai before he shifted to India.
Amritpal Singh was trying to emulate Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale — he visited village Rode in Moga district and took to Bhindranwale’s attire. He was obviously testing waters in Punjab when he rallied hundreds of followers to raid Ajnala Police Station near Amritsar in February 2023 and successfully rescued his aid who had been earlier arrested for violence.
The crowd carried Guru Granth Sahib as a strategy of defence — this might encourage the trend of stray Gurudwaras being used wherever possible for the promotion of Amritdhari cult.
The modus operandi used by Pak ISI for fuelling terrorism in Punjab in the late 80s was likely to be repeated and this should help the government to frame its counter-measures against the covert plans of the adversary. This time around, Pak ISI is banking in a big way on spreading addiction to drugs in Punjab so that the vulnerable youth could be indoctrinated more easily for taking the path of separatism and violence.
It has made use of Sino-Pak strategic friendship to secure Chinese drones for dropping arms and narcotics in Punjab — undeterred by the close vigilance of BSF and state police against this planned mischief.
It is reported that Amritpal Singh was using ‘de-addiction centres’ in the state for hiding weapons sourced from Pakistan.
The state government needs to have the political will to clean up these establishments, strengthen its Intelligence machinery and secure public cooperation to put down any externally instigated violence- particularly in the border districts of Punjab.
It should be presumed that Pak ISI would keep up its covert offensive in both J&K and Punjab — an indication of this is the ambush of a bus carrying pilgrims returning from Vaishno Devi at Reasi, executed by a group of terrorists said to be from Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) on June 9 — around the time when in Delhi the new cabinet of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was being sworn in. In the intense firing on the bus, the driver was hit and the vehicle subsequently fell into a deep gorge — resulting in nine deaths and grievous injuries to 33 passengers.
In Punjab, there was another attempt recently to drop narcotics from a drone. Pakistan backed by China has stepped up its anti-India operations particularly after the Indian Parliament voted for the abrogation of Article 370 relating to Kashmir in August 2019. This period has seen a rise in pro-Khalistan violence outside India — notably in Canada and the US — at the hands of Pak ISI-backed forces such as Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF).
In April this year, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the leader of the opposition in Canada were welcomed at the Vaisakhi rally in Toronto organised by Khalistan supporters, with slogans of ‘Khalistan Zindabad’. This led to India charging the Canadian PM with giving space to separatists and extremists for political reasons. India-Canada relations have suffered a setback on this issue.
Earlier, ‘Sikhs for Justice’ active in the US called for a ‘Khalistan Referendum’ on January 28, 2023, which evoked a response from Sikh separatists in the US, Canada, the UK and Australia. A violent-looking mob created a ruckus at the Indian Consulate in San Francisco and flashed Khalistan flags on the occasion.
In March 2023, Khalistan supporters gathered in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington, raised abusive slogans and threatened the Indian Ambassador. Around the same time, protestors carrying Khalistan flags broke into the Consulate premises in San Francisco and painted graffiti calling for the release of Amritpal Singh who had been arrested in India and lodged in Dibrugarh jail in Assam. In July again, Khalistan supporters set fire to the San Francisco Consulate building at midnight.
Indian Embassy in Melbourne, Australia, witnessed a protest demonstration by Khalistan elements in June 2023 and Sikh — Hindu tension cropped up in Sydney as well.
In London, Khalistan supporters including Dal Khalsa and Khalistan Tiger Force members tried to attack Indian High Commission in March 2023 in retaliation against the arrest of Amritpal Singh, the Khalistan protagonist who had come from Dubai – leading the organisation called ‘Waris Punjab De’ – and as mentioned earlier organised a violent raid at Ajnala Police Station on the outskirts of Amritsar in February last year. The protestors pulled down the national flag, caused damage to the building and injured some people.
India’s national security scenario is characteristically marked by the fact that covert external threats are the prime danger to the country’s internal security at present. This is attributable to the Sino-Pak strategic alliance that works basically against India. The Khalistan movement is being instigated by Pak ISI and China is collaborating with the latter by supplying drones to Pakistan for cross-border operations of dropping arms and narcotics in Punjab.
Intelligence collection on the doings of the Sino-Pak axis against India has to be stepped up using also the Intelligence-sharing channels with friendly countries who were opposed to China and who felt threatened by the advent of ‘radicalisation’ in the Muslim world.
India is handling the threat of revival of the Khalistan movement in Punjab with a multi-prong strategy using diplomatic, police and socio-political measures to contain and counter the danger — drawing lessons from its handling of the Khalistan ‘terror’ that had overtaken the state in the latter 80s.
In February 2024 at the India-US Homeland Security Dialogue held in Delhi, India raised the demand that pro-Khalistan outfits in the US be investigated for instigating violence against India.
A clear message has been delivered to Canada and the US that the freedom of expression did not extend to giving anti-India calls for violence in the name of Khalistan.
Pro-Khalistan elements do not have the benefit of a cult figure like Bhindranwale within Punjab but the anti-India forces abroad are in a determined way trying to instigate the separatist movement and inject the Hindu-Sikh communal divide into the border state, from outside.
The Centre should take an early step to appoint a senior person with a national security background and knowledge of how the terror that prevailed in Punjab in the past was handled as the Governor so that counter-measures could be coordinated and the state government guided suitably in the socio-political sphere and also instructed properly on security issues.
The new challenges for Intelligence are the scanning of social media, uncovering of clandestine funding of separatist movements and keeping track of the activities of anti-India elements within the state and outside. In matters of national security, the state and central governments have to be on the same page.
(The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Views are personal)
The slogans were written by supporters of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a banned Sikh separatist group based in the United States….reports Asian Lite News
Pro-Khalistani slogans were found written on pillars of Delhi metro stations on Sunday, prompting police to launch an investigation. The slogans were seen at Karol Bagh and Jhandewalan Metro Stations.
Reportedly, the slogans were written by supporters of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), a banned Sikh separatist group based in the United States.
An FIR has been filed by the Delhi police, and CCTV footage of the two metro stations has been obtained from the Delhi Metro authorities.
A security guard at a building close to the Karol Bagh Metro station said that he noticed the writing in black paint on the pillars of the metro station when he came for duty on Sunday morning.
“I came to duty at 8 am and saw that something was written in black colour on the pillars of the metro station. A huge crowd had gathered there and was reading the slogans,” Bajrangi, the security guard, said speaking to ANI.
“These slogans may have been written at night because no one was there at that time and no one saw who wrote these slogans,” he added.
In a similar incident in January this year, the Delhi Police apprehended a man for his alleged involvement in making pro-Khalistani graffiti on walls in Delhi’s Tilak Nagar area.
In August last year, the Delhi Police Special Cell detained two persons from Punjab in connection with pro-Khalistan graffiti and slogans painted at more than five metro stations in Delhi.
Section 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) criminalizes and punishes making statements, speeches, or acts that have the effect of disturbing public tranquillity or law and order by promoting enmity or creating fear or alarm between classes of people on the basis of differences in religion, caste, language, or place of birth.
Section 505 of the IPC, on the other hand, criminalizes making statements, reports, or rumours that encourage members of the armed forces or a police officer to refuse to perform their duty, encourage a person to commit offences against the state or disturb public tranquillity, and incite persons to disturb public tranquillity. (ANI)
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) named the three men, all Indian nationals, and released their photographs, reports Asian Lite News
Canadian police on Saturday released photographs of all three persons arrested in the killing of India-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year amid an ongoing probe into alleged connections of the Indian government.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in a statement named the three men, all Indian nationals, as Karanpreet Singh, 28, Kamalpreet Singh, 22 and Karan Brar, 22 and released their photographs. The trio were arrested in Edmonton city in Alberta.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) of Surrey, RCMP on Friday (local time) said that on the morning of May 3, IHIT investigators, with the assistance of members from the British Columbia and Alberta RCMP and the Edmonton Police Service, arrested the three men for the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey a suburb in Vancouver.
The trio have now been charged with first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in relation to the homicide.
Along with photographs of the three accused, the Canadian police has also released the photographs of the car believed to have been used by the suspects in the time leading up to the homicide, in and around the Surrey area.
Addressing reporters at a news conference on Friday, RCMP Assistant Commissioner David Teboul, who leads the Federal Policing Program in the Pacific Region, emphasised the active nature of the investigation into Nijjar’s murder.
“Three suspects have been arrested and charged for their alleged involvement in the killing of Nijjar…. We are not able to make any comments on the nature of evidence… Nor can we speak behind the motive of murder of Nijjar… However, I will say this matter is very much under active investigation,” he said.
“There are separate and distinct investigations ongoing into these matters, certainly not limited to the involvement of the people arrested today, and these efforts include investigating connections to the government of India,” Teboul also said.
Public Safety Minister Dominic Leblanc refrained from confirming any connection to the Indian government, asserting that such inquiries should be directed to the RCMP, CTV News report.
“I have full confidence in the security apparatus of the government of Canada and the work of the RCMP, and the work that the (Canadian) Security Intelligence Service does,” Leblanc said.
“The police operation that you see ongoing today confirms that the RCMP take these matters extremely seriously. But questions with respect to particular links or non-links are properly put to the RCMP,” he added, according to CTV News report.
Police personnel have not given any evidence of any link to India as was being speculated in Canadian media. India has repeatedly denied the allegations, terming them “absurd and motivated.”
Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was designated a terrorist by India’s National Investigation Agency in 2020, was shot and killed as he came out of a Gurdwara in Surrey in June last year.
On June 18, 2023, the Surrey RCMP received a report of a shooting at the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey. First responding members located a man, later identified as Hardeep Singh Nijjar, suffering from fatal gunshot wounds inside a vehicle.
The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has been carrying out the investigation. It has continued to work closely with a number of partner agencies and support services across Canada, as far east as Ontario, including the Surrey RCMP, the Alberta RCMP and other Lower Mainland Integrated Teams.
The Canadian police have not given any evidence of any link to India as was being speculated in Canadian media.
Nijjar’s killing triggered diplomatic tensions between Canada and India after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the killing — a claim which India has rejected as “absurd.”
The video of his killing that reportedly surfaced in March this year showed Nijjar being shot by armed men in what has been described as a “contract killing”. (ANI)
Pannun declared that the 26th of January will be the decisive day in Delhi…reports Asian Lite News
Ahead of the 75th Republic Day, the outlawed Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) has announced that it is going to start Khalistan referendum voter registration in India, and will spend $1 million to promote it in the national capital.
Calling the Tiranga (Tricolour) as their target, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, leader of the radical outfit, said in a fresh video released on Friday that January 26 is going to be a “D-Day” in Delhi.
“On 26th January, we are going to start Khalistan voter registration in India…the target is Tiranga. Twenty-Sixth January is going to be D-Day in Delhi. We are going to spend $1 million to raise Khalistan flag in Delhi,” Pannun, the SFJ’s legal counsel, said.
Declared as a designated terrorist in 2020 by India under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Pannun also targeted French President Emmanuel Macron who will be visiting the country as Chief Guest for the celebrations.
“This is going to be a show for French President Macron,” Pannun said, admonishing the leader for “aiding and assisting” Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Asking the people in Delhi to “stay home and stay safe”, the Sikh rebel said: “People of Delhi, we have nothing against you… The fight is between the pro-Khalistan Sikhs and this Modi regime.”
On Monday, Pannun called for the shutdown of airports from Amritsar to Ayodhya ahead of the January 22 Ram Temple Pran Pratishtha ceremony.
He also exhorted Muslims in the country to “oppose” the ceremony, and urged them to carve out ‘Urduistan’ from India.
While the US claims to have shielded him from a purported assassination by Indian agents, he is wanted in nearly two dozen cases, including some of terrorism and sedition in India.
In September 2023, his properties in Amritsar and Chandigarh cities were seized by the NIA, which also charged him and his separatist organisation under several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the UAPA on November 20, 2023.
Following the NIA charges, the radical Sikh and his secessionist group gave a call to pro-Khalistan elements to “picket” Air India’s outbound flights from the airports in the Canadian cities of Toronto and Vancouver on December 1, 2023.
It’s ironic that Pannun’s destructive brand of activism thrives in the West concurrently with the India’s genuine efforts to empower Punjabi youth, writes Parminder Singh Sodhi
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the self-proclaimed leader of the fringe Khalistan separatist movement, has recently been in the media quite frequently. Not only did he threaten violence against an Air India flight and the Indian Parliament, but now he has also offered legal aid to miscreants caught trespassing in the Parliament building – none of whom hail from Punjab.
This begs the question: if Pannun and his ilk truly care about the well-being of Sikhs, where exactly are their priorities? Why dedicate resources to aiding individuals with no apparent connection to the movement, while ignoring the potential of their own community? Why not channel those funds towards positive, forward-looking initiatives that could empower Punjabi youth and build a brighter future for all?
Imagine the impact of scholarship funds enabling access to higher education in the US, UK, or Canada. Picture student exchange programs fostering cultural understanding and breaking down stereotypes. Envision thriving sports programs equipping young people with valuable skills and promoting a healthy lifestyle. These are the investments that align with the core tenets of Sikhism – values of community, service, and progress. Should these not be the talking points and priorities of ‘leaders’ of a state?
Instead, Pannun and his group choose the path of negativity and division. Their actions stand in stark contrast to the Sikh faith, renowned for its commitment to peace, justice, and social well-being. Sikhs dedicate themselves to upliftment and service, not divisive rhetoric and empty threats.
Furthermore, it’s ironic that Pannun’s destructive brand of activism thrives in the West concurrently with the India’s genuine efforts to empower Punjabi youth. Initiatives like Startup India and Khelo India are tangible examples of commitment to a bright future. And the results are clearly visible. Athletes from Punjab brought several medals for India in the recent Asian Games. Innovations by the youth, right from the school level, are nurtured and honed into sustainable businesses for growth and job creation. These programs demonstrably invest in the education, economic, and athletic potential of young people, paving the way for self-reliance and success.
The choice, then, is clear and stark: Pannun’s divisive rhetoric and self-serving agenda, or the constructive, collective, concrete endeavors toward building a thriving, inclusive future for Punjab. The misplaced priorities by Khalistan extremists speak volumes about their true intent. Their hollow tagline of “Khalistanis are true Sikhs” rings hollow in the face of their actions, which demonstrably contradict the core values of the faith and offer nothing but empty promises to the communities they claim to represent.
It is time for the world to see through the façade of manufactured outrage and recognize the true face of this extremist movement. The path to progress lies not in threats and intimidation, but in positive, community-driven initiatives that empower youth and build a brighter future for all.
(The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. The article first appeared in Khalsa Vox)
In a similar incident in September this year, Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami was not allowed to enter a gurdwara in Scotland’s Glasgow by a few Khalistani radicals…reports Asian Lite News
A group of Khalistani supporters heckled Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu outside a gurdwara in New York and accused him of killing Sikh hardliner Hardeep Singh Nijjar and also “plotted to murder” Gurpatwant Singh Pannun — a listed individual terrorist of the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) outfit.
The incident came days after Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on November 22 said that US shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organised criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others and these inputs are a cause of concern for both countries and they decided to take necessary follow up action.
The incident took place at Hicksville Gurdwara in New York where a person could be heard shouting at the Sandhu with accusations over the killing of Nijjar, who was shot dead in Canada in June this year.
BJP spokesperson RP Singh Khalsa on Monday shared a video which showed Sandhu being surrounded by people amid continuous shouting.
“Khalistanies tried to heckle Indian Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu with basless Questions for his role in the failed plot to assassinate Gurpatwant, (SFJ) and Khalistan Referendum campaign,” he said on X.
“Himmat Singh who led the pro Khalistanies at Hicksville Gurdwara in New York also accused ambassador Sandhu for India’s role in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was President of Surrey Gurdwara and the coordinator for Canadian Chapter of the Khalistan Referendum.”
In a similar incident in September this year, Indian High Commissioner to the UK Vikram Doraiswami was not allowed to enter a gurdwara in Scotland’s Glasgow by a few Khalistani radicals.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had on November 20 registered a fresh case against ‘listed individual terrorist’ Pannun over his latest viral video threatening the passengers flying on Air India with a global blockade and closure of the operations of the airline from November 19.
In his statement on November 22, Bagchi had also said that issues in the context of US inputs were already being examined by relevant departments. In a statement on reports of discussions between India and US on security matters.
“During the course of recent discussions on India-US security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs pertaining to nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists and others.”
He said the inputs were a cause of concern for both countries and they decided to take necessary follow up action and added that on its part, India takes such inputs “seriously” since it impinges on our own national security interests as well.
“Issues in the context of US inputs are already being examined by relevant departments,” the MEA spokesperson added.
Indian envoy to Canada maintained that New Delhi would look into anything “very specific and relevant” is communicated to them to back up Justin Trudeau’s allegations.
Indian High Commissioner to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma has raised objections to the fact that New Delhi was “convicted” even as the investigation into the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjat on Canadian soil was not fully concluded.
Urging Canada to release evidence to back up its allegation in connection with the killing, the Indian envoy maintained that New Delhi would look into anything “very specific and relevant” is communicated to them to back up Justin Trudeau’s allegations.
In an interview with CTV news channel, the high commissioner was asked about the allegations raised by Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau of possible Indian government’s involvement in Nijjar’s killing.
Responding to this, Verma said, “There are two points on that. One is that, even without the investigation being concluded, India was convicted. Is that a rule of law?”
On being asked “how was India convicted”, the high commissioner said, “Because India was asked to cooperate and if you look at the typical criminal terminology, when someone asks to cooperate, it means you have already been convicted and you better cooperate”.
“So, we took it in a very different interpretation. But, we have always said that if there is anything very specific and relevant, and communicated to us. We will look into it,” the Indian envoy added.
Ties between India and Canada have been strained after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations of Indian involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil earlier this year. Nijjar was shot dead outside Gurdwara in Canada’s Surrey on June 18.
India had rejected the allegations and called them “absurd and motivated” and expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move after Ottawa asked a senior Indian diplomat to leave.
Notably, Canada has not been able to present any evidence to back its claims over the killing, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Earlier this week, India resumed the electronic visa services for eligible Canadian citizens with effect from November 22, 2023. This came after India decided to resume visa services in Canada for four categories after a considered review of the security situation last month.
In October, Canada pulled out 41 diplomats from India and also halted its visa and consular services in Chandigarh, Mumbai, and Bengaluru consulates in the wake of the Union government’s decision to strip them of their immunity.
This came after New Delhi conveyed its concerns to Ottawa over the disproportionate number of diplomats in India and sought a ‘parity’ in diplomatic strength. (ANI)
Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has threatened the shutdown of Delhi's IGI Airport on November 19, the day on which the final of the ongoing cricket World Cup will be played in Ahmedabad.(IANS/Video Grab)
Pannun said that his video message is a “non violent call” to “boycott” Air India, and not “bomb” it….reports Asian Lite News
Pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun released a fresh video on Wednesday giving a call to “picket” Air India flights on December 1 at Toronto and Vancouver international airports in Canada.
Pannun’s call to target the outbound AI 188 and AI 186 flights from Terminal One comes a day after National Investigation Agency (NIA) registered a case against the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) group leader over a November 4 video threatening the Indian flag carrier.
“As General Counsel to SFJ, I reaffirm my call to boycott Air India, and Modi government cannot stop SFJ from running secessionist Khalistan referendum which is the real motive behind NIA’s frivolous terror case,” Pannun said in his new video.
Pannun said that his video message is a “non violent call” to “boycott” Air India, and not “bomb” it.
He said that his campaign to boycott the airline will continue as “every dollar that goes to Air India and other Indian businesses is being used to perpetuate existential threat to the Sikh population in India, Pannun said.
In the video, Pannun dedicated this campaign to Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar who was gunned down outside a gurdwara in Surrey in June this year.
🚨 Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun threatens to Blow-up an Air India flight on 19th Nov: Urges Sikhs to not travel by Air on that date.
Listed as an ‘individual terrorist’ by India in 2020, Pannun had said in his video that Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport’s (IGIA) name would be changed and remain shut on November 19.
He also threatened people planning to travel via Air India airlines on that day, saying their “lives would be in danger”, and that the flag carrier would not be allowed to operate in the world.
NIA booked Pannun under sections 120B, 153A & 506 of the Indian Penal Code and sections 10, 13, 16, 17, 18, 18B & 20 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
An NIA spokesperson said that as part of his concerted plan to promote terror acts in India and revive terrorism here, Pannun has been creating a false narrative around the issues prevailing in Punjab, especially with regard to Sikh religion, by promoting enmity between the Sikhs in the country and other communities.
“The latest threat is in line with the same narrative, which Pannun has actively promoted in the past by threatening & attempting to disrupt essential transportation network systems, including the Railways, as well as Thermal Power Plants in India,” the spokesperson stated.
Pannun has been under the NIA’s lens since 2019, when the anti-terror agency registered its first case against him.
In September 2023, the NIA had confiscated his share of the house and land of the listed terrorist in Amritsar (Punjab) and Chandigarh.
Non-bailable arrest warrants were issued against Pannun by the NIA Special Court on February 3, 2021 and he was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender (PO)’ on November 29, 2022.
Supporting the Khalistan extremist movement risks terrorism and separatism in Pakistan….writes Parminder Singh Sodhi
In the complex world of international relations, the interplay between domestic politics and global dynamics can have far-reaching consequences. Often, neighboring countries find themselves secretly delighting in each other’s troubles.
The ongoing dispute between India, Canada, and their Western allies has added fuel to the simmering Khalistan movement. While some in Pakistan may be tempted to view India’s predicament with satisfaction, it is crucial to recognize the potential dangers that this movement poses not only to India but also to Pakistan and regional stability, as highlighted in a report by the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI).
The Khalistan extremist movement poses a multitude of dangers, including terrorism, secessionism, and religious extremism. Supporting such groups exposes Pakistan to the risk of terrorism within its own borders.
As per the IPRI report, Khalistan’s original claim to Lahore and other parts of Pakistan is a deeply troubling aspect of this movement. The assertion of territorial claims by Khalistan extremists has the potential to spark conflict between these groups and the Pakistani government. This issue adds yet another layer of instability to the already volatile region.
Pakistan’s support for Khalistan extremists has grave economic consequences too. Maintaining a proxy army and providing financial assistance to these groups diverts resources from critical domestic needs, hindering economic development.
Moreover, it exposes Pakistan to international sanctions, causing further economic strain. The loss of foreign investment is another glaring issue, as potential investors become wary of a country associated with extremist activities.
Internationally, Pakistan’s support for Khalistan extremists is alienating the country from the global community. Its inclusion on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list already reflects the world’s growing concern about Pakistan’s role in promoting extremism.
Deteriorating relations with the United States, a long-standing ally, and its growing isolation in the region have dire consequences for Pakistan’s global image and diplomatic ties.
A rare admission by General Hamid Gul, former head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), regarding Pakistan’s support for Khalistan extremists, is a significant revelation. It highlights Pakistan’s intention to use extremist groups as a means to exert influence and create instability in the region. This admission only adds weight to the suspicions of Pakistan’s involvement in supporting radical elements within India, further complicating India-Pakistan relations.
The IPRI report also referenced Terry Milewski’s book ‘Blood for Blood‘, where he reveals Pakistan’s pivotal role in supporting the Khalistan movement since its inception, underscoring the historical depth of this association.
Pakistan’s consistent support for Khalistan extremists reveals a long-standing commitment to promoting separatism and religious extremism. This history raises concerns about Pakistan’s long-term intentions and its willingness to stoke regional instability. The book further reveals Zulfikar Bhutto’s ‘revenge’ plan for 1971 was to help create Khalistan.
The ISI’s recent funding of Khalistan activities in Canada, organizing referendums, and convening meetings with Khalistan leaders is part of its ‘Plan-K’ to propagate anti-India sentiments. These allegations have the potential to severely damage Pakistan’s international reputation and prove counterproductive.
Supporting narratives promoted by certain political leaders and extremist groups, while it may seem beneficial in the short term by fueling tensions and unrest in India, can backfire. If left unaddressed, this will act as a force multiplier, endangering Pakistan’s territorial integrity and regional peace.
