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Khalistan Offers No Hope For Punjab

Khalistan

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)

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India Seizes Khalistani Extremist Pannun’s Assets

India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) have confiscated two properties of Pannun in Punjab’s Amritsar and Chandigarh

In a massive action and in a bid to tighten its noose around Canada-based ‘designated individual terrorist’ Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday has confiscated his two properties.

“We have confiscated two properties of Pannun in Punjab’s Amritsar and Chandigarh,” an NIA official told IANS. 

The official said that the agency has confiscated properties of Pannun which include 46 Kanal of agricultural property in the ancestral village Khankot, located on the outskirts of Amritsar district.

(Photo: NIA India)

The official also said that it has also confiscated his residential property in Sector 15 area of Chandigarh.

The agency sleuths also put the hoarding outside the property of Pannun informing him about the anti-terror probe agency’s action.

In a statement the anti-terror probe agency confirmed that it has confiscated the house and land of the self-styled General Counsel of the outlawed Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) outfit in Amritsar (Punjab) and Chandigarh UT.

The properties attached include 1/4th share of House Number 2033, Sector 15/C, Chandigarh (U.T).

The agency said that these properties were earlier attached following orders passed by the government in two different cases.

“The properties have now been confiscated on the court’s orders under section 33(5) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967, in a case it registered on April 5, 2020, under sections 120-B, 124-A, 153-A 153-B and 17, 18 and 19 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

A NIA spokesperson here said that the action against Pannun is a big boost to the country’s crackdown on the terror and secessionist network being operated from various countries, including Canada, followed confiscation orders passed by the NIA Special Court, SAS Nagar, Mohali.

The official said that Pannu has been on NIA’s scanner since 2019, when the anti-terror agency had registered its first case against the terrorist, who has been playing a major role in promoting and commissioning terror acts and activities, and spreading fear and terror in Punjab and elsewhere in the country through his threats and intimidation tactics.

The non-bailable warrants of arrest were issued against Pannu by the NIA Special Court on February 3, 2021 and he was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender (PO)’ on November 29 last year.

“NIA investigations have revealed that Pannun’s organisation, Sikhs for Justice, was misusing the cyberspace to radicalise gullible youth and to instigate them to undertake terrorist crimes and activities,” the spokesperson said.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

It further emerged during the NIA probe that Pannu was the “main handler and controller of the SFJ”.

The SFJ was declared as an ‘Unlawful Association’ by the Government of India, vide notification on July 10, 2019.

 Pannun, who was declared a ‘designated individual terrorist’ by the Government of India on July 1, 2020, has been actively exhorting Punjab-based gangsters and youth over the social media to fight for the cause of independent state of Khalistan, challenging the sovereignty, integrity and security of the country, NIA probe have shown.

The official said that in recent days, Pannun has been in the news for issuing blatant threats to senior Indian diplomats and government functionaries in public forums.

“He had also threatened Canadian Hindus a few days, asking them to leave Canada and claiming that they had adopted a ‘jingoistic approach’ by siding with India,” the NIA statement read.

The case was originally registered as FIR no. 152 on October 19, 2018 under several sections of the IPC at Sultanwind Police Station in Amritsar (City) and later transferred to the NIA.

The NIA has chargesheeted a total of 10 accused, including Pannu in the case.

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‘Separatists Target Punjab Polls’

The Indian probe agencies shared the evidence gathered in this case to the counter-terror agencies in Berlin and after that Multan was arrested, the officials further said…reports Asian Lite News.

Ahead of assembly elections in Punjab, intelligence agencies have warned that Sikh militant outfits like Sikh For Justice (SFJ), Babbar Khalsa may hit other cities with terror activities in the state, sources in the security set-up said.

The source said that these militant outfits have been actively supported by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) which is instigating them to disturb peace and harmony in the poll-bound state.

Polls

The agencies have also advised the state administration to remain on high alert and keep strict vigil across the state while the Border Security Force (BSF) has been asked to check the infiltration attempts at the western border with Pakistan in Punjab with special focus on the drone movements across the border.

Though the recent blast in Ludhiana on December 23 was cracked quickly and the key conspirator Khalistani terrorist Jaswinder Singh Multan, an active member of the SFJ was arrested by the Germany counter-terror agencies but this incident has triggered an alarm bell in the security establishment, the officials known to these developments said.

The intelligence agencies have also received input that many of the active members of the SFJ and Babbar Khalsa are tasked by the ISI to carry out more terror attacks to destabilize Punjab in the run-up to the assembly elections.

In Ludhiana blast incident, the probe agencies have also found that ISI is behind the blast and was in touch with Gagandeep Singh who was killed in the blast. During the probe, the investigation agencies found the role of SFJ members — Harvinder Singh and Jaswinder Singh Multan, who are based in Germany. They were in touch with SFJ president Avtar Singh Pannu and SFJ office-bearer Harmeet Singh.

The Indian probe agencies shared the evidence gathered in this case to the counter-terror agencies in Berlin and after that Multan was arrested, the officials further said.

They also revealed that he has been promoting separatist activities and is said to be in constant touch with US-based SFJ president Avtar Singh Pannu and Harmeet Singh alias Harpreet alias Rana, who are pursuing the separatist agenda of Khalistan through Sikh Referendum 2020.

Multan was instrumental in SFJ’s separatist campaign in Germany and recently it was revealed that he was arranging consignment of weapons, explosives, hand grenades and ammunition from Pakistan, with the help of his Pakistan-based operatives-cum-arm smugglers with an aim to carry out terror activities in Punjab and other parts of India too.

ALSO READ-NIA Begins Probe on SFJ’s Funding Routes in Canada

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NIA Begins Probe on SFJ’s Funding Routes in Canada

The probe team arrived in Canada on Friday will investigate the connection of these anti-Indian outfits’ funding links of terrorist organisations — SFJ and other pro-Khalistani groups, reports Asian Lite News

A three-member team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrived in Canada on November 5 to probe the funding routes to Sikh for Justice (SFJ) and other Khalistan supporters there.

According to sources, an Inspector General level officer led team will investigate the sources of funding by various organisations abroad for the creation of Khalistan out of India by the banned outfits like SFJ and other terrorist organisations.

The probe team will investigate the connection of these anti-Indian outfits’ funding links of terrorist organisations — SFJ and other pro-Khalistani groups like Khalistan Zindabad Force, Babbar Khalsa International, Khalistan Tiger Force, who have become active in the recent past. Sikh For Justice is backed by Pakistan’s intelligence wing the Inter State Services (ISI) which has been trying to revive militancy in India.

SFJ has been banned by the Indian government for involving in terror-related activities.

The central probe team would also investigate the Khalistani terrorist organisations funding source from different foreign countries including the US, the UK, Australia and Germany.

SFJ
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in London (File)

During the farmers agitation against the three farm laws in Delhi in January and February, it was reported that some NGOs like ‘Khalsa Aid’ and others were funded by these Sikh organisations and supported the agitation for long. Around 40 persons including a Punjabi actor Deep Sidhu and Khalistani sympathizer Baldev Singh Sirsa were summoned by the NIA for questioning in the ‘Sikhs For Justice Referendum case.

Recently on November 1, the SFJ organised a referendum in London to carve out Khalistan in India, which badly failed to garner support of the Sikhs due to punitive actions taken by the Indian government.

The Indian authorities have cancelled the visas of 12 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) status for their involvement in anti-India activities abroad. The US based SFJ deliberately tried to organise a referendum in London on November 1, 2021 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in the UK, attending a global summit on Climate Change in Glasgow.

ALSO READ – London Sikhs Reject Khalistan Referendum