A plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the head of Sikhs for Justice and an Indian terrorist, is said to have been thwarted by US officials.
In November, Gurpatwant Pannun was charged with terrorism and conspiracy after a video he had posted on social media appeared and appeared to threaten passengers flying with Air India, the country’s flag airline.
The White House took Pannun’s case seriously, communicating with Indian authorities at the highest levels and expressing “utmost seriousness.”
A representative for the Ministry of External Affairs stated on November 22 that the US’s information sharing was “cause of concern for both countries.”
Meanwhile, there are new worries about unrest as a result of revived calls for Sikh separatism, which coincide with the claims of India’s possible involvement in the aborted murder attempt.
Speaking about potential motives for the Indian government to be involved in an assassination plot in an exclusive interview with TIME, Pannun stated that they (the Indian government) could not afford for him to live since he had established a narrative.
They therefore can’t afford for me to survive since I’ve made a name for myself. I am able to dispel the myths about terror and terrorism in India in a democratic, nonviolent manner. Reports on the events of 1984–1995 are available from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the US Department of State in 1994, and other organizations. However, the divisive question of whether Punjab should become an independent nation has never been addressed since 1950 and has yet to be settled amicably and democratically. It was never submitted to a vote or requested of the Punjabi people in 1947, Pannun said.
“We are going to open this question through the voter registration in Punjab for the Khalistan referendum on January 26, 2024,” he further emphasized.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was questioned by TIME about whether he was aware of intelligence reports that US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed India’s possible involvement in an assassination plot against Biden during the G20 Summit.
“I will say that on this particular question—and this is my official statement—the Modi regime and the Indian government want to kill me because I am leading the global campaign to vote for a Khalistan referendum.”
“I decided to use international laws to hold individuals accountable because I saw how the Indian government wanted to eliminate civil disobedience during Operation Blue Star,” he told.
It’s no longer about me, the attempted murder plan that the Financial Times revealed and about which the Biden administration released a statement. It is an affront to US sovereignty. It poses a threat to both American democracy and the right to free speech. However, I’ll let US officials elaborate on this.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun explained that Sikhs who fled between 1984 and 1997 did so in response to India’s suppression of the Sikh community, which is why there are sizable Sikh diaspora populations, especially in the US and Canada. “They relocated due to discrimination against them on the basis of their political and religious beliefs. That is why they are still in motion.”
However, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun disagreed with experts who argue that other issues like farmers’ protests, excessive debt, and drug addiction are more pressing than the need for a separatist homeland within the Sikh community in India and, to some extent, the Sikh diaspora. Because of this, we are the revolutionaries who strive for independence, and the experts are professors. While we focus on presenting the facts and altering the narrative, they work on research papers.”
Pannun highlighted his American identity in response to India’s rejection of Canada’s claims about possible involvement in the assassination plan.
“I am an American, and I believe the Biden administration and US authorities should take action if someone is attempting to kill me. We’ll be observing the response from the Biden administration. Which do they cherish more, democracy or business? Do they respect human rights more than a rogue state like India, which has demonstrated time and time again that it is not a reliable ally and would employ terror and violence?” In response to questions regarding the ramifications of releasing a video in which he advised Sikhs not to travel on Air India, claiming that it would be “life-threatening,” Pannun further stressed that his message was to “boycott” Air India.
“I was saying “boycott” Air India, but the whole Indian narrative shifted to “bomb” Air India. To not know the difference between bombing and boycotting, one must be a zombie, Pannun continued.
In the one-minute, 37-second video that went viral on social media, Pannun had stated that they are requesting Sikhs not to travel on November 19 with Air India. A worldwide blockade is planned. Air India will not be permitted to function. Avoid flying on Air India on November 19 since it may put your life in jeopardy.”
“The World Terror Cup final match is scheduled for November 19,” he stated, noting that Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi will be closed on that day.
After the Union Home Ministry labeled Pannun a terrorist in July 2020, the government ordered the attachment of his belongings two months later under Section 51A of the strict Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
