Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the leader of the banned terrorist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and designated as a terrorist by India, has issued a new video threatening India’s sovereignty and calling for independence movements beyond Punjab. In the video, Pannun declared SFJ’s goal with the message, “Mission of SFJ 2024: ONE India, To 2047: NONE India.”
Pannun specifically addressed Chinese President Xi Jinping, urging him to deploy the Chinese army to “take Arunachal Pradesh back,” falsely claiming that the region belongs to China. He further threatened to ignite independence movements in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland, aiming to “Balkanize the Union of India” and destabilize the nation.
These remarks appeared to be in response to Canada’s Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, David Morrison, who reaffirmed Canada’s stance on India’s territorial integrity. During a public hearing at the Canadian Foreign Interference Commission, Morrison emphasized, “Canada’s policy is clear: India’s territorial integrity must be respected. There’s one India, and that’s been made very clear.”
Pannun’s statements highlight his ongoing efforts to disrupt India’s unity through separatist agendas, extending beyond his focus on Punjab. The SFJ has long pursued the creation of an independent Khalistan and has used inflammatory rhetoric to incite unrest. His comments rejecting international norms on state sovereignty pose a significant threat to India’s national security.
The SFJ, formed in 2007 to establish Khalistan, was banned by India’s Ministry of Home Affairs in 2019 under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and Pannun was later designated as a terrorist.
In response, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has strongly criticised Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in for his provocative statement. Taking to his X handle, Rijiju questioned Pannun’s authority asking, “Is Arunachal Pradesh your personal property that you are asking China to take it?”
The minister expressed concern over certain groups in India encouraging uncivilized elements, referring to them as the “tukde tukde gang.”
