New Delhi: As the war between Israel and Hamas intensifies, the chief of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), a US-based secessionist group, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, has issued a fresh threat to India. In a video message, Pannun warned the Indian and Punjab governments that he would launch attacks similar to Hamas to achieve the freedom of Punjab from India.
Pannun said that the SFJ was inspired by the Palestinian militant group’s surprise offensive against Israel on October 7, 2023, which he called Operation al-Aqsa Flood. He said that the SFJ was preparing for its own operation, named Operation Khalistan Flood, to liberate Punjab from India’s occupation. He said that the SFJ had acquired rockets, drones, and boats to carry out the attacks.
Pannun also urged the people of Punjab to join the SFJ’s campaign for ‘Referendum 2020’, which aims to create a separate Sikh homeland called Khalistan. He said that the SFJ had established an office in Lahore, Pakistan, to facilitate the registration of voters and provide information to Sikhs. He said that the SFJ had also posted banners and posters of Khalistan and Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a Sikh leader who was killed by the Indian army in 1984, around Nankana Sahib, a holy site for Sikhs in Pakistan.
Pannun said that he did not recognize Punjab as a part of India and that he wanted to restore its sovereignty and dignity. He said that if India did not agree to hold a referendum on Punjab’s independence, it would face the same fate as Israel. He said that he was ready to sacrifice his life for Khalistan and that he would not stop until he achieved his goal.
Pannun is a notorious Khalistani terrorist who has been banned in India since 2019 as an unlawful association. He has been involved in several legal cases against Indian political leaders for their alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, which killed thousands of Sikhs after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards. He has also been threatening to disrupt various events in India, such as the World Cup cricket match at Narendra Modi Stadium in October 2023, where he claimed he would hoist the Khalistani flag.
