In a continued escalation of his provocative rhetoric inciting violence against India, Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has called for the "economic destruction" of the country by targeting the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) starting March 12, 2024. This date coincides with the 31st anniversary of the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai, which claimed over 250 lives and injured numerous individuals, initiated by explosions in the BSE building basement.
Pannun, the legal counsel for the banned Sikhs for Justice group, conveyed this alarming message in a video released on Monday. Unlike the 1993 attacks that physically damaged BSE buildings, the current call aims at undermining India's economic system, according to Pannun.
In his provocative message, Pannun urged individuals to "dump Indian stock" and "buy American Stocks" before March 12. Designated as an 'individual terrorist' by India in 2020, Pannun identified top Indian banks trading internationally at BSE/NSE as prime targets for SFJ.
This latest threat follows Pannun's recent call for the "Muslims of UP" to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his planned roadshow in Ayodhya on December 30. Despite claims of US protection against an alleged assassination attempt by Indian agents, Pannun faces nearly two dozen cases, including charges of terrorism and sedition in India.
Non-bailable arrest warrants were issued against Pannun by the NIA Special Court on February 3, 2021, leading to his declaration as a 'Proclaimed Offender' on November 29, 2022. In September 2023, the NIA seized his properties in Amritsar and Chandigarh, registering a case over a threatening video against Air India released on November 4.
In the preceding month, Pannun had announced intentions to target the Indian Parliament on or before December 13, citing an alleged foiled plot to kill him on American soil. The situation remains a cause for grave concern, requiring heightened vigilance and security measures.
(With Agency Inputs)
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