Pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has once again stirred controversy by releasing a video urging a "picket" of Air India flights at Toronto and Vancouver international airports in Canada on December 1.
This call to action, targeting outbound AI 188 and AI 186 flights from Terminal One, follows a recent case filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) against the banned Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) group leader for a November 4 video threatening the Indian flag carrier.
"As General Counsel to SFJ, I reiterate my call to boycott Air India. The Modi government cannot impede SFJ's pursuit of the secessionist Khalistan referendum, the true motive behind NIA's baseless terror case," stated Pannun in his latest video.
Clarifying his stance, Pannun emphasized that his video message advocates a "non-violent call" to "boycott" Air India, not to "bomb" it.
He continued by asserting that his campaign to boycott the airline persists, alleging that every dollar spent on Air India and other Indian businesses contributes to what he perceives as a threat to the Sikh population in India.
In the video, Pannun dedicated this movement to Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot outside a gurdwara in Surrey earlier this year.
Pannun, categorized as an 'individual terrorist' by India in 2020, previously declared that Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) would be renamed and closed on November 19. He also issued threats against those planning to travel via Air India on that day, cautioning them of potential danger and asserting that the flag carrier would not be allowed to operate worldwide.
The NIA has charged Pannun under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, citing his efforts to promote terror acts and incite unrest in India by fostering discord within the Sikh community and other groups.
The agency has been monitoring Pannun since 2019 and has taken legal action, including confiscating his properties in Punjab and Chandigarh. Pannun faces non-bailable arrest warrants and was declared a 'Proclaimed Offender (PO)' in November 2022.
(With Agency Inputs)
