KHALISTAN EXTREMISM MONITOR
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
A project of the Institute for Conflict Management
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated terrorist and leader of banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), has threatened the Hindus living in Canada to leave the country and announced a fresh referendum and vote if the Indian high commissioner was responsible for the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
In a video that is going viral on social media, Pannun said that they want to avenge Nijjar, whose death has sparked a diplomatic row between India and Canada after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused 'agents of the Indian government' of orchestrating the attack.
"Indo-Canadian Hindus, you have repudiated your allegiance to Canada and the Canadian constitution. Your destination is India. Leave Canada, and go to India. Pro-Khalistan Sikhs have always been loyal to Canada. They have always sided with Canada and uphold the laws and constitution," Pannun was heard saying in the 45-second video.
"On October 29, the shaheed (martyr) Nijjar referendum is happening in Vancouver. I urge all Canadian Sikhs to be in Vancouver on October 29, to vote on: Is the Indian High Commissioner Responsible for the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar," he said.
Meanwhile, the SFJ radical outfit has announced to hold protests and shut down Indian consulate offices in Canada in the coming week, Canadian media outlet Global News reported.
“We will not allow the Indian consulates to function and we’re going to push the Canadian government to name the individuals who are responsible for assassinating and giving the orders to hit Nijjar,” Khalistani radical Gurpatwant Singh Pannun from Sikhs for Justice told the outlet.
“He has been assassinated outside the gurdwara — that was being done to give a very strong message to pro-Khalistan Sikhs that they will be hunted, even in the Western world," he added.
After Canada accused India and drew links with the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, New Delhi lashed out at the Canadian government, rubbishing the claims and urging it to take action against anti-India activities ongoing in the country.
Canada expelled a top Indian diplomat after the country's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made a speech levelling grave allegations against India. New Delhi, in a retaliatory move, also asked a senior Canadian diplomat to leave the country within the next five days.
"The High Commissioner of Canada to India was summoned today and informed about the decision of the Government of India to expel a senior Canadian diplomat based in India. The concerned diplomat has been asked to leave India within the next five days," an official readout said.
"The decision reflects Government of India’s growing concern at the interference of Canadian diplomats in our internal matters and their involvement in anti-India activities," it added.