On February 27, the banned pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) founder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun threatened to storm and target Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport to raise Khalistan flags during the G20 Foreign Minister’s summit.
A video circulated over social media shows the ‘Punjab is not India’ slogan at Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Office Complex at Bagha Purana and Government Polytechnic College, Rode village in Punjab’s Moga district. SFJ has claimed responsibility for the anti-India graffiti. It is pertinent to note that Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale was a native of Rode village.
Pannun said, “This message is for the G20 foreign ministers. Punjab is not India. SFJ will storm and target the New Delhi Airport with Khalistan flags.” He continued, “Now is the time that you (G20 foreign ministers) support the Khalistan referendum. You support the Sikh’s rights to self-determination, and you do not recognise India’s territorial integrity because India is not a country but a union of states with a condition. If people do not want to stay with that union, they have the right to vote.”
SFJ’s anti-India activities are no secret. In 2021, SFJ announced a USD 250,000 reward for unfurling the Khalistan flag on Red Fort during Republic Day. Pannun said, “January 26 is coming, and on the Red Fort, there is an Indian Tricolour. Remove the Tricolour on January 26 and replace it with the Khalistani flag.”
Earlier, another Khalistani sympathiser, Amritpal Singh, threatened Union Home Minister Amit Shah with the same fate as former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi if he tried to stop the Khalistani movement.
He claimed that Khalistan’s demand is a matter of right, contending that the Sikhs are the “claimants of this land” and no one can snatch their claim.
Amritpal Singh’s fascination with Khalistani terrorist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale is no secret. In an interview with ThePrint, he called Bhindranwale an “inspiration” and expressed his wish to celebrate Bhindranwale as a “youth icon.” He continued, “We wanted to give the state a message that no matter how evil they portray him as, he will always be our hero.”
Often dubbed Bhindranwale 2.0, Amritpal Singh has expressed his willingness to be like Bhindranwale, claiming that it is “what every Sikh wants.” But, he continued, “I am not even equal to dust of his feet.”
