In yet another message, the Khalistani leader and supremo of the Sikhs For Justice, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun reportedly called for the economic destruction of India by targeting the Bombay Stock Exchanges and the National Stock Exchanges from March 12, 2024. Pannun is targeting India’s economic system as it is the backbone of the Narendra Modi government.
Pannun, who has been designated as a global terrorist by Indian authorities called for the dumping of stocks and purchasing of American economic stocks before March 12, 2024. He has also identified banks and corporates that trade internationally among the targets. He deliberately chose March 12 as it was the day that marks the 31st anniversary of the Mumbai serial blasts in which the BSE building was among the targets.
Intelligence Officer’s Finding
According to an intelligence officer, it is also believed that after the failure of his referendum, the Khalistani leader wanted to make money through the new campaign. “He is a foreign agent working for foreign agencies who are protecting him in the name of freedom of speech. Earlier, he threatened the PM and now wants to target India’s economic stability. He is a global terrorist who should face trial now,” he said.
Previous Threats
The latest threat came in the month of December 2023, when he exhorted the Muslim population in the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh to target PM Narendra Modi when he came to Ayodhya to inaugurate the new airport and unveil many developmental projects. On December 30, 2023, he urged Muslims to block PM Ayodhya’s roadshow and offered a reward of $100,000 for it.
Before this, he had threatened to shut down the ICC World Cup Final on November 19, 2023, and had declared to blow up the new Parliament building and the Indian legislature on December 13, 2023. He also warned the global Sikh community against flying aboard the Air India Flights as he had plans to reorchestrate the Kanishka Air India flight bombing that killed everyone in the aircraft.
Legal Action on Pannun
The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has charged him under various sections of Indian laws, especially the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). Moreover, in September 2023, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had confiscated his house, land and properties in Chandigarh and Amritsar.
Assassination Controversy
He was recently at the center of a controversy after US officials shared details of an alleged plot to kill the Khalistani leader on American soil. On November 23, 2023, the US Federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with working with an Indian government employee in a foiled plot to kill Pannun on American soil. The probe has been going on in the case.
