In a recent interview, Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun urged the U.S. and Canada to take stronger action against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, claiming it is attempting to silence dissidents abroad.
Pannun, who says he was the target of a planned assassination involving Indian agents, expressed that India should not interfere with the sovereignty of other nations.
U.S. authorities recently charged two Indian nationals over an alleged plot to kill Pannun in New York. According to the indictment, one of the accused is a former Indian intelligence officer involved in organizing the plot.
Pannun insists that India’s consulates in the U.S. and Canada are operating a “spy network,” though he did not provide evidence for these claims.
As reported by Reuters, Pannun called on both the U.S. and Canada to take a firm stance, even suggesting that consulates be closed to prevent such interference.
His comments follow tensions between India and Canada, especially after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of being involved in the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another pro-Khalistan leader. The incident sparked diplomatic friction, leading to each country expelling diplomats.
India has denied involvement in both alleged plots and claims that Canada has not provided proof. Pannun, who supports creating a separate Sikh homeland, Khalistan, says he continues to organize peaceful votes on the issue across multiple countries despite alleged threats.
Indian officials, however, worry that support for the movement abroad could spark renewed militancy within India’s Punjab state .
Credit : Reuters