 "Will Russia ban Sikhs For Justice and other pro-Khalistani organisations?")
Will Russia ban the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and other pro-Khalistani groups?
That’s what many are asking after the SFJ threatened a top Indian diplomat.
SFJ chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on Saturday said that Indian envoy to the US Vinay Kwatra is on the radar of pro-Khalistan Sikhs in America.
The development came a day after pro-Khalistan extremists protested near Russian consulates in New York and Toronto.
They also raised anti-India slogans.
Kwatra in August assumed charge as Indian envoy to the United States in August.
He succeeded Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
But what did Pannun say? And will Russia act?
Let’s take a closer look:
What did Pannun say?
As per Economic Times, Pannun in a video message claimed that Kwatra is now working with Russian diplomats and Russian agencies to target pro-Khalistani Sikhs.
He added Kwatra is on the radar of pro-Khalistani Sikhs in America.
“India has designated Vinary Kwatra, Indian Ambassador in Washington DC, to coordinate with Russian diplomats, and now Russian agencies have started providing intelligence and logistics to India’s RAW and NSA against pro-Khalistan Sikhs… Vinay Kwatra is already a target of pro-Khalistan Sikhs in America,” Pannun said.
He claimed Kwatra was “the face of India-Russia terror nexus.”
Pannun added, “Since the assassination of (Hardeep Singh) Nijjar, PM Modi, Foreign Minister Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval have visited Russia seeking support from President (Vladimir) Putin against Khalistan advocacy in the US, Canada, and EU,” Pannun said.
Pannun claimed Putin and India have now come to an agreement to repress pro-Khalistan Sikhs, ETV Bharat reported.
He also slammed Russian media houses RT and Sputnik, accusing them of running a ‘disinformation campaign’ against the Khalistan movement.
Pannun even threatened Russian diplomats and Russian missions in North America, the European Union, Australia and New Zealand with protests from Khalistani sympathisers.
“Russia, back off or face off with pro-Khalistan Sikhs with targeting Russian diplomates and demonstrating against Russian consulates in the North America, European Union, Australia and New Zealand,” Pannun warned.
Some say the threats may now influence the Russian government to ban SFJ and pro-Khalistan organisations and crack down hard against Khalistani extremists globally.
What do we know about Pannun?
Pannun is a dual citizen of the US and Canada.
SFJ and Pannun both gained attention in August 2018 after they planned a sizable pro-Khalistan Sikh gathering in London’s Trafalgar Square and declared their campaign, “Referendum 2020.”
India in 2020 designated Pannun – a New York-based Sikh secessionist leader who advocates for the creation of Khalistan – as a terrorist by the Ministry of Home Affairs under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
There are multiple cases registered against him.
The Union Home Ministry in July extended the ban imposed on pro-Khalistan group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) for five years for its anti-India activities.
The Home Ministry said the SFJ was declared a banned organisation five years ago under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for its anti-national activities which are prejudicial to the internal security and integrity of the country.
The SFJ continues to involve in anti-national and subversive activities in Punjab and elsewhere and intended to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, it said.
The ministry said the SFJ is encouraging and aiding the activities for secession of a part of the Indian territory from the Union of India and supporting separatist groups fighting for this purpose in India and elsewhere by indulging in activities and articulations intended to disrupt the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India_._
With inputs from agencies
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