New Delhi: Canadian authorities have launched an investigation into possible threats against Air India after a threatening video surfaced by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, head of the banned organization Sikhs for Justice. In the video, Pannu is warning people not to travel on the airline starting November 19. In a video posted this month, SJF’s Gurpatwant Singh Pannu called on the Sikh community to boycott Air India.
“We are going to target India, from Air India to ‘Made in India’, we are going to stop everything,” Gurpatwant Singh Pannu said in the video. On Thursday, Canadian Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez said the country “takes every threat seriously, especially as it relates to airlines.” He said, “Our government takes any threat to aviation seriously. We are closely monitoring the latest threats circulating online and with our security partners.
“We will do everything we can to keep Canadians safe,” Rodriguez wrote on Twitter. On Thursday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said India had raised the issue of “terrorist threats” with Canada. He said, “We strongly condemn such terrorist threats. “We are engaging with foreign governments on the activities of radical and terrorist elements who are using violence and intimidation against our leadership and our diplomats,” he said during a weekly press conference.
“We will continue to pressure these governments not to give space to such extremist elements,” he said. Bagchi’s reply came in response to CNN News 18’s question whether India has raised the issue with Canada and the US. The threat is reminiscent of the 1985 terrorist attacks, Canada’s deadliest terrorist incident. An Air India flight from Toronto to London crashed into the Atlantic Ocean after a bomb blast. All 329 people on board, including 280 Canadians, lost their lives in the crash.
According to top Indian intelligence sources, Gurpatwant Pannu’s warning cannot be taken lightly. “We have alerted all counterparts in major cities where Air India operates flights to take extra precautions,” intelligence sources told CNN News18. It is a matter of great concern that Pannu is roaming freely around the world and no country is taking action against him.
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Tags: Canada, Khalistan Tiger Force
First published: November 10, 2023, 10:52 IST