Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a designated Khalistani terrorist and leader of the Sikh for Justice group, has issued new threats against the upcoming inauguration of the Ram Mandir (Ram Temple) and called for Muslims to oppose the ceremony scheduled for January 22. The extremist leader has released a video in which he describes the Ram Mandir as “unholy, ungodly, and unrighteous,” urging followers to take action against the grand opening ceremony.
According to sources cited by News 18, Pannun has called for the shutdown of airports from Amritsar to Ayodhya ahead of the Pran Pratishtha ceremony for the Ram Mandir, as reported by Republic. In the video, Pannun is quoted as saying, “From Amritsar to Ayodhya, shutdown airports. Now is the time, Muslims, you carve out a country Urduistan from India.” He claims that the ceremony will have “global consequences” and calls upon Muslims to engage in protests against the event.
Pannun further alleges that the Ram Mandir is built on the site of the Babri Masjid and labels Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “global enemy of Muslims,” according to intelligence sources. He goes on to describe January 22 as “Modi’s Operation Bluestar against Muslims.”
India declared Pannun a designated terrorist in 2020 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). The American citizen and lawyer have a history of making threats, including targeting Indian consulates and missions in Canada, the UK, and the US over the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Last year, he circulated photos of Indian High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma and Consul General in Toronto Apoorva Srivastava in a poster accusing them of involvement in Nijjar’s killing.
In September, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) seized Pannun’s properties in Amritsar and Chandigarh, charging him and his organization with several sections of the Indian Penal Code and the UAPA on November 20.