India to raise Khalistani threats issue with Canada, seek heightened security for Air India flights

India will raise the grave threats, issued by Canada-based Khalistani terrorist outfit Sikhs For Justice's chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, with Canada.In an unsettling and alarming video message, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the head of Canada-based Khalistani terrorist outfit, has issued a chilling threat to the Indian government and Air India whileurging Sikhs to abstain from flying on Air India planes on and after November 19 citing a potential threatto their lives. He further threatened that the final match of the ‘World Terror Cup’ will be played on Nov 19.

While responding to a question from the Hindustan Times, India’s High Commissioner to Ottawa Sanjay Kumar Verma said, “We shall take up the threat against Air India flights originating from and terminating in Canada, with the concerned Canadian authorities.”

The report said that India will seek for heightened security for Air India flights.

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“We have studied the contents of the video, which is in clear violation of Chicago Convention, which lays out a framework for international civil aviation operations," the envoy added.

Verma, as per HT, also pointed out that the bilateral civil aviation agreement between both nations consists of provisions that can be invoked to tackle these threats.

WION also sought a response from the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs if they have taken note of Pannun's threats to blow up an AI flight on Nov 19.

Acknowledging the question asked by WION, "Is the Canadian government planning any action on this threat?" the authorities responded by saying they would be looking into the matter.However, as of now, specific details are still awaited.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun had said, "We are asking Sikhs not to fly AI on 19th November. There will be a global blockade, and AI will not be allowed to fly anywhere across the world on 19th November. Sikhs, you do not travel by AI after the 19th. It can be life-threatening."

The warning is alarming since Khalistani terrorists had bombed Air India's Boeing 747 'Kanishka' flight from Toronto to India in 1985, killing 329 passengers, including 268 Canadian citizens of Indian origin and 24 Indians.

Threat for airport closure

Pannun also issued a warning to the Government of India, saying, "The Indira Gandhi International Airport should remain closed on the 19th of November."

“It is the same day on which the final match of the World Terror Cup will be played. It will be shown to the world that a genocide of Sikhs happened in India and India did it. When we will liberate Punjab, the name of these airports will be Shahid Beant Singh and Shahid Satwant Singh Airport,” he added.

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It is worth noting that November 19 marks the birth anniversary of the late Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who was assassinated during the protests against Operation Bluestar in Golden Temple in 1984.

This comes months after the horrifying incident in Canada where a tableau celebrated the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards was paraded in Brampton on June 4.

The Canada government has not yet reacted or taken any action on the threat by Pannun.

Pannun has made such threats earlier as well. About a month ago, Pannun, who is a designated terrorist, threatened the Hindus living in Canada to leave the country and announced a fresh referendum asking if the Indian high commissioner was responsible for the assassination of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

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It was days after Canadian PM Justin Trudeau made unproved claims that the Indian government is responsible for the killing of Khalistani Terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada has so far failed to provide any concrete evidence to back its "absurd" claims, something which even the Indian envoy to Canada Sanjay Kumar Verma pointed out.

Tragic history of Kanishka bombing

The direct warning given by Pannun in a video message brought fresh the sombre memories ofthe 1985 bombing of Air India's Boeing 747 'Kanishka.' The Kanishka bombing, carried out by Khalistani terrorists, remains a tragic chapter in aviation history.

A bomb concealed in a suitcase led to the explosion aboard Air India's flight from Toronto to India via London in 1985, causing the plane to crash into the sea off the Irish coast.

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The devastating incident claimed the lives of 329 passengers, including 268 Canadian citizens of Indian origin and 24 Indians.

The person behind this catastrophic incident was identified as Talwinder Singh Parmar, then chief of Babbar Khalsa. Parmar. He was allegedly provided a safe haven by the Canadian government led by Pierre Trudeau, who was the father of the current Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

(With inputs from agencies)