NEW DELHI: A day after speculation surged about his “death”, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, founder of the secessionist Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) surfaced to declare that he was alive and well, while also confirming that he was behind the “kill posters” aimed at Indian diplomats serving in Canada, the UK and the US.
The fugitive secessionist also declared that he would avenge the killing of his close aide Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani radical who was shot dead by two unidentified persons in Surrey in Canada’s British Columbia."Hardeep Nijjar was my younger brother and we had an association of more than 20 years.
We will avenge his death," Pannun told TOI hours after releasing a dramatic video shot in front of the United Nations headquarters in which he was seen hurling his familiar threats against India.Will put diplomat posters all over the world: Pannun Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, founder of the secessionist Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) on Thursday confirmed to TOI that he had masterminded the "kill posters" with names and photographs of Indian diplomats.
"Yes, I am the one who issued and authorised these posters and I am the one who went outside the UN headquarters and challenged the Indian diplomats that they represent a state which is responsible for the assassination of Hardeep Nijjar and we will hold them accountable under international laws," Pannun told TOI.
He, however, argued that the menacing posters did not constitute an incitement to violence against the diplomats, an offence that carries severe punishment in countries where pro-Khalistani activists have located themselves to carry out their campaign.
"Where does it say that I want to kill them.
If you read it, it says kill India and then just had their photographs and names mentioned therein," Pannun said."We are going to put 'wanted' posters of these diplomats in every country where there is an Indian mission before August 15," Pannun threatened.
"Our campaigners are in over 35 countries.
We are going to bring banners and posters all over the world.
On August 15, we will put out posters saying 'This is Indian mission - house of terror'," he said."They are the face of the Indian regime who are responsible for the killing of Hardeep Nijjar.
We want the people to know that these are the officials who are responsible for Nijjar's killing.
We are killing India's AK-47 bullets through ballot (reference to referendum).
We will kill the Indian system which is responsible for genocide of innocent people," he added.Intelligence sources confirmed that the voice in the video was of Pannun's.He sneered at reports of his "death" that had swept social media platforms on Wednesday.
"I am very much alive.
I am meeting people every day.
I am not absconding or underground.
I can't control the news the Indian agencies are putting out," he said, asserting that he would work for the secession of Punjab and disintegration of India as a union."They don't want to highlight the real issue...
that we are seeking a peaceful and democratic referendum as per the will of the people of Punjab to know if they want to remain a part of India or be a separate country," said the SFJ founder whose provocative, anti-India messages would until recently regularly intrude into the mobile phones of millions in India.
He also said he would work to ensure that Khalistan became a reality.
Asked whether he would appear before Indian law enforcement agencies in connection with the crimes - from terrorism to violence - he has been accused of, Pannun said, "I am not going to respond to any Indian agency because I don't believe that the Union of India should even exist.
I don't abide by their laws, or their constitution."
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