A pro-Khalistani Sikh separatist leader has issued a warning to Sikhs not to fly on an Air India flight on November 19, warning that doing so could pose life-threatening risks. His comments come in light of the ongoing diplomatic spat between India and Canada over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist leader.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, recently posted a video in which he reiterated various threats to individuals traveling on the Indian state carrier on November 19. “We are asking the Sikh people to not fly via Air India on 19 November. There will be a global blockade. Do not travel by Air India or your life will be in danger,” he said, repeating the threats in a video circulating on social media.
In response to the threats, India’s high commissioner to Canada, Sanjay Kumar Verma, told the Hindustan Times, “We have studied the contents of the video, which is in clear violation of the Chicago Convention, which lays out a framework for international civil aviation operations. Canada and India, among many other nations, are parties to the convention.”
The envoy stated that they will discuss the threat with Canadian authorities. “We shall take up the threat against Air India flights originating from and terminating in Canada, with the concerned Canadian authorities,” he said.
Pannun, who has been designated by the Indian government as an independent terrorist, claimed that New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport would be closed on November 19 and even called for the airport's name to be changed.
"When we liberate Punjab, the names of these airports will be Shahid Beant Singh and Shahid Satwant Singh airport," Pannun said, referring to the two separatist leaders who assassinated former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in October 1984.
Noting that on the same date, India will be hosting the final match of the international men's cricket World Cup, Pannun further said, “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.”
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