Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Kahalistani terrorist based in the US, has threatened to target Hindu temples across India, including the grand Ram Mandir in Ayodhya which was opened for public in January this year. In a video message, which was released by the banned Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), Pannun warned of an attack on the temple on November 16 and 17.
According to reports, the video recorded in Brampton of Canada, is aimed at inciting violence against Hindu places of worship in India. “We will shake the foundations of Ayodhya, birthplace of the violent Hindutva ideology,” Pannun said in the video clip, which showed images of Prime Minister Modi praying in the Ram Mandir during its inauguration in January 2024.
The terrorist also warned Indians in Canada to stay away from Khalistani attacks on Hindu temples.
Last month, he had cautioned passengers against flying on Air India flights between November 1 and 19, claiming the period coincided with what he called the 40th anniversary of the 1984 “Sikh genocide”.
Reportedly, he has also called for violence against Indian diplomats, pointing out that he has plans to provoke unrest and tension within Indian and expatriate communities. Pannun’s Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) organization has been involved in various anti-India activities, aiming to promote the idea of a separate Sikh state.
Pannun, has been designated as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in July 2020, he has previously issued several incendiary statements aimed at destabilising communal harmony in India. The government of India has also issued multiple arrest warrants against him. However, he continues to function from the US and Canada.
In the recent past, attacks on Hindu temples and threats against the Hindu community in Canada from radical Khalistani elements have increased. There has also been an uptick in acts of vandalism, hate graffiti on temple walls, and public threats against the community.