Gurpatwant Singh Pannun loses ancestral properties in government move
In a shocking move, India’s National Investigation Agency has reportedly snatched away the properties of the controversial Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. These properties, spanning across the cultural hubs of Amritsar and Chandigarh, are now claimed by the government.
Major Losses for Pannun: What Did the Government Take?
Among the seized properties is an expansive 46 kanal of agricultural land in Pannun’s ancestral village Khankot, right on the edge of Amritsar. Additionally, the hammer came down on his prime residential property: house no. 2033 in the bustling Sector 15-C of Chandigarh. Pannun had already faced restrictions in 2020 when his properties were attached, meaning he couldn’t sell them. But now, with this latest move, he’s completely lost all rights to these properties.
In a related twist, the central agency also slapped a notice on a house that once belonged to the late Khalistani leader, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, situated in the Bharsingh Pura village of Jalandhar.
Rising Tensions and Threats from Pannun
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun isn’t just any leader. He’s labelled a “terrorist” by the Indian government. Tensions skyrocketed after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hinted at the Indian government’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response, Pannun didn’t hold back. He went on to challenge Indo-Canadian Hindus, urging them to leave Canada. He proclaimed Sikhs’ loyalty to Canada in a bold 45-second video statement.
This wasn’t all. The SFJ leader then announced a referendum in Vancouver, urging Canadian Sikhs to decide if the Indian High Commissioner played a role in the assassination of Nijjar. Canadian media outlet, Global News, even reported that Pannun and his SFJ group intended to halt the functioning of Indian consulate offices in Canada.
The rhetoric got more intense as Pannun claimed to Global News that pro-Khalistan Sikhs were being hunted even in the West.
Diplomatic Chaos: India and Canada in a Fiery Face-off
Following Canada’s accusations against India regarding Nijjar’s killing, India swiftly countered the claims, dismissing them outright. They pressed Canada to act against the surging anti-India activities in their country. The drama peaked as India delivered a clear message, summoning the High Commissioner of Canada and informing about the decision to expel a senior Canadian diplomat stationed in India.