The dismissal of the petition filed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, who is leading the Khalistani movement, by a U.S. court has been welcomed by Sikhs living in India. The U.S. court rejected Pannu’s claim that he had served a summons to India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, during his visit to the United States. Pannu had filed a civil lawsuit against Doval and another Indian citizen, Nikhil Gupta. U.S. prosecutors have accused Gupta of conspiring with an Indian government official to murder Pannu, a plot that was thwarted on U.S. soil. The court stated that no complaint had been filed against Doval during his Washington visit in February, and dismissed Pannu’s claim that court documents, including the summons, had been served to the senior Indian official.
Gurjeet Singh Bakshi, the National Secretary General of the Indian organization Sikh Brotherhood International, welcomed the U.S. court’s decision and stated that foreign countries, including the U.S., should now take strict action against people like Pannu, as they pose a threat not only to India but to other countries as well. He added, “I can confidently say that Gurpatwant Singh Pannu or anyone like him doesn’t have the courage to speak about Khalistan in India. They can only make such statements while sitting in foreign countries. These countries must understand that these people can become a threat to them too. Therefore, foreign governments should act swiftly against them.”
He further explained that no Sikh in India would be influenced by their rhetoric. These people, living abroad or looking for employment, often trap youth in their schemes, encouraging them to act against India. The true Indians will not fall into their traps, but many individuals join them simply because they lack basic means of survival, thinking that at least their needs will be met. However, they may not realize that these individuals exploit their vulnerabilities to make them carry out criminal activities. Most people involved in the Khalistani movement have likely been ensnared by individuals like Pannu at various times. But if foreign governments adopt a firm stance, people like Pannu can be brought to the right path.
