New Delhi: Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has declared himself the spokesperson of the Kashmir-Khalistan Referendum Front, a new front launched in association with terror groups in Kashmir.
“Thursday’s ambush on Indian soldiers was a “consequence of India’s violence against Kashmiris,” said the Sikhs For Justice chief.
“Indian Occupied Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory where India’s Army is committing genocidal violence for decades. Today Indian Army suffered casualties at the hands of Kashmiri Freedom Fighters because Violence ALWAYS begets violence,” he added, News18 reported. Notably, at least four Army personnel lost their lives while three others were injured in a terrorist attack on two military vehicles in the Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.
Pannun, who was listed as an “individual terrorist” by the Ministry of Home Affairs on July 1, 2020, a year after the Centre banned the SFJ, said the “only peaceful resolution to the territorial dispute of Indian Occupied Kashmir is to hold a referendum to determine the will of the indigenous people”.
“Just like Sikhs For Justice is holding Khalistan Referendum to challenge the association of Punjab with the Union of India, I urge Kashmiri Freedom Fighters to organise and hold Kashmir Independence Referendum,” he said, according to the report.
Pannun’s declaration clarifies his association with designated terror groups of Pakistan who are killing Indian soldiers, CNN-News18 reported quoting top intelligence sources, adding, “Earlier, there were only inputs available about his access to ISI but now, his statement clearly shows his association.”
In his latest hate speech, Pannun called PM Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and NSA Ajit Doval the ‘axis of evil’ and asked whether they “have 24/7 security blanket”. He threatened that they should be “ready to face consequences” and mentioned the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada the firing of the “first bullet” by India. Marking 180 days since Nijjar’s murder, Pannun boasted about the show of violence by Khalistani sympathisers in Vancouver.
