New Delhi: After US-based Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun was seen at a ceremony to mark the inauguration of Donald Trump as President earlier this week, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India will continue to raise matters, which have a bearing on the country’s national security, with the United States.
“Whenever there is an anti-India activity we take up the matter with the US government. We will continue to raise matter with the US Government that have a bearing on our national security and have an anti-India agenda,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the weekly press briefing on Friday.
Pannun, who openly advocates for an independent Sikh homeland within Indian territory, was spotted at The Liberty Ball which took place after Trump was sworn in as US President at the Capitol’s Rotunda hall on January 20.
A video which has gone viral shows Trump and First Lady Melania on the stage and then pans to its left to show the crowd chanting ‘USA, USA’. As the camera, supposedly that of Pannun, pans further, he is seen among the crowd and heard chanting ‘Khalistan zindabad’.
🚨Khalistani terrorist Pannun AWKWARDLY MURMURS extremist slogans at 🇺🇸Trump’s inauguration pic.twitter.com/sTcCfhkKY2
— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) January 21, 2025
The Khalistani terrorist, apparently not invited to the event, bought tickets through some contact, reported WION.
India designated Pannun, a dual US-Canadian citizen, as a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) in July 2020 for his role in advocating separatism and inciting violence.
Multiple arrest warrants were issued against Pannun in India, and the government seized his properties as well.
