Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the general counsel of the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and a designated terrorist in India, has admitted to having communicated with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office over the last few years. In an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Pannun revealed that the SFJ had been in contact with Trudeau’s office, providing details of alleged espionage networks operated by India on Canadian soil.
Speaking about the recent diplomatic fallout between India and Canada, Pannun reacted to comments made by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duheme. He said, “It shows Canada’s unwavering commitment to justice and the rule of law. Sikhs for Justice have been communicating with the Prime Minister’s Office for the last two to three years, detailing all the spy networks. After years of giving information to the Canadian government, when PM Trudeau came out, that was positive and one step forward for justice.”
Pannun also emphasized that the expulsion of Indian diplomats by Canada was only the beginning of what he believes is necessary. “We feel that the Indian consulates in Vancouver and Toronto need to be permanently shut down. India sending other diplomats to fill their vacancies is not going to dismantle the spy network. This is a direct challenge to Canadian sovereignty,” he added.
Pannun’s admission comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and Canada, with both nations engaging in a diplomatic standoff. The friction intensified after Trudeau’s allegations of potential Indian government involvement in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar earlier this year, which New Delhi has categorically denied.
Pannun, a vocal advocate for Khalistan—an independent Sikh homeland—has long been a controversial figure, and his recent statements are likely to further complicate the strained relationship between the two nations.
