Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued direct threats to PM Modi and CM Yogi Adityanath in a viral video, vowing revenge for the killing of three Khalistani militants. The incident has drawn attention to Pannun’s links with US-based activist Thenmozhi Soundararajan and her group Equality Labs, tied to ISI-backed networks promoting anti-India propaganda.
On 24 December 2024, a threatening video by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun went viral on social media, in which he issued a direct threat to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In the video, Pannun, a designated terrorist by the Indian government and leader of the banned separatist group Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), vowed to take revenge for the killing of three Khalistani terrorists during an encounter at the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, which is scheduled for 2025. The video has prompted an immediate response from the Pilibhit Police, who have filed a case against Pannun and initiated legal proceedings.
Pannu has issued a de ath threat to @myogiadityanath, asserting that the Mahakumbh Mela 2025 will be his last Mela. pic.twitter.com/XQTrJDKa63
— Āryā_Anvikṣā 🪷 (@Arya_Anviksha_) December 24, 2024
Pannun’s Threat To Indian Leaders
In the video, Pannun made several threatening remarks in Punjabi, accusing India of perpetrating a fake encounter against the three Sikh youths. He stated, “This Hindutva terrorist state has killed three Sikh youth in a fake encounter” and promised financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh to the families of the slain terrorists. Pannun’s threats extended to Indian political leaders as well. He referred to CM Yogi Adityanath using the derogatory term “Gangu ki aulaad,” invoking a fabricated historical figure, Gangu, whom Khalistani extremists claim betrayed the Sikh Guru’s family during a pivotal moment. Pannun also insulted Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, calling him “Beant butcher di aulaad,” referring to the assassination of former Punjab CM Beant Singh, who had cracked down on Khalistani terrorism.
The most alarming part of Pannun’s message was his declaration of vengeance against the encounter of the three Khalistani terrorists. He threatened to launch attacks during the Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj on January 14, 29, and February 3, 2025, claiming that PM Modi and CM Yogi would be present during the auspicious Shahi Snan dates. His message was unequivocal: SFJ would “shake the foundation of Hindutva terrorism” and make this Maha Kumbh the last for the two leaders.
Pilibhit Police have since taken cognisance of the video, registering a case under relevant sections at the Cyber Police Station and initiating investigations into the matter.
While Pannun’s threats to Indian leaders have captured attention, his broader affiliations with various extremist groups raise serious concerns.
The Connection Between Gurpatwant Singh Pannun And Equality Labs
One significant and disturbing connection is his association with Thenmozhi Soundararajan, the founder of the US-based group Equality Labs. Equality Labs, which claims to advocate for the rights of Dalits and marginalized communities, has been linked to Pannun’s SFJ and other pro-Khalistani elements.
On 22 May 2019, Thenmozhi Soundararajan hosted an event in collaboration with Pannun’s SFJ, a group that openly supports Pakistan-sponsored terrorism targeting India. This collaboration further strengthens the suspicions about the pro-Khalistani leanings of Equality Labs and its founder. In fact, Soundararajan’s Equality Labs is said to also have been associated with Bhajan Singh Bhinder (alias Iqbal Choudhry), a notorious operative of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), who has been involved with Khalistani terrorist activities for over three decades.
Did you know!
-Gurpatwant Singh Pannun-a designated terrorist by Indian govt, who has openly issued threats to govt officials/leaders, is a close associate of DalitDiva (@EqualityLabs ) founder Thenmozhi Soundararajan!!On May 22, 2019, Thenmozhi Soundararajan hosted an event… https://t.co/wxK5hRMRdm pic.twitter.com/fNKN72wok9
— Dr. Neha Das (@neha_laldas) December 24, 2024
The attack at that time on the Indian Consulate in San Francisco was allegedly instigated by Khalistani groups. Notably, pro-Khalistani individuals, including Soundararajan, were linked to the Khalistani movement since Soundararajan had shared a stage with Pannun at an event held at the Allan P. Kirby Center for Constitutional Studies and Statesmanship in Washington, DC. The event occurred on the same day as the Lok Sabha 2019 election results were announced, amplifying the significance of this connection.
Khalistani elements like Amar Singh Shergill were collaborating with prominent US political figures, particularly Democrats, to escalate attacks on the Indian community through bills like SB403. The bill, sponsored by Aisha Wahab, targeted ‘caste discrimination’ in the US, a topic that Equality Labs heavily campaigned on – That it never saw the light of the day, is another story.
Equality Labs along with South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SALT) pushed anti-CAA protests which culminated in the 2020 Delhi riots. Other initiatives such as Students Against Hindutva, Holi Against Hindutva, and Stand with Kashmir are not just campaign hashtags but support violent Islamists and terrorists.
The ISI And Terrorism Links
Let us unravel the thread that connects all the people mentioned above.
Bhajan Singh Bhinder is a key figure linked to Pakistan’s ISI and has a history of involvement in militant activities, particularly related to terrorism in India. After being declared a terrorist by India, Bhinder moved to the United States and, in 2007, co-founded the Organization For Minorities of India (OFMI) with Pieter Friedrich. OFMI, a US-based NGO, has been a key player in promoting anti-India narratives and has been involved in lobbying against India’s interests globally.
Now, OFMI is a key player in the network of anti-India NGOs. Its mission focuses on highlighting issues related to Sikh minorities, creating a narrative that Sikh communities are in danger in India. OFMI collaborates with various other organizations that align with its agenda to push anti-India propaganda. The group has worked closely with other anti-India entities, including Equality Labs.
Equality Labs, as we know, was founded by Thenmozhi Soundararajan, is another key organization in the anti-India network. The organization primarily focuses on caste-based narratives, claiming that caste atrocities are widespread in India.
In 2016, Equality Labs, also cofounded by Bangladeshi Muslim Sharmin Hossain, joined an alliance with several anti-India organizations. The group has received funding from sources linked to George Soros and Pakistan’s ISI. Equality Labs published a widely circulated caste report, which became a key tool in promoting a caste-based narrative aimed at criticizing India.
This alliance is called Alliance for Justice and Accountability (AJA), a coalition that includes OFMI, ICNA, and other anti-India NGOs such as Hindus for Human Rights and the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC).
Equality Labs shares a similar agenda with OFMI, aiming to promote narratives that paint India in a negative light, focusing on caste-based issues and other minority-related concerns.
Both Bhinder and Friedrich have been implicated in supporting Khalistani terrorism, and their collaboration with Equality Labs raises alarms about the group’s potential links to extremist activities.
And guess what, Rajratna Ambedkar, the great grandnephew of BR Ambedkar, is the India president of OFMI!
Moreover, Bhinder’s association with the Khalistani terror groups is not a recent development. He has been a long-time operative of ISI, and his links to Pakistan-based terror organizations have been well documented. The presence of such individuals in organizations like Equality Labs is concerning, especially when considering the ongoing influence of these groups in the political landscape of both India and the US.
This series of events, from Pannun’s threats to the connections with Equality Labs and ISI, points to a growing and dangerous alliance between Khalistani separatists, pro-Khalistani organizations in the US, and Pakistani terror elements. The use of US platforms to spread anti-India rhetoric and incite violence against Indian leaders is a serious national security concern. The fact that influential individuals like Soundararajan are linked to these extremist movements only amplifies the threat posed by such alliances.
The ongoing threats, such as the one issued by Pannun, are not isolated incidents. They are part of a broader strategy by Khalistani groups to destabilize India through violent means, leveraging international platforms and alliances to garner support. The growing influence of these groups in the US, particularly among certain political circles, further complicates the situation.
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