Khalistani Leader Gurpatwant Pannun Spotted Chanting ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ at Trump’s Inauguration

New Delhi: Khalistani separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, known for his anti-India activities, was reportedly spotted raising ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ slogans during former US President Donald Trump’s inaugural celebrations on January 20. Viral videos circulating on social media captured Pannun chanting pro-Khalistan slogans amid a crowd at The Liberty Ball, one of the official inaugural events.

Reports indicate that Gurpatwant Pannun had not been formally invited to the function but somehow still managed to secure entry through other, undisclosed contact. The video starts with a shot of Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump on stage but then pans across to the audience in which Pannun is filmed and heard as he chanted his provocative slogans while others around him chanted ‘USA, USA’.

The US gov should review their list of invitees. This individual Gurpantwant Pannu has made multiple threats against the Honorable Prime Minister of India and even issued a bomb threat targeting Indian Airlines flights, causing significant distress to Indian citizens. Yet, he has… pic.twitter.com/2b4Rm1p8kj

— Gayatri 🇬🇧🇮🇳(BharatKiBeti) (@changu311) January 21, 2025

India has reacted to the incident, with assurances from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to continue talks with the United States on issues that impact Indian national security. The MEA spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue at a press briefing and stated “Whenever there is an anti-India activity, we take up the matter with the US government.”. We will continue to raise matters with the US that have a bearing on our national security and counter anti-India agendas.”

Gurpatwant Pannun, the chief of the proscribed group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), had been classified as a terrorist under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Non-bailable warrants were also issued against him on February 3, 2021 and he was declared a ‘Proclaimed Offender’ by Indian authorities on November 29, 2022. Also included in this list is the confiscation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of Pannun’s properties in Amritsar and Chandigarh.

As the Indian government has always emphasized Gurpatwant Pannun’s role in spreading anti-India propaganda and taking a lead in Khalistani activities from abroad, the fact that he recently spoke at an elite US-based event puts attention on his activities once more and continues to remind India of its persistence in diplomatic efforts against such threats.

The commitment of the MEA in taking such issues seriously signifies the level of importance India places on the safety of its sovereignty and countering separatist agendas over international platforms.