Avoid Air India flights from November 1-19: Khalistani seperatist Pannun issues new threat
New Delhi: Khalistani seperatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has issued a fresh warning, urging passengers to avoid flying Air India between November 1 and 19. The threat, according to Pannun, is linked to the 40th anniversary of the anti-Sikh riots.
Pannun, the founder of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), had made similar threats last year around the same time. His recent warning comes amid increased security concerns as airlines in India have been facing multiple hoax bomb threats in recent months.
This development coincides with the ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada, following allegations by the Canadian government that India is targeting Khalistani elements within its borders. The diplomatic row intensified after the killing of Khalistani seperatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, an incident for which India has denied any involvement.
Pannun's previous threats included a claim in November 2023 that Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport would be shut down on November 19, warning passengers to avoid flying Air India that day. He has also been involved in other high-profile threats, such as an alleged plan to attack the Indian Parliament in December last year.
Pannun, who holds dual citizenship in Canada and the US, has been designated a terrorist by India's Ministry of Home Affairs since July 2020. He has been charged with criminal conspiracy and promoting enmity under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
In a related incident, on October 17, the United States charged a former officer of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for allegedly directing a foiled plot to assassinate Pannun, a claim India has dismissed as baseless.
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Sanjay Raut demands re-election, alleges irregularities in EVMs during Maharashtra polls
Mumbai, Nov 25: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Monday demanded a re-election in Maharashtra using ballot papers, claiming there were irregularities with the electronic voting machines (EVMs).
Talking to reporters, Raut alleged several complaints about EVMs malfunctioning and questioned the integrity of the recently held elections.
The BJP-led Mahayuti won 230 out of 288 seats in the assembly elections, while the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi managed 46 seats, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning just 20 out of 95 seats it contested.
"We have received nearly 450 complaints regarding EVMs. Despite raising objections repeatedly, no action has been taken on these issues. How can we say these elections were conducted fairly? Hence, I demand that the results be set aside and elections be held again using ballot papers," Raut said.
Citing some instances, he said a candidate in Nashik reportedly received only four votes despite having 65 votes from his family, while in Dombivli, discrepancies were found in EVM tallies, and election officials refused to acknowledge the objections.
The Sena (UBT) leader also questioned the credibility of the landslide victories of some candidates, saying, "What revolutionary work have they done to receive more than 1.5 lakh votes? Even leaders who recently switched parties have become MLAs. This raises suspicions. For the first time, a senior leader like Sharad Pawar has expressed doubts about EVMs, which cannot be ignored."
Asked about the MVA's poor performance in the elections, Raut rejected the idea of blaming a single individual.
"We fought as a united MVA. Even a leader like Sharad Pawar, who commands immense respect in Maharashtra, faced defeat. This shows that we need to analyse the reasons behind the failure. One of the reasons is EVM irregularities and the misuse of the system, unconstitutional practices, and even judicial decisions left unresolved by Justice Chandrachud," he said.
Raut stressed that though internal differences might have existed within the MVA, the failure was collective.
He also accused the Mahayuti of conducting the elections in an unfair manner.
"I cannot call the elections fair given the numerous reports of discrepancies in EVMs, mismatched numbers, and vote irregularities across the state," Raut said.
