Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Pro-Khalistan (खालिस्तान समर्थक) group 'Sikhs for Justice' (न्याय के लिए सिख) on Friday released an audio message threatening that UP CM Yogi Adityanath (योगी आदित्यनाथ) will not be allowed to unfurl the national tricolour on August 15. The 59-second audio message was sent from an international number (+6478079192) and was accessed by the UP Police. It is being said that the message was purportedly sent by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun (गुरपतवंत सिंह पन्नू). Police Commissioner DK Thakur said that the information about the audio message was received from Delhi and the matter is being seriously investigated and strict action will be taken against those responsible. As of now, no case has been registered in Lucknow till now. It has also been claimed in the audio message that western areas in Uttar Pradesh (उत्तर प्रदेश), that is from Saharanpur to Rampur, would be taken over by Khalistanis.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who is associated with the Sikh for Justice faction, alleged in the audio recording that the BJP, RSS and PM Modi are against farmers and that UP CM Yogi Adityanath (योगी आदित्यनाथ) is also supporting them. Pannun said that the people and farmers of UP should not allow the UP government to hoist the tricolor. Not just that, Pannun has also warned of shutting down Tanda, Harduaganj, Panki, Parichha and other thermal power plants across the state.
Read: Case filed against Khalistani supporter Pannun for threatening Haryana CM
Earlier, a similar threat was also issued to Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur (जय राम ठाकुर) on Tuesday (August 3rd). The CMs were not called directly, but a warning message was sent, reports say. Similar calls were even made to some other journalists and Opposition leaders, it was threatened that BJP chief JP Nadda won't be allowed to hoist the national flag, Himachal CM Thakur said. Speaking on the occasion, the Leader of Opposition in Himachal Pradesh Mukesh Agnihotri had said that efforts should be made to extradite Pannun and other people behind these calls. It may be noted that the US-based SFJ advocates Sikh Referendum 2020 and openly supports the cause of Khalistan (खालिस्तान) and challenges the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India.
An FIR had also been registered under Sections 124 (sedition), 153-A (act prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 120-B (criminal conspiracy), and 506 (intimidation) of the IPC, Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and 66-C of the IT Act against SFJ for having issued the threats. The pro-Khalistani outfit SFJ was banned by the Union government under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for anti-India activities on July 10, 2019.
Read: Security up for key politicians; every resident should hoist Tricolour: CM Thakur on SFJ threat
