On 5 Nov, Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, general counsel for the US-based of Sikh For Justice (SFJ) warned Air India travelers that their ‘lives would be in danger’ if traveling on 19 Nov, the day of the World Cup Cricket final being hosted by India, as was discussed in SDW Vol.1 Issue 8. Canada's transportation minister Pablo Rodriguez told reporters in Ottawa on 8 Nov, ‘We take every threat seriously, especially when it concerns airlines. The police are investigating the threat.’ Since his threat, Pannu has backtracked and told Canadian media his was a call to boycott Indian businesses. Pannu is being devious. The wording of the warning is certainly structured as a threat and not a call to boycott. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), regulatory authority for civil aviation in India, asked airport operators in Delhi and Panjab to stop issuing airport entry passes to visitors. The BCAS order of 6 Nov said: ‘Issue of TAEP’s (temporary airport entry pass) entry of visitors to the terminal building of the IGI (Indira Gandhi International) airport (in Delhi) and sale of visitors entry tickets will be banned.’ Pannu’s threat has drawn criticism from the Sikh community worldwide. It is not clear how Pannu enjoys impunity from the United States and Canadian governments. He continues to be allowed to make such statements and even the previous one threatening Hindus in Canada.
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