India-EU FTA alarms Khalistanis, SFJ’s Pannun threatens January 29 Beating Retreat ceremony

Khalistani threats target Republic Day over FTA

The India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has alarmed Khalistani groups, including Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). They have threatened Republic Day events, notably the Beating Retreat ceremony on January 29. Indian intelligence agencies have issued alerts, warning that these threats could jeopardise India-EU relations.

“This is an attempt to put international pressure on India," said intelligence sources to News18.

SFJ warning on FTA

The SFJ has claimed they want an FTA, but what they call an FTTA — ‘Free Transnational Terrorism Agreement’. The group has warned European Union leaders that the proposed FTA would allegedly empower the Modi government to carry out assassinations inside EU countries.

“…What the EU celebrates today as a Free Trade Deal will lead to a Free Transnational Terrorism Agreement," said Pannun, Khalistani terrorist and chief of the SFJ.

In a direct message to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who tweeted publicly, “Long Live India,” Pannun said:

“Such an endorsement constitutes knowing complicity in the genocide of Sikhs carried out by successive Indian regimes — crimes that have now escalated toward ethnic cleansing. By glorifying the Indian state without accountability, the EU Commission President is legitimising mass crimes against Sikhs and aligning the European Union with the perpetrators of genocide."

“This is a classic case of foreign-based Khalistani extremists attempting terror diplomacy through terror threats. Such statements are not political advocacy but incitement to violence against Indian state ceremonies. This attempt to link the EU-India FTA with fabricated genocide narratives is part of a well-documented Khalistani disinformation playbook. This is aimed at internationalising a fringe separatist agenda through intimidation," said Indian intelligence sources.

January 29 Beating Retreat ceremony under threat

Khalistani supporters reportedly raised Khalistani flags and slogans at Delhi railway stations to “warn the European Union.”

“Threats around the Beating Retreat ceremony indicate operational signalling, not rhetoric. These groups are testing global reactions while seeking relevance through high-level terror warning," said sources.

Indian agencies assess that overseas Khalistani handlers are deliberately escalating rhetoric during major diplomatic moments to provoke security alerts and generate media attention.