NEW DELHI, The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has imposed restrictions on visitor entry at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in New Delhi and all airports across Punjab, India, effective until November 30.

According to Kashmir Media Service, this decision was taken in response to a recent statement by Khalistani leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun concerning Air India flights scheduled for November 19. As reported by Indian media, the BCAS directive specifically prohibits the issuance of temporary visitor entry passes at these airports until the end of November.

In a video statement, Pannun, a prominent Khalistani activist and leader of the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) organization, urged the Sikh community to avoid traveling via Air India on November 19, hinting at a global blockade. He also made a claim about changing the name of Delhi’s IGI airport and suggested that it would remain closed on November 19, coinciding with the cricket World Cup finals.

Pannun has been under the scrutiny of India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) since 2019 and is considered a controversial figure in India due to his advocacy for the Khalistani movement.