18.2 C
Noida
Wednesday, February 12, 2025

New Delhi Rejects Claims of Role in Alleged Plot to Kill Pro-Khalistan Leader in U.S.

Must read

India strongly criticized a report by the American newspaper The Washington Post about an alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States.

Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs, described the report as “unwarranted and unsubstantiated.” He said the Indian government has set up a high-level committee to investigate security concerns shared by the US government about networks of organized criminals, terrorists, and others. Jaiswal stated that speculative and irresponsible comments on this ongoing investigation are not helpful.

The statement from India’s foreign ministry came after The Washington Post published an “investigative” report claiming that a officer from India’s external intelligence agency RAW, identified as Vikram Yadav, was involved in a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US. The report alleged this move was approved by Samant Goel, who was the head of RAW at the time.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun is one of the main leaders of the Khalistan movement, which aims to create an independent Sikh homeland carved out of India’s Punjab state. Pannun serves as the legal advisor and spokesperson for the group Sikhs for Justice, which promotes the idea of Khalistan. The Indian government has declared Pannun a terrorist.

Meanwhile, the White House responded to questions about the Washington Post report on Monday. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said India is taking the allegations regarding the alleged assassination plot against Pannun very seriously. However, she refrained from commenting directly on the FBI probe into the matter and the criminal case filed by the US Department of Justice.

Jean-Pierre stated that an investigation is underway, and the Department of Justice is running a criminal investigation related to the case. She said she would have to refer any specific questions about that to the DOJ.

The press secretary emphasized that India is an important strategic partner of the United States, and the two countries are pursuing an ambitious agenda to expand cooperation in several areas. She cited meetings between US and Indian leaders where this partnership has been highlighted.

Regarding the news report about the alleged Pannun assassination plot, Jean-Pierre said, “This is a serious matter and we are taking that very, very seriously. The government of India has been very clear with us that they are taking this seriously and will investigate.”

She added, “We expect accountability from the government based on that. But we are going to continue to raise our concerns. That’s not going to stop. We’re going to continue to raise our concerns directly with the Indian government.”

The alleged plot to kill Pannun in the US coincided with the June 18, 2022 fatal shooting of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada. Nijjar was accused of leading a violent Khalistan extremist group operating in Canada.

The claims about India’s intelligence agency plotting against the pro-Khalistan leader Pannun come at a sensitive time, amid ongoing concerns over Khalistani militancy. Both India and Western nations like the US and Canada have cracked down on pro-Khalistan groups that espouse violence in pursuit of an independent Sikh homeland.

More articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest article