On Thursday, Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar drew a distinction between the allegations levelled by the US and Canada regarding Indian involvement in assassination plots against Sikh separatists in their countries.
Jaishankar said that there was no question of “equitable treatment” of both allegations as the US had provided evidence and inputs to India while Canada had failed to do so.
No Question of Equitable Treatment
Jaishankar made the comments in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament) in response to a supplementary question asked by CPI(M) MP John Brittas during the Question Hour.
On the difference in treatment of allegations by the US and Canada, Brittas had asked, “Is it a fact that we are not having equitable treatment?”
STORY | No 'equitable treatment' possible on US, Canadian allegations: Jaishankar
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To this, Jaishankar replied, “Insofar as the US is concerned, certain inputs were given to us as part of our security cooperation with the US.” The EAM said that these inputs were of concern to India because they related to the nexus of organised crime, trafficking and other matters.
“Because it has a bearing on our own national security, it was decided to institute an inquiry into the matter, and an inquiry committee has been constituted,” he added.
Regarding Canada, Jaishankar said, “Insofar as Canada is concerned, no specific evidence or inputs were provided to us.”
Allegations by the US, Canada
The US Department of Justice charged a 52-year-old Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, of being involved in an unsuccessful plot to assassinate pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.
Washington alleged that Gupta was in touch with an unnamed Indian official who directed the plot.
Indian response in this matter was starkly different from its treatment of allegations by Canada, which accused the Indian government of being behind the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June this year.
While India called the “credible allegations” by Trudeau “absurd” and “motivated,” India said the US allegations were a “matter of concern” and set up a panel investigating the allegations.
The Canadian government is yet to produce any evidence linking India to the killing of the Khalistani leader, despite several requests by India.
FBI Director’s Visit
Against this backdrop, the Director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Christopher Wray, will visit India next week.
This will be the second high-level visit since the allegations. On Monday, US Deputy NSA Jonathan Finer was in India for a visit, during which the two sides reportedly discussed the matter.
While it is speculated that the allegation in question will be at the top of the agenda during the FBI chief’s trip, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the upcoming visit has been planned for months.
“As you are aware, we have robust security, cyber security, counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics cooperation with the US agencies; we also engage in capacity building programs,” he said.
Jaishankar Rejects 'Equitable Treatment' for US, Canada in Khalistan Dispute#Jaishankar #Khalistan #EquitableTreatment #US #Canada #Dispute #Indian pic.twitter.com/ORCo6sjAzA
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Saying that the issue is a part of the ongoing dialogue process, Bagchi said, “I don’t have a crystal ball, so I am not going to guess into what may or may not be discussed.”
Amid the multiple accusations of extra-territorial killings against India, Pannun has been issuing threats to India. Recently, the Sikh separatist leader warned of an attack on the Indian Parliament on or before 13 December. Earlier, he released a video threatening to blow up an Air India flight on 19 November.
The spokesperson also said that India had taken up recent threats by Pannun with both the US and Canadian governments. He said that Indian agencies want Pannun for violation of the law.