The involvement of an Indian official in a plot to assassinate Khalistani separatists in a US case is a “matter of concern,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday in response to the indictment issued by the US.
The US Department of Justice (DoJ) indictment, which was made public on Wednesday, included incriminating information about the purported attempt on the assassination of US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun by an Indian intelligence officer described only as CC-1.
DoJ Allegations Contrary to Government Policy: Bagchi
During a press briefing, Bagchi said, “the case against an individual that has been filed in a US court, allegedly linking him to an Indian official, is a matter of concern. We have said, and let me reiterate, that this is also contrary to government policy.”
“The nexus between organized crime, trafficking, gun running, and extremists at an international level is a serious issue for law enforcement agencies and organizations to consider, and it is precisely for that reason that a high-level enquiry committee has been constituted,” Bagchi remarked.
Commenting on the issue of Canada, Bagchi stated, “we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and violence, and that is actually the heart of the issue.”
“Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this, so we expect the Government of Canada to live up to its obligations under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.”
The MEA Spokesperson also addresses the issue of Canadian diplomats interfering in internal affairs. “We have also seen interference by Canadian diplomats in our internal affairs. We have said this from this podium, and that is obviously unacceptable.”
#WATCH | MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi says, "In so far as Canada is concerned, we have said that they have consistently given space to anti-India extremists and that is actually the heart of the issue. Our diplomatic representatives in Canada have borne the brunt of this. So,… pic.twitter.com/9bLFO4qq56
— ANI (@ANI) November 30, 2023
DOJ Indictment
The DOJ stated, “a superseding indictment was unsealed alleging murder-for-hire charges against Indian national Nikhil Gupta, aka Nick, 52, in connection with his participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City.”
According to the indictment, the government official, only identified as “CC-1,” directed a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an Indian-origin attorney and political activist who lives in New York City.
As per the statement, CC-1 is an Indian government agency member who has variously described himself as a “Senior Field Officer” with responsibilities in “Security Management” and “Intelligence,” and who previously served in India’s Central Reserve Police Force and received “officer training” in “battle craft” and “weapons.”
The charges come about two months after Canada announced that there were “credible” allegations linking Indian agents to the June murder of a Canadian citizen and Khalistan separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in a Vancouver suburb. India has denied the allegations as “absurd.”
Per the indictment, Gupta told the undercover DEA agent the day after Nijjar’s murder in Canada that Nijjar “was also the target” and that “we have so many targets.”
White House's John Kirby on Pannu issue & case:
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) December 1, 2023
-India remains a strategic partner
-We take this very seriously
-Glad to see that the Indian has announced an investigation into this pic.twitter.com/3csiSV0W2I
US Takes Allegations on India “Very Seriously”: Blinken
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Thursday that Washington takes “very seriously” allegations that an Indian government official was involved in a “foiled plot” to assassinate Pannun on American soil.
“I can say that this is something we take very seriously. A number of us have raised this directly with the Indian government in past weeks. The government announced today that it was conducting an investigation, and that’s good and appropriate, and we look forward to seeing the results,” Blinken told reporters.
Earlier, during a press briefing, White House spokesperson John Kirby reiterated Blinken’s remarks but moderated them by emphasising the importance of the two countries’ bilateral relationship.
“India remains a strategic partner, and we are going to continue to work to improve and strengthen that strategic partnership with India. At the same time, we take this very seriously. These allegations and this investigation, we take very seriously,” Kirby stressed.
Alarming Rise in Transnational Repression: Senator Ben Cardin
Ben Cardin, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, views the indictment as part of an increasing trend in which governments attempt to silence dissenters abroad. Next week, a hearing has been scheduled on “global transnational repression and how the United States government can more effectively counter this pernicious threat.”
“We are witnessing an alarming rise in transnational repression globally, where governments are dispatching assassins and kidnappers or using international criminal networks to abduct, harass, intimidate, and harm dissidents, journalists, and other individuals – far beyond their borders,” Cardin said in a statement.