In late November last year, via an unsealed indictment presented by the Department of Justice in New York’s Southern District, the United States accused India of deploying a murder plot for the Khalistani separatist leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on US soil. The country’s federal prosecutors had alleged the involvement of two Indian’s in the crime. Although the murder plot was cleverly foiled by the US officials, an Indian Nikhil ‘Nick’ Gupta was named. An ex-CRPF officer was alleged to have directed the plot from India.
And yet again a recent report by US news media, the Washington Post, faced a backlash from the Indian ministry of Foreign Affairs over the alleged involvement of a RAW officer in Pannun’s murder plot.
Who is Gurupatwant Singh Pannun ?
Pannun, a US- Canadian citizen, was born and brought up in the Khankot village in the outskirts of Amritsar, Punjab. By profession, he is a lawyer with strong affiliations with Sikhs for Justice, a separatist organisation. He is also one of the prominent Khalistan movement leaders.
In 2023, the government of India declared him a designated terrorist and Section 51A of Unlawful Activites(Prevention) act was imposed on his agricultural land. Currently Pannun is facing 22 criminal cases, including 3 sedition cases in Punjab, India. The Indian government has actively tried to issue Red Corner Notice on terror charges against him, but has been denied twice by the Interpol.
Allegations made by the Media House
The 30th April report by the Washington Post, portrays the betrayal of a relationship “built on mutual trust, candor and respect” by PM Modi on his state visit to the US. It named Vikram Yadav, a RAW, India’s intelligence agency, as the “associate” of Nick Gupta, behind this grave murder plot.
Higher-ranking RAW officials have also been implicated, according to current and former Western security officials, as part of a sprawling investigation by the CIA, FBI and other agencies that has mapped potential links to Modi’s inner circle, it said. It further alleged that the operation targeting Pannun was approved by RAW chief, Samant Goel and NSA chief, Ajit Doval.
Yadav is said to have been connected to Nijjar’s death in Canada as well. According to it, the Indian intelligence service has ramped up its surveillance and harassment of Sikhs and other groups overseas perceived as disloyal to the Modi government.
RAW officers and agents have faced arrest, expulsion and reprimand in countries including Australia, Germany and Britain.
It accused India of using “transnational repression” a term for governments’ use of intimidation or violence against their own citizens — dissidents, activists, journalists — in others’ sovereign territory, to gain authority.
The post further delved into the Khalistani issue in India and previous clashes between India’s intelligence agency with its foreign counterparts. It also highlighted India’s ability “to get away with” such incidents.
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MEA refrained from commenting
On Tuesday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, released a statement saying that the report is “unwarranted and unsubstantiated” and refrained from making any “speculative and irresponsible” comment on it.
“There is an ongoing investigation of the High Level Committee set up by the Government of India to look into the security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organized criminals, terrorists and others.”, he added.
Strained Bilateral ties?
During the Nijjar episode in Canada, President Biden had expressed his concern over the allegations imposed by Canada on India over Nijjar’s death in the G20 summit meeting. The White House also urged India to cooperate with the investigations, walking the ‘tightrope’ between its closest ally, Canada, and its major strategic partner, India.
As per the reports, Biden himself had raised the Pannun issue in November, 2023 in the India-US 2+2 bilateral meeting with PM Narendera Modi. Following which, an investigative committee was formed instantly, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visiting India regarding the matter.
The ongoing investigation of the Pannun case and suspected involvement of the Indian government has impacted, rather strained, their bilateral relation. Biden’s sudden cancellation of India’s visit on January 26th and postponement of the QUAD summit which was supposed to be held the next day reflect the nature of impact.
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