In a recent interview with a media agency, Bharat’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, addressed allegations of Bharat assassination plot in the US for the first time. The accusations involve an Bharat official supposedly directing the attempted murder of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American and Canadian citizen who serves as the general counsel for the Sikh separatist group Sikhs for Justice.
Modi emphasized Bharat’s commitment to the rule of law and expressed a willingness to investigate any evidence provided by the US. He stated, “If someone gives us any information, we would definitely look into it. If a citizen of ours has done anything good or bad, we are ready to look into it.” The prime minister sought to downplay the diplomatic impact of the US indictment, emphasizing the importance of the strong and bipartisan support for the US-Bharat relationship.
The attempted assassination targeted Pannun, whom Bharat designated as a terrorist in 2020, a claim he vehemently denies. Modi expressed India’s deep concern about the activities of certain extremist groups based overseas and emphasized that such elements, under the guise of freedom of expression, have engaged in intimidation and incited violence.
The allegations have complicated the US-Bharat relationship, which both Modi and President Joe Biden have acknowledged as being among the most consequential in the world. Despite the challenges, Modi highlighted the mature and stable partnership between the two countries and stressed that security and counter-terrorism cooperation remain key components of their relationship.
Modi’s visit to Washington for a state visit in June and Biden’s visit to New Delhi for the G20 summit in September underscored the commitment to expanding cooperation in various areas, including high tech and defense. The prime minister dismissed the idea of linking a few incidents to diplomatic relations between the two nations, emphasizing the broader context of their partnership.
Bharat’s foreign ministry had previously announced the formation of a high-level committee to investigate the US allegations, ensuring necessary follow-up actions would be taken. The revelation of the New York indictment in November followed a statement from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who indicated that Canada was investigating whether agents of New Delhi were involved in the June killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. Bharat labeled the claim as “absurd” and responded by expelling 41 Canadian diplomats from the country.
In conclusion, Modi’s response reflects Bharat’s commitment to addressing the allegations through proper legal channels and maintaining the strength of the US-Bharat partnership amidst diplomatic challenges.
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