A group of prominent Democratic senators are pressuring the Biden administration to take a “strong diplomatic response” to allegations that the Indian government was involved in a foiled plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, on US soil. The senators emphasised the importance of holding those responsible accountable and urged India to uphold its human rights commitments.
This comes even as Indian national Nikhil Gupta, extradited by the Czech Republic, pleaded not guilty in a US court in the alleged murder-for-hire case.
India has denied any involvement in the Pannun case.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who holds dual American and Canadian citizenship, was designated a terrorist by India.
The senators, led by Jeff Merkley from Oregon and including Ron Wyden (Oregon), Tim Kaine (Virginia), Bernie Sanders (Vermont), and Chris Van Hollen (Maryland), sent a two-page letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday.
“We urge a strong diplomatic response to ensure that all of those who were involved are held accountable, and request a briefing on the status of the administration’s engagement with the Indian government on this matter,” the senators wrote, reported PTI.
The letter comes as Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national accused of being part of the murder-for-hire plot against Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, pleaded not guilty in a New York federal court on Monday.
Gupta, 52, was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic on Friday.
He was arrested in the Czech Republic last year at the request of the US government on charges of being involved in a plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York.
US federal prosecutors allege that Gupta hired a hitman to kill Pannun and paid $15,000 in advance.
US federal prosecutors also allege Gupta acted on the instructions of an unnamed Indian government official. India has denied involvement and launched a high-level investigation.
SENATORS SEEK ACCOUNTABILITY AND COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS
The senators emphasised the importance of holding those responsible accountable and urged India to uphold its human rights commitments.
“Now that India’s 2024 general election has concluded, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi returning to power, the United States has an opportunity to include this issue as a core agenda item with the Indian government,” the letter said, reported PTI.
“The United States must be firm and resolute in opposing transnational repression, no matter the perpetrator,” it said.
They stressed that the US-India relationship must be “grounded in a shared commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law”.
The letter references Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu’s statement to the House Foreign Affairs Committee in March, where he confirmed the Biden administration raised the plot “at the highest levels with India”.
INDIA DENIES INVOLVEMENT IN PANNUM CASE
In April 2024, The Washington Post reported that Vikram Yadav, an officer with India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), was implicated as the official behind the plot. The report also mentioned that then R&AW chief Samant Goel approved the operation.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs, however, dismissed the report, saying it makes “unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations” to claim that Indian agents were involved in the plot to kill Pannun.
It remains unclear whether the alleged assassination attempt was discussed during recent talks between US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.
Pannun, designated a terrorist by India, has long been a vocal critic of the Indian government.