If any information given, will look into it: PM Modi responds to Pannun assassination plot claims by US

On the alleged plot against Pannun, Modi said, “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. Our commitment is to the rule of law.”

While this is the first time the Prime Minister has spoken on the alleged involvement of Indian nationals, he has not acknowledged the role of any Indian official in the plot.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, a high-level committee is probing the US inputs. The constitution of the committee, formed on November 18, has not, however, been made public.

The US Department of Justice, in an indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, claimed an Indian official was working with an Indian citizen, Nikhil Gupta, also known as Nick, who was arrested by Czech authorities on June 30 this year and has been charged with murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire.

Earlier, the FT, citing multiple sources, reported that the US “thwarted a conspiracy to assassinate” Pannun on American soil and “issued a warning to India’s government over concerns it was involved in the plot”.

This was two months after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Canadian security agencies were probing “credible allegations” about a potential link between Indian government agents and the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver in June. The Indian government had rejected Canada’s allegations as “absurd” and “motivated”.

In the interview, Modi said India was “deeply concerned about the activities of certain extremist groups based overseas”.

“These elements, under the guise of freedom of expression, have engaged in intimidation and incited violence,” he said. This has been the Indian government’s stance on the Khalistan separatist groups from the very beginning, and it has been conveyed by Indian officials and ministers to their American and Canadian counterparts.

On the impact that this issue may have on Indo-US ties, Modi said, “There is strong bipartisan support for the strengthening of this relationship, which is a clear indicator of a mature and stable partnership. Security and counter-terrorism cooperation has been a key component of our partnership… I don’t think it is appropriate to link a few incidents with diplomatic relations between the two countries.”

Making a broader point, he said, “We need to accept the fact that we are living in the era of multilateralism. The world is interconnected as well as interdependent. This reality compels us to recognise that absolute agreement on all matters cannot be a prerequisite for collaboration.”

His comments come in the backdrop of divergences between India and the US on the Russia-Ukraine war, but also convergences on shared threats and concerns about China’s aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region.

Last week, it became clear that US President Joe Biden would not be coming to India for the Republic Day parade in January, and the Quad Summit, proposed to be held around that time, was being deferred to the latter part of 2024.

While it rejected Tudeau’s allegations on the killing of Nijjar, India’s position on US “inputs” on the alleged plot against Pannun – backed by the indictment filed by US federal prosecutors – have been taken seriously, and Modi’s comments to FT underline that position. It is also indicative of Delhi trying to assuage American concerns and seeking to smoothen bilateral ties.