TOI correspondent from Washington: The worsening spat between India and Canada appears to have queered the visit to the US of an Indian investigative team tasked with probing allegations that India government-linked individuals were directing a foiled plot to assassinate a Khalistani separatist who is a US citizen.
The US State Department on Monday issued a press release saying an Indian Enquiry Committee will be traveling to Washington, D.C.on October 15th “as part of their ongoing investigations to discuss the case, including information they have obtained, and to receive an update from U.S. authorities regarding the U.S. case that is proceeding.”
Additionally, India has informed the United States they are “continuing their efforts to investigate other linkages of the former government employee and will determine follow up steps, as necessary,” the statement, sent to journalists via email, added.
But a link from the email to the State Department website said “This page may have been moved, deleted, or is otherwise unavailable,” indicating a wrinkle in the visit. The Indian Embassy declined to comment on the matter, including whether the enquiry committee had arrived or was set to arrive in Washington DC, and the State Department had not returned messages seeking clarity at the time of writing.
The Biden administration largely been supportive of the Trudeau government in Canada in its spat with India, having in the first place tipped off Ottawa about the alleged New Delhi-backed effort to punish Khalistani radicals and terrorists abroad. Washington has been less public about the wrangle than Ottawa in an effort not to derail larger strategic objectives. Nevertheless, the State Department statement on Monday makes it clear that it will continue to hold India’s feet to the fire in the matter.
US prosecutors last November charged Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national for an alleged assassination plot to eliminate Sikh radical separatist Gurpatwant Pannun in New York. Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic in June and extradited to the US. New Delhi has denied the allegations but has constituted an internal team to look into the matter even as Pannun continues to freely threaten Indian officials and diplomats.
Text of State Department Press Release
An Indian Enquiry Committee that was established to investigate activities of certain organized criminals is actively investigating the individual who was identified last year in the Department of Justice’s indictment as an Indian government employee who directed a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York City. The Enquiry Committee will be traveling to Washington, D.C. on October 15th, as part of their ongoing investigations to discuss the case, including information they have obtained, and to receive an update from U.S. authorities regarding the U.S. case that is proceeding. Additionally, India has informed the United States they are continuing their efforts to investigate other linkages of the former government employee and will determine follow up steps, as necessary.
