Five senators expressed serious concerns about claims that the Indian government was involved in an aborted attempt to kill an American citizen on US soil. They asked the Biden administration to take strong diplomatic measures to guarantee that those responsible for “harassment and threats” against Sikh Americans are held accountable.
The senators also asked for a briefing on the state of the administration’s engagement with the Indian government on this issue in a letter to US Department of State Secretary Antony Blinken.
According to the letter, the US-Indian partnership must be founded on shared values of democracy and the rule of law, including respect for individual rights and freedoms as well as shared strategic interests.
The letter stated that in addition to being founded on common strategic interests, the US-Indian relationship must also uphold democratic values and the rule of law, including respect for individual liberties and sovereignty.
Senators Ron Wyden, Tim Kaine, Bernard Sanders, Chris Van Hollen, and Jeffrey A. Merkley are the ones who wrote the letter.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) stated on November 29, 2023, that Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national, had been unsealed indicted for his involvement in an abortive attempt to kill a US citizen in New York. The target, identified by the media as Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is a strong opponent of the Indian government and a supporter of Punjab’s independence, an Indian state with
The senators said an unidentified Indian government official, working with Gupta, ordered the assassination plot, which was foiled by the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
As per the announcement, Gupta revealed that they had four targets, including Hardeep Singh Nijjar — a Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader who was murdered in Canada in June 2023 by armed assailants.
“While we fully support the DOJ’s efforts to bring Gupta to justice, the US administration must match words with actions to hold Indian officials involved in the plot accountable, and to send a clear message that there will be consequences for such behaviour,” they said.
The senators wrote it was imperative that the US took an unequivocal stand against such a threat to the rights of a US citizen and violation of the country’s sovereignty.
They also requested a briefing from the Department of State regarding the measures the department planned to take to guarantee that the Indian government refrains from repeating such acts of transnational repression and to hold those responsible accountable.
As it strives for global leadership, India must continue to uphold its commitment to upholding human rights both domestically and internationally. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Modi have returned to power in India following the conclusion of the general election in 2024, giving the US the chance to bring up this matter as a top priority with the Indian government, they stated.
The group of lawmakers stated that regardless of the culprit, the US must be strong and unwavering in its opposition to transnational tyranny.
