NEW DELHI : Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, for the first time, addressed allegations of an Indian assassination plot in the US, asserting that he will thoroughly examine any evidence presented but emphasised that a “few incidents” will not disrupt the strong ties between the US and India.
In a report by the Financial Times, PM Modi 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. Our commitment is to the rule of law.”
The US recently accused India of plotting an assassination against one of its citizens, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the general counsel for the separatist group Sikhs for Justice. India has labelled Pannun as a terrorist.
Expressing deep concern over the activities of certain extremist groups based overseas, Modi told the financial daily, “These elements, under the guise of freedom of expression, have engaged in intimidation and incited violence.”
Modi emphasised the strong bipartisan support for strengthening the US-India relationship, characterising it as a mature and stable partnership. He highlighted that security and counter-terrorism cooperation have been integral to the partnership, stating, “I don’t think it is appropriate to link a few incidents with diplomatic relations between the two countries.”
Modi acknowledged the era of multilateralism, stating, “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 recognize that absolute agreement on all matters cannot be a prerequisite for collaboration.”
Last month, the US Department of Justice unsealed an indictment implicating a serving Indian government official in orchestrating the plot to assassinate Pannun in June. India, in response, acknowledged receiving inputs from the US and announced the formation of a high-level investigation committee to examine the issue.
Despite the controversy surrounding the allegations, both India and the US continue to be natural allies and strategic partners. Addressing the situation, PM Modi concluded, “Both the countries know each other very well and can talk about anything they want to.” He highlighted the recent visit of US President Joe Biden to India for the G20 summit and the 2+2 dialogue held in New Delhi last month.