External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated on Thursday that an inquiry committee is examining the information shared by the US concerning the nexus of organized crime and trafficking in the context of an alleged murder attempt on a US national. He added that Canada had provided no evidence for its allegations, and therefore, the question of equitable treatment between the two countries does not arise.
The minister responded to a question in the Rajya Sabha by CPI(M) MP John Brittas regarding media reports of the US linking an Indian official to an alleged murder attempt on a US national and the government’s rejection of Canada’s charges.
Jaishankar mentioned that the inputs shared by the US have implications for the country’s national security, leading to the formation of an inquiry committee.
“Insofar as the US is concerned, certain inputs were given to us as part of our security cooperation with the US. Those inputs were of concern to us because they related to the nexus of organized crime, trafficking, and other matters. So, because it has a bearing on our own national security, it was decided to institute an inquiry into the matter, and an inquiry committee has been constituted. Insofar as Canada is concerned, no specific evidence or inputs were provided to us,” the minister said.
“So, the question of equitable treatment to two countries, one of whom has provided inputs and one of whom has not, does not arise,” he added.
Brittas inquired if India was not providing equal treatment to the two countries.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had mentioned during a media briefing last month that, during discussions with the United States on bilateral security cooperation, the US side shared some inputs related to the nexus between organized criminals, gun runners, terrorists, and other extremists.
