It is unfortunate and bizarre indeed that the US federal prosecutors have accused an Indian official of planning and directing a plot from India to kill Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in New York. Though the allegation is quite explosive, wild and provocative, India reacted responsibly. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Thursday that it was a “matter of concern” and it is “contrary to Indian government’s policy”. India has already set up a high-level enquiry committee to carry out a probe on the basis of the inputs provided by the US regarding the nexus between organised crime, trafficking, gunrunning and extremists at the international level. India had constituted the panel on November 18 to look into all relevant aspects of the matter (security concerns raised by the US). The MEA had also announced that the government would also take necessary follow-up action based on the findings of the probe panel. As India has said that it will be guided by the results of the inquiry, the US should not only wait for the outcome of the probe but the Biden administration must also cooperate with New Delhi in the probe into all this. The enquiry panel constituted by the MEA would be able to fully discharge its duty while probing the matter only if there are no distractions like the developments that are taking place in the US. It is incumbent on the Biden administration in Washington to ensure that the Indian panel’s job is facilitated properly so as to reveal the truth. Therefore, cooperation from the US is a must. The US should also cooperate with the Indian agency in its probe against Khalistani terrorist Pannun who threatened to blow up Air India aircraft. Instead of cooperation from the US administration, there comes an allegation saying that “an Indian government employee” was involved in a plot to murder Sikh separatist Pannun. The question at the same time is why the US is hosting anti-India agents on its soil? Why is the US, a close strategic partner of India, shielding a terrorist like Pannun who has threatened to blow up Air India aircraft? Will it not go like this “US shields Pannun like Canada shields Nijjar”? The US should have cooperated with India to prosecute and punish Khalistan terror backer Pannun instead of bringing one theory of assassination plot or the other. What is more surprising is that there is no reaction on the part of officials in the US administration to Pannun’s terror threats and links. That the person who threatened to down Air India plane and attack IG Airport in Delhi is being projected as a victim is intriguing. Do such developments not amount to giving a moral boost to Khalistanis? What is also objectionable is the US decision to make Sikh separatist Pannun’s incident public. Washington could have handled it discreetly or privately with India. Several diplomatic commentators say, and rightly so, that the message is that the US is not only sheltering Pannun but actively protecting Khalistani terrorists, allowing them to threaten India openly from its territory. India should, therefore, do some plain talks in private conversation and meetings with the US officials on this. It is a common knowledge that Pannun is a designated Khalistani terrorist declared under UAPA by the Indian Home Ministry. His organization – Sikhs for Justice—was also banned by the Indian government in 2019. He is known for issuing threats and announcing bounties for anti-India activities. Despite all this, the US, which claims to be against terrorism, continues to turn a blind eye to these facts. Should then one draw inference from this that the US is harbouring not only him but other pro-Khalistan elements on its territory? The US must come clear on these points. Unfortunately, it was reportedly busy issuing warnings to India for an imaginary plot to assassinate a Khalistani terrorist. This is something that needs to be protested aloud by India.
