A bipartisan group of influential American Senators expressed criticism directed at India following revelations by US prosecutors linking an Indian official to a man charged with conspiring to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in New York. These sentiments were conveyed during a Congressional hearing titled ‘Transnational Repression: A Global Threat to Rights and Security,' orchestrated by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.
Senator Ben Cardin, the Committee's chairman, voiced concerns, stating, “We've seen disturbing allegations against an Indian government official for involvement in planning to assassinate a US citizen in New York, who was critical of the Indian government. This follows allegations of India's involvement in the killing of a Canadian Sikh leader. Earlier this year, the Modi government had labeled both critics as terrorists.”
Although the hearing primarily focused on China, India was repeatedly mentioned due to allegations from Canada and the US concerning the overarching theme.
US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta on November 29, linking him to an Indian government employee in a thwarted plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Sikh extremist holding American and Canadian citizenship. Describing this as a “matter of concern,” India has initiated a high-level investigation, emphasizing that subsequent actions will hinge on the inquiry's findings.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau previously alleged the "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, an accusation vehemently rejected by India. During the hearing, Democratic Senator Tim Kaine remarked, “We often say we're the oldest democracy in the world and India is the largest democracy in the world. This is not the behavior of a respectable democracy.”
Ranking Member Senator James Risch, a Republican, also raised the issue, stating, “Governments who have gotten away with silencing dissidents inside their own country are now trying to stifle free speech around the world, including the United States. Just last week, the Department of Justice unsealed an indictment alleging an Indian government official engaged in a plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City.”
Testifying before the committee, Michael J. Abramowitz, president of Freedom House, emphasized the need for Congress to urge the executive branch to prioritize transnational repression in discussions with partners and allies. He stressed that raising this issue directly at the highest levels is essential, even when the perpetrators are close partners like Saudi Arabia and India.
Senator Kaine observed that the Indian government's reaction to the US prosecution differed from its response to the claims implicating intelligence officials in the Canadian murder. While Canada's Prime Minister Trudeau faced a negative response, India expressed concern and potential chastening in response to the US case.
On Monday, the US State Department welcomed India's decision to form a high-level committee to investigate the allegations, emphasizing the seriousness with which the US government views such matters and looking forward to the results of the investigation. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller highlighted the ongoing law enforcement issue and refrained from discussing it in detail.
