US Claims It Foiled Attempted Assassination of Sikh Separatist

What Does that Mean for India and Its People?

Newsreel Asia Insight #53
Nov. 24, 2023

According to the British newspaper Financial Times, U.S. authorities thwarted India’s alleged plot to kill a Sikh separatist on American soil. While New Delhi has rejected the claim, it holds profound implications for India and its people.

The target was Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an advocate for the Sikh state of Khalistan, the newspaper said, adding that U.S. President Joe Biden raised the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September. India’s bilateral relations with Canada also started deteriorating since September, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.

At the heart of this narrative is the concept of sovereignty and the sanctity of human life. India may be crucial for the U.S. and its Western allies as a counterweight to Chinese influence in Asia, yet no country, least of all the United States and Canada, takes its sovereignty lightly.

The U.S. authorities’ intervention, and the subsequent diplomatic ripples, bring to the fore critical questions about India’s role on the global stage and its perception among international communities.

For a country that prides itself on its democratic values – which is also the alleged basis of the United States’ engagement with India  vis-à-vis China – any hint of involvement in such activities can lead to a loss of moral high ground.

The Times cited sources knowledgeable about the case as saying that U.S. federal prosecutors have submitted a sealed indictment to a New York district court against at least one individual accused in the plot. The newspaper added that the U.S. Department of Justice is currently deliberating on whether to reveal the indictment and disclose the allegations or to delay until Canada concludes its inquiry into Nijjar’s murder.

These allegations carry grave significance also because they imply a readiness to advance political objectives across national boundaries, potentially breaching international standards. Just as charity starts at home, it could be argued that transgressions of laws also originate domestically.

This situation also has domestic security ramifications. Resorting to, or even being perceived as supporting, extreme measures can intensify tensions and estrange substantial segments of the population.

For the average Indian citizen, this incident might seem distant, a matter of high-level politics with little bearing on daily life. However, the undercurrents of this situation touch upon issues that are deeply relevant to every Indian: the nature of our democracy and our place in the world.

India’s diplomatic relations, particularly with countries like the United States and Canada, matter also because these nations are not just trade and strategic partners but also home to a large number of Indian expatriates. A diplomatic fallout from such incidents can have far-reaching consequences, affecting everything from international cooperation to the well-being of the Indian diaspora.

There is a concern about the potential repercussions if India is deemed complicit by the U.S. or Canada. The international community's eyes are on this development, and India's response to these allegations will greatly influence its position on the global stage, affecting us all.