“India Responds Strongly to Washington Post’s Alleged Assassination Plot Report”

India issued a firm response to a report by The Washington Post alleging an assassination plot against Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denounced the report as “unwarranted and unsubstantiated,” emphasizing that an ongoing investigation by the Government of India’s High-Level Committee was addressing security concerns shared by the US.

The report implicates a RAW official named Vikram Yadav in the alleged plot, purportedly approved by former Indian spy agency chief Samant Goel. Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a key figure in the Khalistan movement and legal advisor to Sikhs for Justice, is designated a terrorist by the Indian government.

In response, the White House acknowledged India’s seriousness in addressing the allegations but refrained from commenting on the FBI probe and DOJ’s criminal case. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre highlighted the importance of the US-India partnership while affirming ongoing investigations and the expectation of accountability from the Indian government.

The reported assassination plot coincides with the June 2023 killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The developments underscore tensions surrounding Sikh separatist movements and their implications for international relations.