India strongly criticizes the Washington Post for its 'unjustified' article on the alleged assassination plot involving Gurpatwant Singh Pannun

India issued a strong response to The Washington Post's article regarding the purported assassination plot targeting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States.

India responded sharply on Tuesday to a report from The Washington Post regarding the alleged assassination plot targeting Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the United States.

Describing the report as "unwarranted and unsubstantiated," Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, stated, "There is an ongoing investigation by the High-Level Committee established by the Government of India to address security concerns raised by the US government regarding networks of organized criminals, terrorists, and others.

Speculative and irresponsible comments regarding this matter are not constructive." This statement from the MEA comes in the midst of an investigative report by The Washington Post alleging the involvement of a RAW official, identified as Vikram Yadav, in the assassination plot against Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US, purportedly approved by the former chief of the Indian intelligence agency, Samant Goel.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a key figure in the Khalistan movement, serves as the legal advisor and spokesperson for Sikhs for Justice, advocating for the creation of a separate Sikh state. The Indian government has designated Gurpatwant Singh Pannun as a terrorist.

The White House, in response to The Washington Post's report on Pannun, stated on Monday that India is taking the allegations concerning Gurpatwant Singh Pannun's assassination plot seriously. However, it refrained from commenting on the FBI investigation and the criminal case filed by the Department of Justice, according to news agency PTI.

 

In response to questions about The Washington Post's article, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted that there was an ongoing investigation being conducted by the Department of Justice. "For any specific details on that matter, I would have to defer to the DOJ," Jean-Pierre remarked.

She emphasized that India is a crucial strategic partner of the United States, and they are actively pursuing an extensive agenda to enhance cooperation in various areas, as reported by PTI.

Regarding the news report, Jean-Pierre remarked, "We have been really consistent about that and have laid that out multiple times, whether it's a meeting here with the prime minister or a meeting abroad."

Jean-Pierre emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "We consider this a significant issue and are treating it as such. The Indian government has assured us of their seriousness in investigating the matter." She underscored the expectation of accountability from the Indian government. "Our efforts to address these concerns will persist. We will continue to directly engage with the Indian government on this matter," she concluded.

The purported scheme to eliminate Pannun in the US occurred concurrently with the fatal shooting of Khalistani militant Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on June 18 last year.