{"id":2621,"date":"2024-09-19T17:29:26","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T11:59:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/?p=2621"},"modified":"2026-02-26T00:42:32","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T19:12:32","slug":"india-reacts-after-us-court-summons-government-in-plot-to-murder-gurpatwant-pannun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/india-reacts-after-us-court-summons-government-in-plot-to-murder-gurpatwant-pannun\/","title":{"rendered":"India Reacts After US Court Summons Government in Plot to Murder Gurpatwant Pannun"},"content":{"rendered":"

New Delhi, September 19, 2024<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 The Indian government has strongly reacted to a recent summons issued by a US court in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent pro-Khalistan activist.\u00a0The summons, issued by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, names several high-ranking Indian officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Samant Goel.<\/p>\n

The Allegations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada, is the General Counsel for the banned pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).\u00a0He has initiated a civil lawsuit against the Indian government, claiming damages for an alleged assassination attempt on US soil last year.\u00a0The lawsuit also names Nikhil Gupta and Vikram Yadav, who have been accused of being involved in the plot.<\/p>\n

\"Gurpatwant<\/a>
Gurpatwant Pannun<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

According to the lawsuit, Pannun alleges that Indian officials orchestrated a conspiracy to assassinate him, which was thwarted when the hired hitmen turned out to be undercover US agents.\u00a0The lawsuit seeks financial compensation for assault and emotional distress, referencing past incidents, including the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, another pro-Khalistani leader.<\/p>\n

India\u2019s Strong Response<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Indian government has dismissed the allegations as \u201ccompletely unwarranted and unsubstantiated.\u201d In a statement, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, “As we\u2019ve said earlier, these are completely unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations.\u00a0Now that this particular case has been lodged, it doesn\u2019t change our views about the underlying situation”<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Misri further emphasized the questionable antecedents of Pannun and the unlawful nature of the organization he represents. \u201cI would only invite your attention to the person behind this particular case whose antecedents are well known.\u00a0I would also underline the fact that the organization so-called that this person represents is an unlawful organization, has been declared as such under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967 and it has been done so on account of its involvement in anti-national and subversive activities aimed at disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India,\u201d Misri added.<\/p>\n

Background of the Case<\/strong><\/p>\n

The case has its roots in a series of events that unfolded last year. Nikhil Gupta was arrested in the Czech Republic at the request of the US government on charges of being involved in a plot to assassinate Pannun in New York.\u00a0He was extradited to the US from the Czech Republic in June this year.\u00a0In April 2024, The Washington Post reported that Vikram Yadav, an officer with India\u2019s R&AW, was implicated as the official behind the plot, with then R&AW chief Samant Goel allegedly approving the operation.<\/p>\n

The Indian government has consistently denied these allegations, maintaining that they are part of a broader narrative aimed at maligning India\u2019s image on the international stage. The Centre has reiterated its commitment to upholding the rule of law and respecting the sovereignty of other nations.<\/p>\n

Political and Diplomatic Implications<\/strong><\/p>\n

The summons and the subsequent lawsuit have significant political and diplomatic implications. The timing of the lawsuit, just days before Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s scheduled visit to the US, has raised eyebrows.\u00a0During his visit from September 21-23, PM Modi is expected to discuss various bilateral issues with US officials, and the Khalistan issue is likely to be a point of contention.<\/p>\n

Foreign Secretary Misri, when asked if the Khalistan issue will be discussed during PM Modi\u2019s visit, said, “As we have said earlier, whatever issues are of mutual concern between India and America, we discuss them all.\u00a0Whether any specific issue will be raised or not, I cannot say at this time, but I can definitely say that we will discuss all the issues”<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Reactions from Political Leaders and Analysts<\/strong><\/p>\n

Political leaders and analysts in India have reacted strongly to the US court\u2019s summons. Many view it as an attempt to interfere in India\u2019s internal affairs and undermine its sovereignty. \u201cThis is a clear case of judicial overreach. The US court has no jurisdiction over India\u2019s internal matters, and this lawsuit is nothing but a political stunt,\u201d said a senior BJP leader who wished to remain anonymous.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, opposition leaders have called for a thorough investigation into the allegations. \u201cIf there is any truth to these claims, it is a matter of serious concern. The government must come clean and ensure that justice is served,\u201d said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.<\/p>\n

Legal experts have also weighed in on the matter, highlighting the complexities involved in such international legal disputes. \u201cThis case involves multiple jurisdictions and a host of legal challenges. It will be interesting to see how it unfolds in the coming months,\u201d said legal analyst Priya Mehra.<\/p>\n

Public Opinion<\/strong><\/p>\n

The public reaction to the case has been mixed. While some view it as an attempt to tarnish India\u2019s image, others believe that the allegations should be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. Social media platforms have been abuzz with debates and discussions on the issue, reflecting the polarized opinions among the populace.<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the legal proceedings in the US court continue, the Indian government is likely to face increased scrutiny on the international stage. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for India\u2019s diplomatic relations with the US and its stance on the Khalistan issue.<\/p>\n

In conclusion, the US court\u2019s summons to the Indian government in connection with the alleged plot to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun has sparked a strong reaction from New Delhi. The Indian government has dismissed the allegations as baseless and politically motivated, while the case continues to unfold in the US legal system. As the situation develops, it will be crucial to monitor the diplomatic and political ramifications of this high-profile legal battle.<\/p>\n

For More News Update, Follow Read Now News<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

New Delhi, September 19, 2024\u00a0\u2013 The Indian government has strongly reacted to a recent summons issued by a US court in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a prominent pro-Khalistan activist.\u00a0The summons, issued by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, names several high-ranking Indian officials, including […]<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2622,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[28,1,12,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-article","category-blog","category-home","category-trending"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2621"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2623,"href":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2621\/revisions\/2623"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2622"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2621"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2621"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readnownews.in\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2621"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}