The tension between India and America over the conspiracy to murder Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu is showing no sign of abating.
On the allegations of alleged involvement of the Indian official, the US Ambassador said that both the countries are working together in this matter.
However, no government employee of any country can be involved in a conspiracy to murder a citizen of another country. I think this is very important. This is a red line that should not be crossed.
Four months ago, America’s New York Police had made public a charge sheet, in which it was alleged that a conspiracy was hatched to murder Pannu, in which an Indian government official was involved.
The American police had claimed in its charge sheet that on the instructions of the Indian officer, a person named Nikhil contacted the contract killer and gave him contract to murder Pannu.
But, the killer who was contacted was an informer of the American police, due to which this matter reached the American police. Claims were also made of a deal worth Rs 83 lakh for the murder of Pannu. India immediately reacted to these allegations of America and ordered an inquiry committee.
Now US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has given a statement on this issue. In an interview given to ANI, Eric said that both the countries are working together in the investigation of the conspiracy to murder Pannu.
On Khalistani protests against India on US soil and Pannu’s continued threats against India, Garcetti said the US system protects free speech “for better or for worse”. An American citizen can only be convicted according to the laws of his country.
Let us tell you that Gurpatwant Singh Pannu is a notorious terrorist in India, who has American and Canadian citizenship. He has given threats against India many times.
Last year, Pannu threatened to attack the Indian Parliament on 13 December, the anniversary of the Parliament attack. Apart from this, he had also issued threats regarding the IPL match and the India-Pakistan cricket match in the World Cup.
No country should cross the red line
In an interview with ANI, Garcetti said, “For a US citizen to be convicted in a US court or deported for a criminal case in another country has to be consistent with our law and so we will continue to work.”
Referring to the ongoing investigation into the alleged conspiracy to murder Pannu, Garcetti said the fact that New Delhi and Washington are working together to arrest those behind the criminal action shows that India is currently -How strong and close are US relations. However, the ‘red line’ should not be crossed and no government employee of any country can be involved in a conspiracy to murder a foreign national. I think it’s very important.”