Gurpatwant Pannun murder plot: 'Completely unwarranted': India decries US court summons over Sikh separatist's civil suit
Indian government had already taken appropriate action when these issues were initially raised, says MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal
PTC Web Desk: A US court has sent a legal notice to the Indian government about a lawsuit filed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Khalistani terrorist. In his lawsuit, Pannun claims that there is a plot to kill him.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has said this legal notice was completely unnecessary and unfair. They explained that they had already taken steps to deal with the situation when it first came up. The MEA also mentioned that a top-level team is handling the issue.
"The US court's action is not justified and India has already addressed the concerns raised by Pannun," the MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.
In a news briefing this afternoon, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the summons issued by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The summons names several people, including the Government of India, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, former R&AW chief Samant Goel, R&AW agent Vikram Yadav, and Indian businessman Nikhil Gupta, and demands a response within 21 days.
Jaiswal described the case as "completely unwarranted" and said India had already taken action when these issues were initially raised. He pointed out that a high-level committee was involved in addressing the matter. Jaiswal also criticised the case, noting that "it does not change India’s stance and highlighted that Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who filed the suit, is a known radical and leader of the Sikhs for Justice, an unlawful organisation".
Pannun has been designated a terrorist by New Delhi since 2020. In November, the Financial Times reported that the US had thwarted a plot to kill Pannun, who holds dual citizenship in the US and Canada. This was later confirmed by officials in the Biden administration.
The External Affairs Ministry initially described the case as a "matter of concern" and reiterated that India is conducting a high-level investigation. Former MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi noted that the case contradicts government policy.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had earlier assured that the investigation would not affect the positive trajectory of India-US relations. He stated that while the US shared information in good faith, it did not impact the overall relationship between the two countries. US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti also affirmed that the matter would not disrupt India-US ties.