(Nantucket) The United States takes with “the utmost seriousness” allegations of an Indian plot to assassinate a Sikh independence activist on American soil, the White House announced Wednesday, after a similar case deteriorated relations between Canada and India.
This statement comes on the day an article appeared in the newspaper Financial Times that American authorities foiled a plot to kill Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, an American and Canadian citizen.
“We take this matter with the utmost seriousness, and the US government has raised it with the Indian government, including at the highest levels,” said Adrienne Watson, spokesperson for the US National Security Council.
Indian authorities expressed “surprise and concern,” saying that “such practices were not part of their policy,” she added in a statement.
According to Adrienne Watson, the Indian government is “investigating this matter” and will say “more in the days to come”.
“We have made it known that we expect anyone found responsible to be held accountable,” she assured.
Lawyer, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun founded the American organization Sikhs For Justice which seeks the creation of an independent Sikh state, “Khalistan”.
US President Joe Biden raised the issue with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September, according to the Financial Times.
In September, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly implicated Indian intelligence services in the murder of a Canadian of Indian origin, an activist also campaigning for the establishment of an independent Sikh territory.
Ottawa had expelled an Indian diplomat accused of being linked to his death. New Delhi described this accusation as “absurd”.
Sikhism is a minority religion originating in northern India that dates back to the 15th century and draws inspiration from both Hinduism and Islam.
The separatist “Khalistan” movement dates back to India’s independence and has been blamed for the 1984 assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and a bombing of an airliner. the next year.