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BIG STORY DECEMBER 29, 2023 | The Indian Eye 4

THE PANNUN CASE

INDIA

STANDS FIRM

Though the Indian government is seriously looking into the allegations levelled
in a US indictment, Prime Minister Modi makes it clear that India’s national interest is

supreme. What does this mean for India-US relations?

OUR BUREAU

New Delhi/Prague/Washington, DC
n November, the US Department
of Justice dropped a bombshell
Iwhen it unsealed an indictment
against an Indian national for his
alleged involvement in a foiled plot
to assassinate a US-based leader of
the Sikh Separatist Movement and
a citizen in New York. The US Jus-
tice Department claimed that an In-
dian government employee (named
CC-1), who was not identified in the
indictment filed in a federal court in
Manhattan, recruited an Indian na-
tional named Nikhil Gupta to hire a
hitman to carry out the assassination,
which was foiled by US authorities.
Since the unsealing of indict-
ment, the India-US relations have
been quite uneasy if not rocked by
those allegations. The cancellation
of the supposed visit of US President
Joe Biden to New Delhi for the Re-
public Day celebrations added more
tension to the relationship.
But India is standing its ground,
even as it looks into the allegations.
It has now been revealed that
India has obtained consular access
to meet Indian national Nikhil Gup- Modi has made it clear that India will not compromise with its national interest (ANI)
ta, the accused of conspiracy and at-
tempted murder involving India-des- said, “It is a legal issue...an Indian ter is sub-judice after a family mem- now...it will not be able to comment on
ignated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh national is under the custody of the ber of accused Nikhil Gupta filed a jurisdictions on this issue,” he added.
Pannun, in the custody of Czech Czech Republic. The request for ex- petition in the Supreme Court. On being asked about five Indi-
authorities and is providing all neces- tradition by the US is pending there. “The family of this Indian na- an-American lawmakers in the US
sary consular assistance. We have had consular access three tional (Nikhil Gupta), had given a being briefed about the case, the
Addressing a weekly press con- times. We are providing whatever petition in the Supreme Court. The MEA spokesperson said that New
ference, the Ministry of External Af- possible consular help in the matter.” matter is sub judice, so it won’t be ap- Delhi takes the inputs seriously and
fairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi Bagchi further said that the mat- propriate to comment on the matter Continued on next page... >>

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