'Not Necessarily The Same': Jaishankar On India's Response To US, Canada Investigations

Jaishankar said that India is a country where "we are very responsible, very prudent on what we do".

File photo of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar

Source : PTI

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday responded to the allegations of India plotting to assassinate pro-Khalistan elements in the United States and Canada, saying "the two issues are not necessarily the same." He added that India is a country where "we are very responsible, very prudent on what we do".

While speaking at the Rotary Institute 2023 event in Bengaluru, Jaishankar said, "I think everybody knows that India is a country where we are very responsible, very prudent on what we do and the whole issue for us has been that we have always maintained that. If any country, not just Canada, if any country has a concern and gives us some input or some basis for that concern, we are always open to look at it. This is what countries do."

He was referring to the allegations made by Canada about the alleged link of “agents of the Indian government” in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

On Canada and US, EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, "I think everybody knows that India is a country where we are very responsible, very prudent on what we do and the whole issue for us has been that we have always maintained that. If any country, not just Canada, if any country has a… pic.twitter.com/nMMe8Ameqy

— ANI (@ANI) December 17, 2023

He further stated, "The point was when Americans brought up some issues and the two issues are not necessarily the same. When they brought up that issue the Americans told us some specific things. What happens in international relations from time to time such challenges can arise. So we very sincerely have told the Canadians saying that look it's up to you, I mean your choice whether you would like us to pursue it, further look into it or not."

Jaishankar was pointing to the US indictment of Nikhil Gupta in connection with a foiled plot to assassinate a a US-based leader of the Sikh Separatist Movement Gurpatwant Singh Pannun - a dual citizen of the US and Canada.

The US Justice Department has claimed that an Indian government employee (named CC-1), who was not identified in the indictment filed in a federal court in Manhattan, recruited an Indian national named Nikhil Gupta to hire a hitman to carry out the assassination, which was foiled by US authorities, according to prosecutors, as reported by ANI.

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that a case filed against an individual in a US court and allegedly linking him to an Indian official is a “matter of concern” and is contrary to government policy.

Meanwhile, earlier in June, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the involvement of “agents of the Indian government” in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

However, India rejected the allegations as “absurd and motivated” and expelled a Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move over Canada’s decision.