The Washington Post named an Indian official for allegedly plotting to assassinate Sikh extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Narendra Modi addressing BJP election campaign meeting in Pathanamthitta.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 30 April, said that, unlike the practice during the Congress regime of sending dossiers to Pakistan after the Mumbai terror attacks, the BJP-led government hits terrorists on their home turf.
“During the Congress regime, the news headlines were about India handing over another dossier to Pakistan about terror activities,” he said.
“It used to be big news. Some of our friends in the media used to clap after any such dossier was sent,” Modi said at an election rally in Maharashtra’s Latur.
“Today, India doesn’t send dossiers. Aaj Bharat ghar mein ghus ke marta hai (Today, India kills terrorists on their home turf),” Modi said.
Meanwhile, the External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday said a report by The Washington Post made “unwarranted and unsubstantiated” imputations on a serious matter and that an investigation into the case was underway.
The newspaper had on Monday named an Indian official for allegedly plotting to assassinate Sikh extremist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
“The headlines in Naya Bharat are: Mission LOC, India punishes Pakistan through surgical strikes,” Modi said.
Modi also claimed that the INDIA bloc has come up with a “formula” whereby the parties in the opposition alliance will get the prime minister’s post for one year each if they come to power.”
With such a system, the good of the country cannot be expected, Modi said.
“Some people want to make the PM in instalments. They have decided to have a PM each year,” he said.
Modi said Congress destroyed India’s economy during its regime.
Targeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Modi said, “When I speak of ‘EK Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’, the Prince of Congress suffers from fever”.
“Those who looted the country are behind bars. Those who looted the country will have to pay back. And this is Modi’s guarantee,” he said.
The Washington Post, citing unnamed sources, named a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer in connection with the alleged plot to kill Pannun on American soil last year.
“The report in question makes unwarranted and unsubstantiated imputations on a serious matter,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.
He said a high-level inquiry committee set up by New Delhi to look into inputs provided by the US on the alleged plot was still probing the case.
“There is an ongoing investigation of the high-level committee set up by the Government of India to look into the security concerns shared by the US government on networks of organised criminals, terrorists and others,” he said.
Jaiswal was responding to media queries on the report.
“Speculative and irresponsible comments on it are not helpful,” Jaiswal said, slamming the report by the US daily.
The Washington Post report identified the RAW officer as Vikram Yadav and alleged that he was involved in the plot to assassinate Pannun.
In November last year, US federal prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta for working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Pannun.
Pannun, wanted in India on terror charges, holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada. He has been designated as a terrorist by the Union Home Ministry under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
The allegations about the failed plot to kill Pannun came to the fore weeks after the Canadian Prime Minister claimed in September of a “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on 18 June in British Columbia.
India had strongly rejected the charges.
On 7 December, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in Parliament that India instituted an inquiry committee to look into the inputs received from the US in the Pannun case as the matter has a bearing on national security.
(With PTI inputs)
May 21, 2024
May 20, 2024
May 20, 2024
May 20, 2024
May 20, 2024
May 20, 2024
