THE US Department of Justice announcing charges in connection with foiled alleged plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US citizen in New York City, has stirred the hornet’s nest. Canada also has joined the bandwagon, reviving its old allegation of Indian involvement in assassination of another Khalistani terrorist Hardip Singh Nijjar. While the Canadian Prime Minister Mr. Justin Trudeau had made the allegation in his Parliament speech, the US Department of Justice has come up with allegation through an official statement followed by selective leaks in the US media. What arouses curiosity and suspicion of a wider plot against India is its timing. Before moving on to the matter of timing of the allegations, it must be understood that the US Department of Justice’s ‘indictment’ is merely an ‘allegation’. In fact, if one takes the pains to read the statement, one comes across the line, “All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law”. This makes it pretty clear that the image of India is being sullied deliberately only on the basis of ‘allegations’. Besides, Canada joining the bandwagon makes the ordinary Indians suspicious whether there is something brewing up at the international level as far as targetting India on the issue of Khalistani terrorism is concerned.

 

It is not so easy for the countries involved to make allegations against a particular country over the same issue. Unless there is some kind of a shared consideration between the US and Canada on a point that is not yet out in the public domain. As far as the timing is concerned, it makes one curious. For, the US and Canada leaderships have been visibly trying to nurture own domestic vote-banks keeping an eye on electoral gains. In sharp contrast, India has emerged as a thriving democracy poised to go to elections in next few months. Given the rising stature of India on the world stage, on the basis of robust economic growth and strong multilateral ties, leadership of both these countries cannot afford to look weaker in front of a developing country like India. It has been clear umpteen number of times that Canada’s Mr. Trudeau has been bowing to domestic vote-bank pressure exerted by a powerful pro-Khalistani extremism lobby. In case of the US also, given the kid-glove condemnation to the vandalism of the Indian consulate in San Francisco earlier this year, one suspects if the current leadership wishes to get cosier with the Khalistani secessionists for reasons best known to it.

 

Interestingly, the US has earned notoriety as a power that has been engaging actively and indirectly to topple the Governments in various countries of the world for own selfish gains. In the instant case also, from the details available in public domain, the US Department of Justice has mentioned Khalistanis as advocates of ‘secession’ of the Indian State of Punjab and that the source and the hitman allegedly contacted by the Indian individual to murder Pannun both turned out to be working undercover with the US law enforcement. This raises a pertinent question as to why the US law enforcement needs to have those working for it, operate undercover as ‘hitman’ and ‘source’ who can offer assistance in contracting a hitman? Obviously, this question makes ordinary people wonder if the US law enforcement has been deliberately operating in such a manner. This reminds one of the infamous declassified document ‘CIA Family Jewels’, which offers shocking details about how the US agency -- CIA -- attempted to use its ‘assets’ to assassinate Fidel Castro. The document also offers some more details on some of the operations when the US agency’s stand was in conflict with the law. Of course, the US will have to do a lot of answering when details of its own missions are documented.

 

As far as India is concerned, she has never been a country that was known for aggressive posturing or toppling any other Governments. Rather, she has built a legacy of co-operation and collaboration for global good. The successive Prime Ministers including the current one Mr. Narendra Modi have made this amply clear time and again. But, it is also history that whenever India got a firm leadership, the Western powers resorted to espionage and image-sullying tactics against her. Even now, respecting the good ties with the US, India has instituted a high-level enquiry to probe allegations, reflecting her transparency in relations. India has made her stand clear on various international forums, against organised crime, trafficking, gun-running, extremism, terrorism, drugs trade. India has also been giving repeated calls for joint efforts of the global community to root out these evils. However, it has always been the anti-reforms powers of the world that kept the wounds festering to serve their selfish gains from time to time. At this juncture, when India is being looked at by the Global South as the firm voice, India has to be alert to international machinations to create a turmoil within as well as hurting her image in the world. If required, India must question the same countries about their meek action against Pakistan and China too. Given her character, India will tread in a rational manner. The US and Canada have been making attempts to provoke India to do something irrational, by way of hurling mere allegations. They may have their intentions. But, India needs to keep treading the path of Indian interest, without hesitation and without buckling to any pressure. India must counter the plot, if any, against her interest.