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“We expect accountability”: US after India slams Washington Post report on Pannun case
The remarks come after a Washington Post article published on Apr.29 alleged an Indian official’s role in the foiled assassination plot of India-designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
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US State Department Principal Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel during a press briefing on Apr.30. / Screengrab/ U.S. State Department YouTube
US State Department Principal Deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel has said that the United States is "regularly working" with the Indian government and "enquiring for additional updates" in its investigation into the alleged assassination plot of India-designated terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil in 2023.
The remarks were made by Patel in a US State Department press briefing on Apr.30 following a report published by The Washington Post which, citing unnamed sources, mentioned the involvement of a Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) officer in connection with the case.
"We continue to expect accountability from the Government of India based on the results of the Indian inquiry committee's work, and we are regularly working with them and enquiring for additional updates," Patel said.
Earlier on Apr.30, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal strongly refuted the claims made by The Washington Post saying they were “speculative and unnecessary” especially when an investigation was going on in the matter.
According to the WaPo investigative report published on Apr.29, the individual listed as "CC-1" in the US indictment that was unsealed in November 2023 in relation to the Pannun case was identified as RAW officer Vikram Yadav. Yadav is an official from the Research and Analysis Wing (an Indian government agency).
The report also shed light on the alleged involvement of other senior Indian officials in the assassination plot, including Samant Goel, the former RAW chief.
Pannun, who serves as the general counsel for Sikhs for Justice, a New York-based organization, is classified as a terrorist by the Indian Home Ministry.
Earlier on Apr.29, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the issue was part of an "ongoing investigation".
“This is a serious matter, and we're taking that very, very seriously. The government of India has been very clear with us that they are taking this seriously and will investigate,” Jean-Pierre said.
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Comments
Sam Patel
2024-05-01 00:00:00
Biden Govt. is playing a losing game! Indian elections will be over soon. Then the govt. will be free to say what they want to. USA supported Pakistan and a war against India. We expect accountability USA funded Pakistan and its terrorism with the funding of Pakistan's military. We expect accountability The next time USA kills a terrorist; there will be demand for answers and accountability There is so much more there.