There is growing suspicion that India is running a network of agents around the world to target Sikh separatists:The US Department of Justice has indicted a man who paid for an assassination and was operated by an agent of the New Delhi government.The man, named Nihil Gupta, is accused of paying a man to assassinate a Sikh independence activist from the Indian state of Punjab, but he himself was recruited by an Indian agent who directed the operation.
Biden and Modi at the White House, last June, photo: Reuters
The indictment could jeopardize deepening relations between the U.S. and India. In late June, US President Biden hosted Indian Prime Minister Modi, with the White House making every effort to bring closer the rising power that has traditionally been careful not to interfere in the big geopolitical game – and has historically had close relations with Moscow.
According to the indictment, Gupta was drafted in May and arrested in the Czech Republic in late June, coinciding with Indian Prime Minister Modi's visit to the United States. In response to inquiries, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said that in light of the concern voiced by the Americans, a committee was set up on November 18 to examine the charges.
Fannon, the lawyer who was apparently targeted, Photo: AP
The indictment does not name the target of the assassination, but it is believed to be Gurftwant Singh Fanon, a New York lawyer who works with Sikkim for Justice.
In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he had "credible findings" of the Indian government's involvement in the assassination of another prominent Sikh activist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, triggering a crisis in relations between Ottawa and New Delhi. India denied the remarks, saying it was "absurd, politically motivated."
But now the U.S. indictment bolsters speculation that there is a network of Indian agents seeking to silence and eliminate vocal critics of the Indian government who support the establishment of a Sikh state.
Sikh believers near the Harimandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar. The holiest place for their religion, photo: AFP
Sikhism is a religion originating in the Punjab region of India. Today it is the fifth largest religion in the world, with about 30 million adherents. Its followers make up 2% of India's population.
Canada is home to nearly 700,<> members of the Sikh faith, the largest Sikh community in the world outside Punjab. In recent months, New Delhi has pressured foreign governments, including Australia, Britain and New Zealand, to prevent "Sikh extremism" and protect Hindu communities in their territory.
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