On Tuesday, US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources Richard Verma said that America will keep talking to Indian government about the reported attempt to kill Khalistani militant Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in the US.
“I know we raised our concerns with the Government of India. There is a committee of inquiry looking into the matter, and we will stay engaged with the government and look forward to their findings. And they’ve taken it very seriously, and we’re grateful for that,” Verma said.
He made the remarks at the event titled ‘The Long View from DC: The India-US Partnership’ hosted by the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) in Delhi. This statement came after the US Justice Department revealed charges against an Indian citizen for their supposed role in the failed attempt to assassinate Pannun.
Earlier in November, the US Justice Department asserted that an Indian government employee (named CC-1), who remained unnamed in the indictment submitted to 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.
Under murder-for-hire charges, Nikhil Gupta is currently under Czech Republic custody. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. During his speech at the event, Richard Verma underscored the connections between India and the US. He reminisced about Mahatma Gandhi’s correspondence with then-US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt regarding his writings.
Additionally, he mentioned that Martin Luther King drew inspiration from Gandhi’s writings. He emphasized that these connections and concepts traverse three distinct pathways: overcoming the constraints and remnants of colonialism, advocating for social justice and equality, and striving to construct a stable, inclusive democratic system governed by the people. He referred to these ideas as the bedrock of the bilateral relationship between the two nations.
Delighted to meet Richard R. Verma, US Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources.
Held fruitful discussions to further strengthen India-US trade & investment ties to explore new opportunities for greater collaboration & growth. 🇮🇳🤝🇺🇸@DepSecStateMR @USAmbIndia pic.twitter.com/F6wqfdRm0q
— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 19, 2024
