A group of key Democratic senators is pressing the Biden administration to give a “strong diplomatic response” to allegations that the Indian government was involved in a thwarted plot to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil. The senators stressed the importance of holding accountable those responsible and urged India to uphold its commitments to human rights.

The incident comes at a time when Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national extradited by the Czech Republic, has pleaded not guilty in a US court in the alleged murder case.

India has denied any involvement in the Pannun case.

Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, who holds US and Canadian dual citizenship, was declared a terrorist by India.

The senators, led by Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and including Ron Wyden (Oregon), Tim Kaine (Virginia), Bernie Sanders (Vermont) and Chris Van Hollen (Maryland), sent a two-page letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday.

“We urge a strong diplomatic response to ensure that all those involved are held accountable, and request a briefing on the status of the Administration’s conversations with the Indian government on this matter,” the senators wrote, PTI reported.

This letter has come at a time when Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta has been accused of being a part of this murder. Conspiracy to kill Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannupleaded not guilty in a federal court in New York on Monday.

52-year-old Gupta was extradited Flew from Czech Republic to US on Friday.

He was arrested in the Czech Republic last year on the request of the US government for his involvement in a conspiracy to murder Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu in New York.

US federal prosecutors allege that Gupta hired an assassin to kill Pannun and paid him $15,000 upfront.

US federal prosecutors have also alleged that Gupta acted on the instructions of an unnamed Indian government official. India has denied involvement and launched a high-level investigation.

Senators demand accountability and commitment to human rights

The Senators stressed the importance of holding those responsible accountable and urged India to uphold its commitments to human rights.

“Now that the 2024 general elections in India have concluded, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi returning to power, the United States has an opportunity to engage this issue as a key agenda item with the Government of India,” the letter said, reported PTI.

It added, “The United States must remain firm and resolute in opposing international repression, regardless of who the perpetrators.”

He stressed that the US-India relationship “must be based on a shared commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law.”

The letter references Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu’s statement to the House Foreign Affairs Committee in March, in which he confirmed that the Biden administration had raised the issue of the conspiracy “at the highest levels” with India.

India denies involvement in Pannum case

In April 2024, The Washington Post reported that Vikram Yadav, an officer of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), was implicated as the officer behind the plot. The report also mentioned that then-RAW chief Samant Goel had approved the operation.

However, India’s Foreign Ministry has rejected this report.It said it was an “unfair and baseless allegation” to claim that Indian agents were involved in the conspiracy to assassinate Pannu.

It is still not clear whether the alleged assassination attempt was discussed during the recent talks between US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

Pannu, declared a terrorist by India, has long been a vocal critic of the Indian government.