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NEW DELHI: Acknowledging that India and the US are working together in the investigation of the alleged foiled assassination plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti said that a ‘red line‘ should not be crossed between the two countries.
Referring to the Khalistani marches and the threats issued by Pannun, Garcetti said that the American system protects free speech “for better or for worse,” while adding that an American citizen can be convicted or deported only according to the country’s laws.
Pannun is an India-designated terrorist who holds American and Canadian citizenship. He has repeatedly issued threats against India.
Garcetti said, “When people do step over the line saying something will be bombed as opposed to saying somebody shouldn’t fly. The United States freedom of speech, we want success for anybody, if there’s a criminal accusation to actually reach the threshold that would have a successful outcome.”
“Under our law, for an American citizen to be convicted in an American court or to be deported to have a criminal case in another country, it has to meet our law,” he added.
Garcetti further said, “Each incident is looked at each time. And if the Indian govt ever brings up something, if they gave up something today, we’d be looking at it tomorrow. It’s not an ongoing investigation of a person. That’s not how our criminal justice system works. We believe there’s an act. If a friend from another country is saying this is an act that transcends a border, we will always look at that, take that incredibly seriously.”
He also emphasised that a ‘red line’ should not be crossed and no govt employee of any country can be involved in an assassination plot of a foreign citizen. “I think that’s absolutely critical. For any of us, just abstractly, that has to be a red line. No govt or govt employee can be involved in the alleged assassination of one of your own citizens. That’s just an unacceptable red line,” Garcetti said. He appreciated that India set up an inquiry commission to look into the matter.
As per the US justice department indictment, an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, who is in custody, has been charged with the murder-for-hire of Pannun. The indictment claimed an Indian govt employee, who was not identified, recruited Gupta to hire a hitman to assassinate Pannun, which was foiled by US authorities.
Referring to the Khalistani marches and the threats issued by Pannun, Garcetti said that the American system protects free speech “for better or for worse,” while adding that an American citizen can be convicted or deported only according to the country’s laws.
Pannun is an India-designated terrorist who holds American and Canadian citizenship. He has repeatedly issued threats against India.
Garcetti said, “When people do step over the line saying something will be bombed as opposed to saying somebody shouldn’t fly. The United States freedom of speech, we want success for anybody, if there’s a criminal accusation to actually reach the threshold that would have a successful outcome.”
“Under our law, for an American citizen to be convicted in an American court or to be deported to have a criminal case in another country, it has to meet our law,” he added.
Garcetti further said, “Each incident is looked at each time. And if the Indian govt ever brings up something, if they gave up something today, we’d be looking at it tomorrow. It’s not an ongoing investigation of a person. That’s not how our criminal justice system works. We believe there’s an act. If a friend from another country is saying this is an act that transcends a border, we will always look at that, take that incredibly seriously.”
He also emphasised that a ‘red line’ should not be crossed and no govt employee of any country can be involved in an assassination plot of a foreign citizen. “I think that’s absolutely critical. For any of us, just abstractly, that has to be a red line. No govt or govt employee can be involved in the alleged assassination of one of your own citizens. That’s just an unacceptable red line,” Garcetti said. He appreciated that India set up an inquiry commission to look into the matter.
As per the US justice department indictment, an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, who is in custody, has been charged with the murder-for-hire of Pannun. The indictment claimed an Indian govt employee, who was not identified, recruited Gupta to hire a hitman to assassinate Pannun, which was foiled by US authorities.
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