On assassination probe trail, Modi tells FT ‘absolute agreement not prerequisite for collaboration’

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By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, December 20: In the wake of the US probing the alleged involvement of Indian intelligence sleuth in the assassination plot of the Sikh activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, Prime Minister has told Financial Times that “absolute agreement not prerequisite for collaboration”. Modi has asserted in his remarks to FT that India will look into any evidence provided by the US in the ongoing probe.

The FT quoted Modi telling the newspaper that “we need to accept the fact that we are living in the era of multilateralism. The world is interconnected as well as interdependent. This reality compels us to recognise that absolute agreement on all matters cannot be a prerequisite for collaboration.”

The FT said that this was the first occasion that Modi has reacted on the assassination plot issue on the soil of the US. It may be recalled that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously alleged the involvement of the Indian agents in the killing of the Sikh activist Harjeet Singh Nijjar. India has vehemently rejected the claims made by Canada and had launched actions against the presence of the large number of the Canadian diplomatic staff in New Delhi.

The FT claimed in a report that Modi “for the first time responded to allegations of an Indian assassination plot in the US, saying he will look into any evidence but a few incidents would not derail US-India ties”. The UK-based daily also said that “India’s prime minister sought to play down the diplomatic impact of a US indictment last month that claimed an Indian official directed the attempted murder of a Sikh separatist on American soil. If someone gives us any information, we would definitely look into it. If a citizen of ours has done anything good or bad, we are ready to look into it. Our commitment is to the rule of law.”

It may be recalled that Nijjar was designated a terrorist by India with a reward on his head. The Interpol had also issued a lookout notice against Nijjar. Pannun had also been issuing threats against India. Pannun had given a threat call to bomb Air India.

India has told the US and Canada that they must act against separatists active on their soil and working against the Indian interests. The FT said that “India in 2020 designated Pannun as a terrorist, which he denies. It has also repeatedly accused western countries of not taking seriously its security concerns about Sikh separatism, which has a long and bloody history in South Asia.”

The UK daily quoted Modi saying that “India is deeply concerned about the activities of certain extremist groups based overseas. These elements, under the guise of freedom of expression, have engaged in intimidation and incited violence.”