NEW DELHI: India dismissed Khalistan secessionist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun‘s allegations in a US lawsuit against Indian govt officials, saying they were completely “unwarranted and unsubstantiate” imputations.
Panun, who heads the radical Sikh for Justice outfit and has been designated a terrorist by India, has filed a civil lawsuit in a US federal district court demanding damages for the alleged foiled attempt to kill him on American soil last year.
“I would only invite your attention to the person behind this particular case, whose antecedents are well known,” said foreign secretary Vikram Misri.
“I would also underline the fact that the organisation – so-called that this person represents – is an unlawful organisation, has been declared as such under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967 and it has been done so on account of its involvement in anti-national and subversive activities aimed at disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India,” he added.
Pannun has filed a civil lawsuit against the government of India, NSA Ajit Doval, former RAW chief Samant Goel, RAW agent Vikram Yadav, and Indian businessman Nikhil Gupta, with the district court for the southern district of New York issuing summons in the case. The summons demands a response from the Indian government within 21 days.
When asked if the Khalistan issue will be discussed during PM Modi’s planned bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Quad summit on Saturday in Wilmington, Misri did not give a direct reply. “As we have said earlier, whatever issues are of mutual concern between India and America, we discuss them all. Whether any specific issue will be raised or not, I cannot say at this time,” Misri said. “But I can definitely say that we will discuss all the issues,” he added.
Panun, who heads the radical Sikh for Justice outfit and has been designated a terrorist by India, has filed a civil lawsuit in a US federal district court demanding damages for the alleged foiled attempt to kill him on American soil last year.
“I would only invite your attention to the person behind this particular case, whose antecedents are well known,” said foreign secretary Vikram Misri.
“I would also underline the fact that the organisation – so-called that this person represents – is an unlawful organisation, has been declared as such under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act of 1967 and it has been done so on account of its involvement in anti-national and subversive activities aimed at disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India,” he added.
Pannun has filed a civil lawsuit against the government of India, NSA Ajit Doval, former RAW chief Samant Goel, RAW agent Vikram Yadav, and Indian businessman Nikhil Gupta, with the district court for the southern district of New York issuing summons in the case. The summons demands a response from the Indian government within 21 days.
When asked if the Khalistan issue will be discussed during PM Modi’s planned bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Quad summit on Saturday in Wilmington, Misri did not give a direct reply. “As we have said earlier, whatever issues are of mutual concern between India and America, we discuss them all. Whether any specific issue will be raised or not, I cannot say at this time,” Misri said. “But I can definitely say that we will discuss all the issues,” he added.
Source Agencies
