Human Rights Concerns
As United States Vice President JD Vance prepares for his upcoming diplomatic visit to India, the American leadership of the Khalistan movement has voiced serious concerns, casting a shadow over the anticipated bilateral engagement.
Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, the chief of Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) and a prominent advocate for Khalistan, has issued a strongly worded letter to Vice President Vance urging him to directly address an alleged assassination plot purportedly orchestrated by Indian officials.
In his letter, Pannun accused a close associate of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being involved in a conspiracy to assassinate him, a US citizen. He alleged that the aide had paid a sum of $250,000 to hire operatives for carrying out the plot.
Pannun appealed to the US Vice President to confront Indian authorities during his visit and to officially designate the assassination attempt as an act of state-sponsored terrorism.
“The Modi government is involved in a conspiracy to kill a US citizen. This is not just a personal threat, it’s a threat to American sovereignty and justice,” Pannun stated in his letter.
He further emphasized that any legal proceedings concerning the attempted assassination of an American citizen should be conducted under US jurisdiction, within American courts.
Pannun also used the occasion to express optimism about the future of the Khalistan movement, particularly under the possible return of the Trump administration, which he believes would allow for greater freedom and protection for pro-Khalistan activists operating in the US.
The allegations from Sikhs for Justice come amid heightened international scrutiny over India’s alleged involvement in targeting Sikh activists abroad.
Over the past year, similar accusations have emerged from both Canada and the United States, triggering diplomatic tensions and raising questions about the safety and rights of Sikh diaspora communities worldwide.
As Vice President Vance embarks on his India visit, the demands from SFJ and Pannun’s accusations are likely to add complexity to already sensitive US-India relations, especially on matters of human rights and cross-border justice.
