Assassination plots are the new feather in the hat of the Modi regime and its credit goes entirely to the top intelligence agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). What transpired recently from Canada and the USA on this account, might provide enough stuff for B-grade Bollywood movies but in the diplomatic domain, it is nothing but embarrassment. Unlike Bollywood movies, Indian agents failed miserably on foreign soils in eliminating the dissenting Sikh leaders living in exile.
The brutal assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijar in Canada the previous year continues to haunt India. Canadian government accused Indian state actors of Nijar’s cold-blooded murder for the first time the previous year based upon credible investigation. It was evident that Hardeep Singh Nijar had to pay the price of dissenting from the oppressive Indian state. The strength of evidences against India can be judged from the fact that Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau himself disclosed the blatant involvement of Indian state actors in the assassination episode.
As expected, India’s initial response revolved around downplaying the embarrassing accusations by seeking the evidences from Canada. This momentary disruptive move could not help India in burying the irritant in bilateral ties with Canada. Western countries including Indian strategic partner USA stood in support of Canada which was an unexpected diplomatic shock for New Delhi. Blot of the transnation assassination plot on the forehead of India turned thicker with the foiled attempt of a similar nature against US-based Sikh dissenter Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in 2024.
Indian citizen Nikhil Gupta, reportedly an agent of RAW, was apprehended in the Czech Republic for hiring the hitman to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh on US soil. Nikhil Gupta was tasked by a RAW official based in India. Unlike Canada, this assassination plot could not be manifested successfully due to timely detection by the American FBI. Based upon the undeniable proofs, Nikhil Gupta has been extradited to the USA. Blatant violations of the sovereignty of the USA and Canada with similar criminal assassination plots have brought New Delhi into a tight spot on many accounts.
Both the USA and Canada have shared serious concerns with India through multiple official channels. Despite the strong Indian desire to downplay the heinous crime, the issue of trans-nation assassinations is still alive and unsettled. Inaction on the part of India is hindering the just conclusion of state sponsored assassinations on foreign soil. Canada and the USA have accelerated the investigation with a lot of deliberations and further tightened the noose around the Indian agency ‘RAW’. The recent expulsion of Indian diplomatic staff including the envoy from Canada for reported involvement in Nijar’s assassination is another blow to New Delhi.
Though, acceptance of fault was a better option to resolve the tensions but the Indian government had opted to retaliate by expelling the Canadian embassy staff in tit-for-tat action. This unwise arrogance seems more weightless after legal charging of Nikhil Gupta and his RAW affiliated handler namely Vikash Yadev in a US court for foiled conspiracy to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh. Apparently, India is not in a position to replay the same arrogance with USA which was shown to Canada.
Further unfolding of the case against Nikhil Gupta and his handler would surely stamp the rogue state image of India. The role of state actors in both assassination plots has further revealed the oppressive side of Indian so-called democracy. The Modi led regime has no justification of decades long marginalization of the Sikh community. Besides targeting the foreign based dissenting Sikhs, the Indian government has been altering the demography in IIOJK for recently held rigged and manipulated elections. Controversial anti-minority legislation, brutal use of state force in Manipur and well-thought-out demolition of mosques and shrines are undeniable proofs of deep-rooted extremism in India.
Pakistan has repeatedly pointed out the involvement of Indian state actors in surging cross-border terrorism in KP and Baluchistan provinces. India under Modi’s cunning leadership has started emerging as a rogue state involved in trans-nation killings, cross-border terrorism and proxy patronization. With such bleak track record, Jay Shankar’s speech during SCO conference seems hollow verbosity.
He lectured the world about the threats of terrorism, extremism and separatism while carrying the load of trans-nation killings, minorities persecution, Hindutva inspired Islamophobia and cross-border terrorism. This really requires extra-thick skin like the Modi regime to speak about regional peace and support the genocidal Israeli regime at all forums simultaneously. How the world can believe the claims of rogue India which never hesitates even in violating the sovereignty of friendly states like Canada and USA.
