The United States late last year charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta, a 52-year-old narcotics and weapons trader, for plotting to murder a prominent Sikh separatist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S. citizen, in New York City.
The indictment, alleged that an Indian government official in New Delhi paid Gupta to arrange the killing, has cast a shadow over India’s relationship with the U.S. as well as the country’s global image.
We have been here before. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also claimed that there were “credible allegations” about a “potential link” between India’s government and the fatal shooting in June of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen, on Canadian soil. India responded with outrage, demanding the withdrawal of 41 Canadian diplomats from New Delhi.