New Delhi:
Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu, who is leading the Khalistani movement from America and Canada, has threatened Indian Ambassador Vinay Kwatra. Releasing a video, Pannu said that Indian Ambassador to America Vinay Mohan Kwatra is the target of pro-Khalistan Sikhs. On this entire matter, the Foreign Ministry said that it is expected that the US government will take it seriously and take necessary steps.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said these things in the weekly media briefing on Friday on the threats issued by Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh. He said, “Whenever such threats are made, we take them very seriously and raise them with the US government. In this particular case too, we have raised it with the US government. We hope that the United States government will respond to our “We will take security concerns seriously and act on them.”
#WATCH Delhi: On threats issued by Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh against Indian Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal says, “…We take the threats very seriously and we raise it with the US government. In this case, also, we have raised… pic.twitter.com/4LR4dHgN8m
— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2024
What did Pannu say?
Sikh for Justice leader Gurupatwant Singh Pannu claimed last Saturday that Indian Ambassador to America Vinay Kwatra is targeting Khalistan supporters in collaboration with Russian diplomats and agencies. Because of this, he is the target of Pro-Khalistani Sikhs settled in America.
The Sikh separatist leader had alleged that India deliberately posted Kwatra in Washington so that he could collude with Russian diplomats. Russian agencies are also giving intelligence information to Indian intelligence agencies, so that they can use them against Khalistan supporters.
When did Vinay Mohan Kwatra become ambassador?
On July 19, 2024, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs appointed senior Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of 1988 batch Vinay Mohan Kwatra as India’s Ambassador to the US. Kwatra had retired from the post of Foreign Secretary in July itself. Vikram Misri has been appointed Foreign Secretary in place of Kwatra. Kwatra is considered one of the favorite officers of the Modi government. Before becoming Foreign Secretary, Vinay Mohan Kwatra had worked as India’s ambassador to China, America and France.
Anti-India attacks increase in America
Former Foreign Secretary Kwatra had taken over as India’s Ambassador to the United States in August this year, replacing Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Kwatra’s appointment comes at a time when Khalistani separatists are targeting the Hindu community, Hindu religious places and the Indian Embassy in America.
Khalistanis were involved in incidents of damaging temples in other places including California and New York. They also carried out incidents of arson and vandalism at the Indian Embassy in San Francisco. Several lawmakers, including Thanedar, a Democrat elected to the House of Representatives from the state of Michigan, expressed concern over the ‘significant increase’ in attacks on Hindus and their places of worship in the United States.
expressed strong opposition to Bangladesh
Along with this, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also answered media questions on Bangladesh issues. He said that India has lodged a strong protest with Dhaka regarding some controversial comments of Mahfouz Alam, a key aide of the interim government of Bangladesh.
Alam had said in a post on the social media platform ‘Facebook’ that India should recognize the rebellion which forced the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to resign. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have lodged our strong protest with Bangladesh on this issue. We have learned that the post in question has reportedly been removed.”
Jaiswal said, “India has repeatedly shown interest in promoting relations with the people of Bangladesh and the interim government, such comments underline the need for responsibility in public expression.”
