Washington: The United States is “satisfied” with India’s accountability requirements for its involvement in a supposed conspiracy to murder somebody. Sikh separatists In the USA, U.S. ambassador to India Eric Garcetti tells us why. This month, federal prosecutors in the US charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta who supposedly helped an Indian government staffer foil the assassination of Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Pannu is wanted by New Delhi on charges of terrorism and holds citizenship of both the United States and Canada. He was named a terrorist under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act which is an anti-terrorism law enacted by Union Home Ministry.
“When I mention that relationship may have ups and downs, this might be like first major battle in a relationship,” he told reporters at an event organized by Council on Foreign Relations(CFR), a top US think tank, on Thursday.
“And so far I would say we’re at administration comfortable with what we’re asking for because it’s a red line for us as Americans;” he noted.
He said it was ongoing criminal litigation.
“Indictments have been filed. There has to be an accountability if this has any link with state actors. That should not only come from our side but India must also take up that responsibility”, he added.
“So India has established a commission of inquiry and we hope there will be consequences and sharing information as we deal with criminal cases related to US justice,” he stated.
“And so far as ambassador, I am happy with what they’ve done and that’s one of the hardest things you can do as ambassador,” Garcetti said “I think the administration is satisfied but still there are many steps yet”.
Garcetti engaged in talks with Michael Froman who served as US Trade Representative during Obama’s tenure.
Prime Minister Froman said Modi He is about to be re-elected, and everyone is looking forward to it again
To this end, Garcetti said that it is not a responsibility of the United States to answer on India’s human rights situation when asked about apprehensions expressed by some quarters in America.
“It’s not for the US to sort out India’s issues. For us, we have a responsibility as Americans to engage with India, our strategic interests and reflect our values,” he added.
“It’s very powerful; I can tell you that. People outside say that they want a strategic relationship with India so everybody looks at that differently in human rights issues like this. That is actually not true. Yes”, he responded.
US always discusses these whether it is a human rights report or religious freedom report with India.
“For example there was violence in one of the states of India called Manipur where two different ethnic communities were fighting each other.” “In my second or third month in India somebody asked me what do you think about the violence there? What do you think about the incident?
‘Because we have had some terrible pictures of women being dragged on pavements, people being killed and shot, and churches and temples being burnt down in this country. The thing that breaks our hearts as human beings when we witness someone suffering,’ Garcetti added.
The second point is that this is India’s problem and should be handled by India.
‘The third point is that if needed America will provide any support or assistance. Not even ruling government’ he said
“For example you might not ever say that India is more advanced than us in terms of human rights. In terms of transgender rights though,” he said.
