Merkley, Colleagues: U.S. must firmly oppose transnational repression, no matter the perpetrator
Washington, D.C. (June 17, 2024) – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley—a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—today led Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling for a strong diplomatic response following credible allegations of the Indian government’s involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate an American citizen on U.S. soil, and asking for a briefing on this matter. Last year, the Department of Justice (DOJ) indicted Indian national Nikhil Gupta for his alleged participation in this act of transnational repression.
“While we fully support the DOJ’s efforts to bring Gupta to justice and the Department of State’s prior statements, the Administration must match words with actions to hold Indian officials involved in the plot accountable, and to send a clear message that there will be consequences for such behavior,” the senators wrote. “It is imperative that we take an unequivocal stand against such a threat to the rights of a U.S. citizen and violation of U.S. sovereignty, which are examples of India’s increasingly irresponsible efforts to silence critics of its government among its diaspora around the world.”
Transnational repression occurs when a government reaches across national borders to intimidate, harass, or harm members of diaspora and exile communities to prevent their exercise of internationally recognized human rights. It can take both direct and indirect forms, from physical assaults and unlawful renditions and detentions, to targeted online surveillance and threats against family members back home.
“As such, we ask that [a] briefing include a discussion of how the Department of State intends to pursue follow-up action – to press the Indian government to hold those involved criminally accountable, and to ensure the government does not repeat such acts of transnational repression. India must maintain its commitment to respecting human rights at home and abroad as it aspires to global leadership. Now that India’s 2024 general election has concluded, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Modi returning to power, the United States has an opportunity to include this issue as a core agenda item with the Indian government,” the senators concluded.
Merkley is a co-author of the bipartisan Transnational Repression Policy Act and has led efforts to strengthen U.S. policy to hold foreign governments and individuals accountable when they stalk, intimidate, or assault people in the United States and across other borders. As Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, he has also spotlighted the most frequent perpetrator of transnational repression: the People’s Republic of China, which targets Uyghurs, Hong Kongers, Tibetans, dissidents, and others.
The full text of the letter can be found by clicking here and below:
Dear Secretary Blinken,
We write to express our deep concern about credible allegations of the Indian government’s involvement in a foiled plot to assassinate an American citizen on U.S. soil, as well as reports of ongoing harassment and threats against Sikh Americans. We urge a strong diplomatic response to ensure that all of those who were involved are held accountable, and request a briefing on the status of the Administration’s engagement with the Indian government on this matter.
The United States and India have a crucial relationship across multiple domains – from security cooperation, to trade and investment, to strong cultural and people-to-people ties. As the two largest democracies in the world, this partnership must not only be based on mutual strategic interests, but also grounded in shared commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law, including respect for sovereignty and the individual rights and freedoms that are fundamental to any democracy.
On November 29, 2023, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced an unsealed indictment of Indian national Nikhil Gupta for participation in a foiled plot to assassinate a U.S. citizen in New York. The target, who media reported to be Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, is a vocal critic of the Indian government and advocate for the secession of Punjab, a state in India with a sizable Sikh population.
As detailed in the announcement, an unnamed Indian government official, working with Gupta, directed the plot, which was foiled by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The announcement further stated that Gupta revealed there were a total of four targets, including Hardeep Singh Nijjar – a Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader who was murdered in Canada in June 2023 by masked gunmen.
An in-depth investigative article in The Washington Post in April provided greater context on the case, noting that the individual who directed the plot attempted by Gupta was an officer in India’s intelligence agency. The article cites evidence that higher-ranking intelligence officials are also implicated, with potential links to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inner circle. In late November 2023, the Indian government announced a probe panel to look into the matter.
Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu told the House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 20 that the Biden Administration has raised the plot “at the highest levels with India” and, referencing the panel, affirmed, “we ask them to work quickly and transparently to make sure justice is done.” However, on March 21, Bloomberg reported that the panel found that “rogue operatives” had been involved, and that at least one person was no longer working for the intelligence agency, but was still employed and not facing criminal prosecution.
While we fully support the DOJ’s efforts to bring Gupta to justice and the Department of State’s prior statements, the Administration must match words with actions to hold Indian officials involved in the plot accountable, and to send a clear message that there will be consequences for such behavior. It is imperative that we take an unequivocal stand against such a threat to the rights of a U.S. citizen and violation of U.S. sovereignty, which are examples of India’s increasingly irresponsible efforts to silence critics of its government among its diaspora around the world.
As such, we ask that the briefing include a discussion of how the Department of State intends to pursue follow-up action – to press the Indian government to hold those involved criminally accountable, and to ensure the government does not repeat such acts of transnational repression. India must maintain its commitment to respecting human rights at home and abroad as it aspires to global leadership. Now that India’s 2024 general election has concluded, with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Modi returning to power, the United States has an opportunity to include this issue as a core agenda item with the Indian government.
The United States must be firm and resolute in opposing transnational repression, no matter the perpetrator.
Read the full letter here.
