The Indian façade has been torn apart into smithereens. The prevarication of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and the Australian and New Zealand governments mentioning India’s excursion into extrajudicial killings, conceived and executed at the highest echelons of the government of India has been silenced by the filing of a serious indictment by the US government in an American law court. Coming on the heels of the Canadian credible evidence postulate, India is in the dock. The Sikhs, as a party to the episodes in view of their stand on Sikh sovereignty, should now gain a foothold in mustering an international probe, pushed by any or all of these countries under the aegis of the United Nations. The World Sikh News editor Jagmohan Singh writes a stinging editorial after the recent indictment by the US Justice Department.

Over the last 40 years, Sikh human rights groups, political parties, religious bodies, and individual activists like Jaswant Singh Khalra, risking their lives have documented hundreds upon thousands of cases of extrajudicial killings by the Punjab police and Indian par military and other forces. Harassment, torture, and detentions have been chronicled meticulously. Much of this has been taken note of by the Indian courts and even the National Human Rights Commission. However, all of it has been dismissed with a refrain by governments of the day in India.

Wherein courts have taken notice, they have rarely caught the bull by its horns though we do have certain semblance of justice here and there. In the infamous Nakodar killings cases, the Punjab and Haryana High Court, in a recent order has accepted the state plea of the files having been lost and ordered an inquiry by the police at the same level as the perpetrators.  The pain of the affected families is palpable.

This may not be possible now. The Pandora’s box will open. Sikh activists in the Diaspora and in homeland Punjab will reopen “The Indian Government’s Files of Injustice” and ask their respective governments, representatives, and even the United Nations to sit up and take notice.

Sikh activists in the Diaspora and in homeland Punjab will reopen “The Indian Government’s Files of Injustice” and ask their respective governments, representatives, and even the United Nations to sit up and take notice.

In the heart of the so-called world’s largest democracy, a chilling revelation unfolds, casting a long, sinister shadow beyond the borders of India, reaching into the very core of countries revered for their adherence to justice and freedom. The recent indictment in the United States, involving Nikhil Gupta in an alleged assassination plot, is not just an isolated legal skirmish but a manifestation of a much darker, more profound struggle.

The indictment reveals harrowing details, including the cold-blooded killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent advocate for Sikh rights. His assassination, executed with chilling precision, is not an isolated act but part of a broader campaign to intimidate and eliminate voices of dissent within the Sikh community. This disturbing pattern is further exemplified by the attempted murder-for-hire plot in the United States, a blatant transgression of legal and moral boundaries by those allegedly linked to the Indian government.

Though the US indictment does not mention a name, it is quite evident that it refers to counsel, a dual citizen of the US and Canada Gurpatwant Singh Pannu.

What is equally alarming is the response, or rather the lack of it, from the Indian government when confronted by international powers. High-level diplomatic engagements by Canada, the U.S., and other members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance have consistently raised concerns over these incidents. Yet, the Indian administration’s responses have been a mix of denial and deflection, often cloaked in the rhetoric of national security and anti-terrorism. Such dismissals not only undermine the severity of the issue but also erode the trust and cooperation essential in international relations.

These actions and responses paint a picture of a state that, while parading as a champion of democracy and human rights on the global stage, simultaneously engages in practices that starkly contradict these values. The targeting of peaceful Sikh activists advocating for their rights through extrajudicial means is a blatant violation of the very principles India claims to uphold.

India’s actions and responses paint a picture of a state that, while parading as a champion of democracy and human rights on the global stage, simultaneously engages in practices that starkly contradict these values.

For decades, the Sikh community, both within India and in the diaspora, has championed the cause of self-determination, a right enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Yet, their peaceful and democratic advocacy has been met with unspeakable violence and suppression, a narrative deeply rooted in the blood-stained streets of Punjab during the 1980s and 90s. This recent case in the U.S. is a disturbing echo of those times, suggesting a brazen disregard for international norms and sovereignty by certain Indian entities.

The indictment speaks volumes about the lengths to which India is willing to go to silence dissent and freedom of speech, fundamental rights that form the bedrock of democracies worldwide. This extrajudicial approach to quell the Sikh voice for freedom not only jeopardizes the individuals directly targeted but also undermines the sanctity of the nations that host these vibrant Sikh communities.

This recent case in the U.S. is a disturbing echo of those times, suggesting a brazen disregard for international norms and sovereignty by certain Indian entities.

U.S. Attorney Damian Williams has reportedly said: “As alleged, the defendant conspired from India to assassinate, right here in New York City, a U.S. citizen of Indian origin who has publicly advocated for the establishment of a sovereign state for Sikhs, an ethnoreligious minority group in India. I am grateful that my Office and our law enforcement partners neutralized this deadly and outrageous threat. We will not tolerate efforts to assassinate U.S. citizens on U.S. soil, and stand ready to investigate, thwart, and prosecute anyone who seeks to harm and silence Americans here or abroad.”

As Sikhs, our history is replete with tales of resilience and standing up against oppression. The actions as alleged in the indictment are not merely an attack on a few individuals but an assault on the very principles of democracy and justice that Sikhs, and indeed all freedom-loving people, hold dear.

The World Sikh News, with its unflinching commitment to reporting truth calls upon global leaders, human rights organizations, and every advocate of democracy to unequivocally condemn these alleged actions and demand accountability from those responsible. We also urge the Indian government to introspect and align its actions with the democratic values it professes to uphold.

This is not just about the Sikh community or India; it’s a global concern. When a government, or its agents, allegedly take the law into their own hands in foreign lands, it sets a dangerous precedent, threatening the very fabric of international relations and mutual respect among nations.

This is not just about the Sikh community or India; it’s a global concern. When a government, or its agents, allegedly take the law into their own hands in foreign lands, it sets a dangerous precedent, threatening the very fabric of international relations and mutual respect among nations.

In solidarity with those who tirelessly work towards a more just and equitable world, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of truth and justice. The Sikh spirit, undeterred by the shadows of oppression, will continue to shine a light on these issues, advocating for a world where freedom and dignity are not just ideals but realities for all.