Wednesday, November 22, 2023

It's the nadir.

"The US thwarted a conspiracy to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil and issued a warning to the Indian government over concerns that it was involved in the plot, The Financial Times reported." BT. "The report...says US prosecutors have filed a sealed indictment in the case and are debating whether or not to make it public amid Canada's own ongoing investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, B.C. The White House is not denying the report." CBC. While India reacted ferociously to Canada's allegation of Nijjar's killing it has been curiously silent on the US report. The Indian government termed Canada's allegation as 'absurd' and 'motivated' (TOI) and called Canada a "safe haven for terrorists" (CNN). Neither has India stopped issuing visas to US citizens as it did to Canadians,(Reuters), nor has it asked the US to reduce its diplomatic presence in India, as it had asked Canada to withdraw 41 of its diplomats so that the number would equal the number of Indian diplomats in Ottawa (Reuters). In fact the official US site boasts, "The US Embassy in New Delhi is one of the largest diplomatic missions in the world," and "represents 17 US federal government agencies, from the US Department of State to the Federal Aviation Administration." Nor has former Indian diplomat Deepak Vohra revealed that President Joe Biden's plane was 'full of cocaine' as he had accused Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of being guilty of. Mint. Maybe, as a result of the US warning, "India on Wednesday (yesterday) unilaterally resumed e-visa services for Canadian nationals." TOI. India has also been absolutely silent on the eight former Indian Navy personnel who have been sentenced to death in Qatar." "The men have been in jail since August 2022." NDTV. While Minister of Foreign Affairs S Jaishankar has been relentless in his demands for proof from Canada (Zee News), he has been completely silent on Qatar. In fact, "the foreign ministry said it would not comment given the 'confidential nature of proceedings'. Ludicrous and laughable. How can death sentences be confidential? Imagine what the families must be going through in the absence of any information from our government when they must have read that "A Qatar court has reportedly rejected the appeal filed by the Indian government on behalf of eight former Indian Navy officials who were sentenced to death for alleged espionage." Asianet. Surely, Qatar must show proof for murdering 8 Indian citizens? Or, "Did India hold off pushing hard, and at the required top-most level, for the freedom of the 'Qatar 8'," so as to time it with next year's general election? asked The Wire. Rudeness for Canada to show 'macho' image, subservience to the US and trying to conceal the threat to the lives of 8 of our citizens, all for a macabre lust for power. Can we sink any lower? 

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