Mushfiqul Fazal, State Department correspondent
Washington, DC, May 9, 2024
During the regular briefing on Thursday, the State Department Principal Spokesperson addressed allegations from Russia regarding US meddling in India's upcoming general elections and the handling of a purported assassination plot against a US citizen, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, allegedly involving Indian nationals.
The allegations originated from a recent statement by Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she accused the United States of attempting to "complicate" India's election process and interfere in its internal affairs. She also pointed out that the US had not yet provided "reliable evidence" to support claims of Indian citizens' involvement in an alleged plot to murder pro-Khalistan activist Pannun on American soil. These statements followed earlier reports suggesting a comparison of the plot to tactics associated with repressive regimes.
When State Department correspondent Mushfiqul Fazal asked about these allegations, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller firmly denied any US involvement in the Indian elections. 'With respect to the first, no, of course we don’t involve ourselves in elections in India, just as we don’t involve ourselves in elections anywhere in the world. Those are decisions for the people of India to make,' he said."
Regarding the assassination plot against Pannun, Miller pointed to an existing public indictment but noted that its details are part of an ongoing legal process, which restricts public comment. "There is a publicly-returned indictment that contains alleged facts. They’re allegations until they’re proven before a jury that anyone can go and read," Miller explained, adding, "I won’t speak to them here because, of course, it’s an ongoing legal matter."
Russia's criticisms also extended to the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which had recommended classifying India as a 'country of particular concern' in its annual report for the fifth time. Zakharova accused the US of harboring a "neo-colonial mentality," suggesting that the report made "unfounded accusations" against the Indian government and reflected Washington's lack of respect for India's sovereignty and historical context.
MR/
