The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called on the US government to sanction India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for suspected plotting to assassinate Sikh separatists. The suggestion comes as tensions between India and the US escalated following allegations of Indian agents’ involvement in a plot to kill Sikh activists in North America.
India’s suspected actions, the USCIRF report said, constitute a gross breach of global norms and human rights. The panel quoted reports indicating that RAW agents were part of the alleged coordination of attacks on Sikh politicians, especially those who were pressing for an independent Khalistan state. The commission also demanded sanctions against Indian authorities involved in the operations, including travel restrictions and freezing of assets.
This comes after India-Canada tensions spiked following an accusation by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Indian agents being behind the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh leader, in June 2023. Similar accusations were made by the US after the government thwarted a plot against another Sikh activist on US soil.
The USCIRF further suggested that India be labeled a “country of particular concern” (CPC) due to its supposed religious freedom abuses. The committee underscored some of the ongoing concerns of the treatment of India’s religious minorities, such as Muslims and Christians. It contended that domestic policies in India, in conjunction with these supposed international conspiracies, demonstrate a disturbing trend of religious intolerance and state-facilitated violence.
India has vehemently rejected the allegations, terming them as politically motivated and unsupported by concrete facts. Indian authorities have maintained that their counter-terror operations are warranted and rejected assertions that they target religious minorities. The government of India has also blamed Sikh separatists for fomenting extremism and undermining the sovereignty of India.
The Biden administration is now being pushed to act on the USCIRF’s suggestions. Yet, considering India’s strategic value as an Indo-Pacific partner and a principal counterweight to China, any sanctions would complicate diplomatic ties.
While the US State Department has not made an official reaction, political experts opine that Washington will exercise caution, balancing human rights sensitivities with overall geopolitical considerations. The USCIRF’s advice is a growing concern in Western capitals about India’s handling of dissent and minority rights at home and abroad.
The situation will likely change as both sides attempt diplomatic negotiations to contain the impact of these allegations.
