20

Jan

A Desperate Attempt to Please Trump

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Amitabh Srivastava

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New Delhi | Monday | 20 January 2025

The saffron brigade has long practised a strategy of ‘use and throw.’ This approach is evident in its  history, from the sidelining of prominent figures like Balraj Madhok, former Prime Minister VP Singh, Subramanian Swamy, and their own leaders such as L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi, Yashwant Sinha, and Shatrughan Sinha. Even the late Sushma Swaraj was downgraded for questioning Narendra Modi’s promotion to Prime Minister in 2014. But the latest actions of the Indian government are far more alarming as they go beyond mere political sidelining. In fact, these actions have endangered national security and betrayed the trust of India’s own intelligence agencies, something that can be described as playing with fire.

In a move that has left many puzzled, the Indian government recently sacrificed the interests of its own security agencies to please the United States, particularly in the context of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's attendance at the swearing-in of Donald Trump for his second term. It is reported that Modi was not invited, but Jaishankar’s participation appeared more of an attempt to gain favor with the incoming administration. As a result, two of India’s operatives—Vikash Yadav and Nikhil Gupta—were thrown "under the bus" to appease US authorities.

The controversy began 15 months ago when two operatives, Vikash Yadav and Nikhil Gupta, were identified by American agencies for their involvement in a plot to eliminate key Sikh separatists, including Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a leader of the banned group ‘Sikhs for Justice,’ who holds dual citizenship of the United States and Canada.

 

Article at a Glance
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been accused of sidelining prominent political figures, reflecting its "use and throw" approach. Recently, the Indian government made a controversial move that endangered national security to please the United States, particularly in relation to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's attendance at Donald Trump’s swearing-in.
This decision led to the exposure of an operation involving Indian operatives Vikash Yadav and Nikhil Gupta, who were implicated in a plot to target Sikh separatists. Despite initially denying involvement, the Indian government later acknowledged that a “rogue element” within its intelligence agencies was behind the operation.
The incident has raised concerns about India's approach to national security and its diplomatic relations with the U.S. Critics argue that India compromised its security interests to reset ties with the U.S., highlighting the delicate balance between diplomacy and national security.

Gupta, a businessman from Gujarat, was arrested in the United States after being deported from the Czech Republic. During his time in custody, he allegedly confessed to an undercover operative that he had been hired by an Indian government official to eliminate Khalistani supporters in exchange for the dropping of criminal charges against him in Gujarat and financial compensation. His conversation was recorded, revealing the details of the botched operation. Gupta was apparently under the impression that more targets would be selected for future operations.

The plot echoed the rhetoric used by the Indian government, particularly Narendra Modi’s slogans like "Ghar Mein Ghus Kar Marenge" (We will strike inside your home), which has been used to threaten terrorists hiding in Pakistan. This slogan has been central to Modi’s electoral strategy, but it also reflects a broader pattern of covert operations justified by national security concerns.

Back in March 2023, when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of targeting Sikh activists on foreign soil, the Indian government denied any involvement, asserting that there was no proof. However, the revelation of Gupta’s confession and subsequent investigation by the FBI brought the matter to the forefront, forcing the Indian government to reconsider its position. Not only was Gupta involved, but Vikash Yadav was also implicated, identified by US authorities as a former officer of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), a key intelligence agency.

In a surprising twist, the Indian government eventually acknowledged its involvement in the operation, but in a statement, they described it as the work of a ‘rogue element’ with no official sanction. The Indian government did not directly name RAW but confirmed that Vikash Yadav was one of the operatives involved in the operation. They also indicated that legal action would be pursued against Yadav, with the Home Ministry noting that the enquiry into the matter had received full cooperation from US authorities.

The Indian government's stance has drawn mixed reactions. Some see this as a sign of India trying to reset its relationship with the United States, particularly with Trump set to take office. Others, however, argue that the move is a response to pressure from the US, which has made it clear that it would not tolerate extrajudicial killings on American soil. Despite India’s denial of any official involvement in the operation, the FBI’s involvement and the subsequent revelations have forced the Indian government to act.

The move has sparked debate within India as well. Amod K. Kanth, a former Director General of Police in Arunachal Pradesh and founder of an NGO, criticized the United States for its own extraterritorial operations, such as the killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. He argued that the US has no right to lecture India on such matters, especially given its own history of international interventions.

On the other hand, former Intelligence Bureau officer Yashovardhan Azad supported the Indian government's stance that the operation was carried out by a rogue element. He emphasized that sensitive national security issues should be handled with caution and that such matters require serious deliberation. He also pointed out that the individuals involved were labeled terrorists by the United Nations, suggesting that India’s actions were not unwarranted.

This entire episode highlights the complexities of international relations, especially when national security interests are at stake. The Indian government’s willingness to sacrifice the interests of its own intelligence services to please a foreign power raises important questions about the future of India’s internal and external security policies. Whether or not this episode marks a shift in India’s foreign policy priorities, it serves as a reminder of the delicate balancing act that governments must perform when navigating the intersection of diplomacy and national security.

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