The global showdown between the US and Russia is heating up, and there’s no sign of it cooling down anytime soon. As tensions escalate, their strained relationship is playing out in various ways on the world stage. In a fresh twist, Russia has accused the United States of meddling in India’s upcoming Lok Sabha 2024 elections.
Lok Sabha Election 2024: Russia Slams US
During a media briefing, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, accused US of showing “disrespect” for the sovereignty of India. Commenting on the US report concerning religious freedom in India, Maria Zakharova remarked that the US displayed a lack of comprehension regarding India’s national ethos and historical context.
"Unfounded Accusations:" US Aims to Destabilise India During #LokSabha2024 – Russian Foreign Ministry
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) May 8, 2024
Spox Maria Zakharova has said Washington lacks simple understanding of India's national mentality and history, as America continues to make "unfounded accusations" about… pic.twitter.com/M8G0gtiP92
“America persists in making ‘baseless allegations’ concerning religious freedoms, the motive behind the US accusations is to disrupt the internal political equilibrium in India and complicate the upcoming general elections. I am sure that this also comes from the neocolonial mentality, the mentality of the colonial period, the period of the slave trade, and imperialism,” Maria Zakharova said, as quoted by RT news, Russia’s government TV network. She characterized it as “disrespectful” towards India.
She also rejected allegations by the US regarding an Indian intelligence official’s supposed plan to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US citizen, by saying, “Based on the information available to us, Washington has not yet presented any reliable evidence implicating Indian citizens in the plot to murder Pannun. Engaging in speculation without evidence is unacceptable.”
US report on religion Freedom in India
In its latest release, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) criticized India for alleged violations of religious freedom and various other concerns. It urged for India and 16 other nations to be designated as “countries of particular concern” for “engaging in or tolerating particularly severe violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief.”
USCIRF argues that religious freedom in India has deteriorated, particularly under the current government. They point to laws like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) which they view as favouring certain religious groups and incidents of violence targeting religious minorities, including Muslims, Christians, and others.
Responding firmly, Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) dismissed the report as “biased” and accused the USCIRF of consistently spreading “anti-India propaganda” under the guise of its annual report.
Pannun Murder Plot Issue: Context
The core issue of this controversy lies in the US accusing India of plotting to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a legal resident of the United States and a vocal supporter of the Khalistan movement. This movement seeks to establish an independent Sikh state in the Punjab region of India.
He has been accused of inciting violence and supporting extremist elements within the Khalistan movement. In 2007, India designated Pannun a terrorist due to his alleged involvement in activities deemed a threat to national security. The US Department of Justice formally accused an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, alleging his involvement in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Pannun. Currently, the situation remains under investigation.
India has vehemently denied the US accusations of plotting to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Concerns about the lack of concrete evidence presented by the US to support the accusations were also raised. Indian government has argued that the US indictment relies heavily on unnamed witnesses and circumstantial evidence, which is insufficient.
India’s bond with US and Russia
Following India’s independence, ties with the United States began to take shape. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit to the U.S. in 1949 laid the groundwork for future interactions. Nehru’s commitment to neutrality during the Cold War set the tone for India’s role in global affairs. President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s visit to India marked a significant milestone. He became the first serving U.S. president to set foot on Indian soil, addressing Parliament and strengthening diplomatic ties.
American universities collaborated with India to establish one of the first Indian Institutes of Technology. This partnership exemplified higher education cooperation, fostering academic growth and research.
In 2022, India and the U.S. celebrated 75 years of diplomatic ties. Their relationship has weathered Cold War-era distrust and evolved into a strategic partnership. Cooperation has strengthened across economic and political areas, including counterterrorism and countering Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific. India and the United States have collaborated on several significant projects recently. There is a global partnership between India and the United States, spanning technology, energy, and space exploration.
This controversy has undoubtedly strained US-India relations, which have generally been growing in recent years. The US and India are both major democracies with shared interests in a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region and collaborate on various security issues, including counterterrorism and maritime security. both have strong people-to-people ties too, fueled by a large and vibrant Indian American diaspora.
On the other hand, Russia and India share a historical friendship from the days of the Cold War. The Soviets provided arms, economic aid, and even mediated a cease-fire between India and Pakistan during the 1965 war over Kashmir. India’s nuclear weapons program and territorial disputes with Pakistan strained its relationship with the United States, leading it to turn to Russia as its principal arms supplier. Russia is a major supplier of military equipment to India and they collaborate in Energy and Space sector too. Recently, Russia has increased efforts to strengthen its ties with India, particularly in the face of growing tensions with the West.
India emerged as a major buyer of discounted Russian oil after the start of Russia-Ukraine war, which helped the country to manage its import bill and inflation.Indian government also took a neutral stance on the war in Ukraine, a move that has been carefully watched by both Russia and the West.
US has not yet responded to Maria Zakharova’s comments on US aiming to meddle in the India’s Lok Sabha election 2024.
