Ties closer, more dynamic than ever: Biden, Modi hold bilateral
US President Joe Biden on Saturday described the India-US relations as “stronger” and “closer” than any time in history. He made the statement after holding bilateral talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived on a three-day US visit for the Quad summit.
On the eve of the visit, top-ranking White House and intelligence officials met a group of American Sikh activists to discuss “issues pertaining to their safety”. A US federal court in New York had recently summoned the Indian Government and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval among others acting on a civil lawsuit filed by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
The Indian community has distinguished itself in the US… Let’s celebrate the bonds that connect our nations! — Narendra Modi, PM
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had dismissed the summons as “unwarranted and unsubstantiated”. The US has accused Indian nationals of trying to assassinate Pannun, who heads the banned Sikhs for Justice.
The 75-minute Modi-Biden meeting at Wilmington (Delaware), the hometown of US President, ended in the wee hours of Sunday (IST). The US President later posted on X: “The US partnership with India is stronger, closer and more dynamic than any time in history.”
“PM Modi, each time we sit down, I'm struck by our ability to find new areas of cooperation. Today was no different,” he said.
The two leaders discussed the bilateral ties with a focus on semi-conductors, space and defence technology. They reviewed the comprehensive global strategic partnership between the two countries that covers almost 50 or more engagements and bilateral dialogue mechanisms. The meeting of the Quad — India US, Japan and Australia — leaders was slated later in the day.
On Saturday, Pritpal Singh, founder of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, posted on X about the US-Sikh community meet at the White House: “Thankful to US officials for their vigilance in protecting Sikh Americans. We will hold them to their assurances to do more in safeguarding our community. Freedom and justice must prevail.”
Pritpal Singh is among seven individuals warned by the FBI regarding a threat to life. His post on X came after news agencies in the US reported about the meeting. The meeting was also attended by representatives of the Sikh Coalition and the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF).
A news agency quoted one of the attendees as saying, “Senior US officials met Sikh advocates on Thursday to discuss threats being faced by Sikhs in the US, including a foiled murder plot against Pannun last year.”
This is the first time that the US National Security Council has held a meeting with Sikh activists, some whom India says are “separatists”.
“The meeting was initiated by the White House,” another news agency said. US Congressman Adam Schiff from California introduced the “Transnational Repression Reporting Act of 2024” on Thursday. This aims to empower Indian Americans to report threats to the FBI.
Schiff said on his website: “My Bill will require a comprehensive report on cases of foreign governments targeting individuals here at home and American citizens abroad”.
SALDEF, that has supported Schiff’s move, posted on X: “Don’t let foreign governments silence our voices”.
The US has been pushing India to investigate the murder plot against Pannun, who holds dual US and Canadian citizenship. The Ministry of Home Ministry has designated Pannun as a terrorist.
In 2023, US prosecutors charged Indian national Nikhil Gupta with a plot to kill at least four Sikh separatists in the US, including Pannun.
