Allegations an Indian national conspired to murder an American-Canadian citizen – Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun – will be examined, but “a few incidents” cannot derail ties between India and the United States, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Tuesday, in his first public remarks since US federal prosecutors last month announced murder-for-hire charges against Nikhil Gupta.

“If someone gives us any information, we will definitely look into it,” the Prime Minister told the Financial Times, “If a citizen of ours has done anything, good or bad, we are ready to look into it. Our commitment is to the rule of law.”

“There is, however, also strong bipartisan support for the strengthening of the India-US relationship, which is a clear indicator of a mature and stable partnership,” the Prime Minister told the British daily, which was the first to break news of Mr Gupta being charged, based on information from its sources..

The Prime Minister – a frequent visitor to the US since 2014, most recently a State visit in June – flagged “security and cooperation in counter-terrorism” as key parts of that partnership, and said, “I don’t think it is appropriate to link a few incidents with diplomatic relations between the two countries.”

US authorities had said Nikhil Gupta, 52, and an Indian government employee – code-named CC-1 – exchanged a series of telephonic and electronic communications starting May, in which the latter asked the former to plan the murder.

READ | Who Is Nikhil Gupta, Man Charged In Failed Plot To Kill Khalistan Terrorist

In return, he was promised assistance in dropping a criminal case against him in India. The two also met in person, in Delhi, US prosecutors said. Mr Gupta is accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill Pannun, but that individual turned out to be an undercover American federal agent.

He faces a 20-year jail term if convicted of the murder-for-hire and conspiracy charges. The US has also accused an Indian government employee, whose identity has been withheld at this time.

Responding to the charges, the Foreign Ministry had said “India takes such inputs seriously since they impinge on our national security interests… the relevant departments are already examining the issue.” A high-level inquiry committee has been established, the government said.

The White House has called on New Delhi to hold those involved accountable. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States “looks forward to the results” of the Indian government’s inquiry.

Mr Gupta, held in a Czech prison pending extradition to the US, moved the Supreme Court in India last week, claiming his religious and human rights were violated. The court refused immediate relief, and told the petitioner to file a copy with the government before setting the next date for January 4.

READ | “Approach Czech Court”: Supreme Court On Indian Arrested In US Murder Plot

Meanwhile, this case has prompted renewed scrutiny of allegations made by Canada – Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government said it had “credible allegations” that an Indian government official was involved in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani terrorist and Canadian citizen, in June.

READ | India Must Take “Canada’s Allegations Seriously”: Trudeau After US Case

Last month, after the US’ charges were revealed, Mr Trudeau told reporters it “… underscores what we’ve been talking about from the beginning, which is that India needs to take this seriously.”

India has rubbished Canada’s claims as “motivated” and “absurd”, and told Ottawa “this is not the Government of India’s policy”. It has also pointed out that no concrete evidence has been shared so far.

NDTV is now available on WhatsApp channels. Click on the link to get all the latest updates from NDTV on your chat.

Amid the row over a Trinamool MP’s mimicry of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Rajya Sabha MPs belonging to the BJP and its allies today staged a unique protest to show solidarity with the Vice-President. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said NDA members would stand in the House for an hour to express support to Mr Dhankhar, Vice-President and Rajya Sabha Chairman. 

“We strongly condemn this. There are crossing all limits. They are repeatedly insulting people on constitutional posts. They have been insulting the Prime Minister for 20 years because he comes from a humble background and the OBC community. They insulted the President because she is a tribal woman. You are a farmer’s son. For the first time, someone from the Jat community became Vice-President. They have insulted this post. We are making it clear, we will not tolerate the insult of the Vice-President and the Constitution,” Mr Joshi said. 

“So, in your honour and to protest against them, we will stand and participate in the question and answer session,” he added. 

A video of Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee mimicking the Vice-President on Parliament premises has raised a political storm. Mr Banerjee is among the 141 Opposition MPs suspended for demanding a statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the Parliament security breach last week. Yesterday, while protesting near Makar Dwar to the new Parliament building, the Serampore MP started mimicking the Vice-President. Other MPs were seen laughing as Mr Banerjee imitated Mr Dhankhar’s gestures. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen filming the act.

Soon after, Mr Dhankhar said in Rajya Sabha that he had seen the video and was “deeply pained”. Addressing senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, he said, “Imagine what I felt when a senior leader of your party, an MP, was filming an act making fun of me, a personal attack.”

“This is not just the insult of a farmer or a community, it’s disrespect to the post of Rajya Sabha chairman. And that too by a party that ruled the country for so long,” he said. 

The Congress’s official Instagram handle, he said, had posted the video, but later took it down. “This is shameful. You used an official handle to humiliate me for my farmer background, to humiliate me as a Jat, to humiliate my position. This is very serious,” Mr Dhankhar said.

The BJP, under fire for the unprecedented suspension spree of Opposition MPs, used the mimicry video to hit back. Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Piyush Goyal, and the party’s official X handle, termed Mr Banerjee’s mimicry a “contemptible act”.

“If the country was wondering why opposition MPs were suspended, here is the reason… TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee mocked Honourable Vice President, while Rahul Gandhi lustily cheered him on. One can imagine how reckless and violative they have been of the House!” the BJP’s official handle posted.

Sharing a video showing Mr Gandhi recording Mr Banerjee’s mimicry, Mr Goyal posted, “For the record – Congress supports those who RIDICULE a constitutional position!”

A day after a Trinamool MP’s mimicry raised a political storm, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar said he doesn’t care if he is insulted as an individual, but won’t tolerate the insult of Vice-President’s office. Without naming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he questioned the sanskaar (values) of those who filmed and amplified Trinamool Congress Kalyan Banerjee’s mimicry on Parliament premises yesterday.

Addressing Congress MP Digvijaya Singh in Rajya Sabha, Mr Dhankhar questioned the “silence” of top Congress leaders on the episode. “You say your party is 138 years old. Your silence is ringing in my ears. (Congress chief Mallikarjun) Kharge ji’s silence in ringing in my ears. Everyone knows what is happening,” he said.

“…I don’t care about how much you insult Jagdeep Dhankhar. But I can’t tolerate (insult of) Vice President of India, farmers community, my community… I will not tolerate that I could not protect the dignity of my post, it is my duty to protect the dignity of this House..,”… pic.twitter.com/vLxUAtw6VG

— ANI (@ANI) December 20, 2023

“A person derives fun (from the mimicry) by videographing it, amplifies it. These are the manners? The level is so low now?” he added.

The Rajya Sabha Chairman said he doesn’t care if he insulted. “But the office of the Vice-President, the farmers’ community, my community… I will sacrifice… I tolerate if someone insults me. Khoon ke ghoont pita hoon, but I will not tolerate if I feel that I could not protect the decorum of this position,” he said. ‘Khoon ke ghunt pee kar reha jana’ is a proverb that means suffering grief silently.

Mr Dhankhar made the remarks amid sloganeering by the BJP MPs, who stood in Rajya Sabha for an hour this morning as a show of support to the Vice-President.

Mr Banerjee’s act of mimicry was caught on camera yesterday during a protest by suspended Opposition MPs at Makar Dwar – one of the entry points to the new Parliament building. Mr Gandhi filmed the act.

The Trinamool MP has said he had no intention to hurt anyone and termed mimicry an art. Mr Banerjee as also said Prime Minister Modi had mimicked Opposition leaders inside the parliament. He has also said he was not a Rajya Sabha member and did not know how Mr Dhankhar held proceedings in the Upper House.

The Vice-President yesterday said he was “deeply pained” by the episode and that it was an insult to his farmer family background and the Jat community he comes from. Several Jat organisations have protested against Mr Banerjee’s act, saying it amounted to insulting the community.