NEW YORK — The Sikh Federation America has issued a strong rebuke of Indian state operations on foreign soil following the recent guilty plea of Nikhil Gupta in a Manhattan federal court. Gupta admitted to participating in a murder-for-hire conspiracy targeting Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a U.S.-based Sikh dissident and general counsel for Sikhs for Justice.
The organization characterized the plea as a “grave and unprecedented moment for the freedom of expression, international law, and the Sikh struggle for an independent homeland, Khalistan.”
A Pattern of Transnational Repression
According to federal prosecutors, Gupta was recruited by an Indian government employee—identified in reports as intelligence officer Vikash Yadav—to orchestrate the assassination of Pannun on U.S. soil. The indictment alleges that Yadav promised to dismiss criminal charges against Gupta in India in exchange for arranging the killing.
The Sikh Federation America emphasizes that this plot is not an anomaly but rather evidence of a systematic “blueprint of state-directed transnational repression.” The organization pointed to evidence released by the Department of Justice linking the same Indian official to the June 2023 assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
“The global dimensions of this case are noteworthy,” the Federation stated. “This coordination across borders reflects the blueprint of state-directed transnational repression which raises profound concerns about respect for the rule of law and universal human rights in countries such as the United States and Canada.”
The group argues that the communications shared by Indian agents—which included video footage of Nijjar’s body and references to additional targets—indicate a “larger coordinated campaign against Sikh dissidents in the diaspora.”
Calls for Accountability Beyond Intermediaries
While acknowledging Gupta’s guilty plea, the Sikh Federation America insists that the legal process must not stop at the operational level. They assert that “meaningful justice cannot end with an intermediary” and are calling for the prosecution of the officials who directed the violence.
“Without transparency regarding command responsibility and consequences for those who directed and supervised the operation, justice remains elusive,” the statement read.
The organization warned that failure to punish the architects of these plots would set a dangerous precedent. “If transnational targeting of minorities on American soil is met with limited consequences, the precedent set will be dangerous not only for Sikhs but for vulnerable communities everywhere.”
Illustration used for representational purpose only
USCIRF Recommendations and Human Rights Concerns
The Sikh Federation America’s statement also highlighted the broader context of deteriorating religious freedom in India, citing the 2025 Annual Report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). The report documents escalating hate speech, the demolition of minority places of worship, and the use of anti-terror laws to suppress civil society.
Crucially, the Federation noted that USCIRF has formally recommended that the U.S. designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” and impose targeted sanctions on entities like India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and individuals such as Vikash Yadav.
“These recommendations underscore that the issue extends beyond a single criminal proceeding and implicates broader institutional accountability,” the Federation stated.
Demanding a Diplomatic Voice
In light of these events, the Sikh Federation America is calling on the United States to prioritize the protection of minority communities and review intelligence cooperation with India where “credible abuse is shown.”
Furthermore, they argue that the Sikh community must be directly involved in future diplomatic resolutions.
“As Sikhs are a directly affected party, India’s violent crimes cannot be addressed solely between the US and India,” the release concluded. “It is imperative that Sikh representatives are party to any diplomatic discussion around the current issue in order to find a lasting political solution to the ongoing persecution of Sikh dissidents