Contract killing: Friend or foe, no compromise on criminal activity, says US Ambassador Garcetti | India News

In an exclusive interview with TOIThe US ambassador says there is too much at stake for both countries to not properly address this issue. He also says that while the US is happy with the progress so far in the investigation against India, Washington will ultimately only be satisfied if accountability is ensured.

A few days after US authorities filed charges against a former Indian government official, Vikash YadavUS Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti told TOI in an exclusive conversation about his alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire plot. While American authorities are pleased with the progress in India’s investigation into the case, Washington will ultimately only be satisfied if accountability is achieved. He said the US wants the culprits to be held accountable, not just assurances that the crime will not be repeated in the future.
Garcetti said there is no way for the U.S. to compromise on criminal activity, whether from an enemy or a close friend. He did not comment on whether the US would pursue Yadav’s extradition, saying extradition could only take place after his arrest. The ambassador also said there is too much at stake for India and the US to not properly address this case. When asked about the impunity that Khalistan separatists enjoy in Canada and the threats they pose from U.S. soil, Garcetti said the U.S. takes real threats seriously, citing strong cooperation with India as an example the fight against terrorism Tahawwur RanaHe said India and the US had set up an “open” extradition case against the Mumbai attacks accused.
“We said two things from the start. This type of behavior is unacceptable from country to country. Certainly unacceptable to us Americans. This is a red line that comes from an enemy or a closest friend. “It is our first responsibility, regardless of who they are or what they say, to draw the line that contract killing is illegal, as it is in every country,” Garcetti said.
“Secondly, we want accountability. Not only say it won’t happen again in the future, but also say those who were involved will be held accountable. That’s what our prosecutors are focusing on. Our prosecutors are 100 percent apolitical. They exist in a different universe,” he added.
While expressing satisfaction with the work done so far by India’s Commission of Inquiry, the ambassador said the US expects India to take criminal responsibility for anyone who violates the law. “We are very pleased that a commission of inquiry has been set up. The Commission goes through a formal process, as we do in dozens of cases at any given time. Every day the United States and India formally request evidence, conduct joint investigations, and make arrests and extraditions. “We expect the same thing here,” Garcetti said.
During the Indian Commission of Inquiry’s recent visit to the US, the Ambassador said that there were good, in-depth discussions and exchange of information in Washington. “We got good feedback from the Indian committee. Our law enforcement agencies were happy to share this. But ultimately I think the people of Washington won’t be satisfied until accountability is achieved. Our prosecutors have presented evidence that warrants criminal charges, and the evidence can and will be properly passed on to the Indian investigation, and I assume that the Indian system, like the American system, knows that contract killings are and will be illegal hold people accountable,” the ambassador said.
Garcetti did not predict whether U.S. authorities would seek Yadav’s extradition, but when asked whether the U.S. expects India to capture him, Garcetti reiterated that American authorities expect accountability. “And that can probably happen in more ways than one. Without accountability, justice will not be served. “I cannot speak about this person’s criminal activities here in India, but prosecutors in the US clearly believe that he was involved in a criminal conspiracy in America,” he said.
Asked whether this issue could have a negative impact on India-US relations amid speculation that the American authorities may be colluding with the Canadians, the ambassador said: “There is too much at stake in our relationship, so that we couldn’t understand it. “Right”.
“We cannot under any circumstances jeopardize criminal activity and the core values ​​that contract killing is illegal and that crossing borders for international assassinations is against the law. The first responsibility of every country is to defend the rights of its people, be it freedom of expression or the right not to be killed. But there’s too much at stake not to get it right. I’m optimistic that we can do this. We work together, even the most difficult conversations take place. “I am confident that India and America can get it right, but it will not be easy,” he said.
When asked about India’s concerns about the impunity enjoyed by Khalistan separatists in Canada, or that Pannun might make threats against India from US soil, and how the US could get India to address some of these issues The Ambassador called for close cooperation in counter-terrorism between the two countries and cited as an example how they handled the case of the Mumbai attacks, the accused Tahawwur Rana.
“I am very proud of the work we are doing together in the fight against terrorism. We always tell our Indian friends to focus on crime. And when we focus on crime rather than opinions, we can see progress. If an Indian consulate is attacked, we initiate a criminal investigation. We take the security of Indian diplomats very seriously. We take acts of terrorism – not words, but actions – incredibly seriously. And threats against people’s lives are a crime in the USA. No one is protected from such crimes in the United States. In the Tahawwur Rana case, for example, we did everything right. We have worked closely together and this can lead to victory against terrorism for both India and the US as friends. “We will continue to take real threats seriously,” Garcetti said.
On the question of whether Rana could be extradited soon, he said there was only one step left: appeal to the Supreme Court. “I’ll leave it to the legal experts, but everyone says it’s valid, done right and it would be very surprising if he appealed again. And by the way, this appeal is not a guarantee of anything. So far, every court has upheld the work that India and the US are doing together on this extradition,” he said.
Regarding the allegations against Yadav, Garcetti also said that in the American system, a politician or even the White House doesn’t pick up the phone and ask the prosecutor to file charges or not. “This is an independent decision based on prosecutors’ belief in the evidence,” he said.
Asked about India’s recent diplomatic spat with Canada over the “expulsion” of India’s high commissioner, Garcetti described both as close friends and partners of the United States and expressed hope that they could reach an agreement. “It’s really something between India and Canada. I would hope that an understanding can be achieved. Justice is justice. That should be clear. “I think that these are countries that constantly cooperate on criminal justice issues and I hope that this can be achieved even in difficult times,” he said.