• Source:JND
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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday responded to threats made by Khalistani terrorist and Sikhs for Justice chief Gurpatwant Singh Pannun to attack Parliament on or before December 13, saying that the ministry does not want to give much credence to extremists who make such threats and added that the Canadian and the United States authorities had been apprised over the matter.

"We are caught in a bind here. I do not want to amplify or give too much credence to such extremists, who make threats and get a lot of coverage. On the other hand, we take this seriously and in this particular matter, we know we have taken up the matter with the US and Canadian authorities,” Bagchi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. 

This comes after Khalistani terrorist Pannun reportedly threatened to attack India’s Parliament on or before December 13, on the anniversary of the 2001 Parliament attack that left many people killed. 

On the prosecution of the  Sikhs for Justice chief, the MEA spokesperson said that he is wanted by the Indian agencies for the violation of law. "He is wanted by our agencies for violation of the law and there is a process under which we seek assistance and that they are prosecuted, depending on whether the crime is committed,” the MEA spokesperson said. 

“In our case, I think requests have gone through detailing the kind of crimes that he is responsible for, in India...We have also flagged concerns to our partners regarding any threats made by extremists or terrorists against India or Indian diplomats," he added.

Meanwhile, India is currently probing the allegations of a foiled plot to murder Pannun in the US that involved an Indian government official. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said that it is a ‘matter of concern’ and India has launched a high-level probe into the matter. 

India’s stance comes after the US Justice Department charged an Indian national identified as 52-year-old Nikhil Gupta, for his involvement in an alleged murder plot against Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. However, India, in response, said that the allegations by the US are a "matter of concern" and "contrary to government policy".