Can examine evidence: PM on US 'murder plot' claim

New Delhi: India's commitment is to the rule of law and if someone gives information, it would look into it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the Financial Times in his first comments on the US allegations relating to an Indian link over a foiled plot targeting a Sikh separatist.

In an interview to the British daily, Modi said there is strong bipartisan support for strengthening of IndiaUS relations and it is not appropriate to link a few incidents with diplomatic ties.

"If someone gives us any information, we would definitely look into it," Modi said, according to FT.

"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," he said.

The US federal prosecutors have charged that one Nikhil Gupta was working with an Indian government employee in the foiled plot to kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, who holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada.

India has already constituted a probe committee to investigate allegations. In the interview, Modi said India was "deeply concerned about the activities of certain extremist groups based overseas".

"These elements, under the guise of freedom of expression, have engaged in intimidation and incited violence."

At the same time, Modi said: "There is strong bipartisan support for the strengthening of this relationship, which is a clear indicator of a mature and stable partnership.

"Security and counterterrorism co-operation have been a key component of our partnership," Modi said.

"I don't think it is appropriate to link a few incidents with relations between the two countries," he said.

India-US ties have been on an upswing in an array of areas, including defence, trade, investment, critical technology, energy and climate change.

"We need to accept the fact that we are living in the era of multilateralism," Modi said.

"The world is interconnected as well as interdependent. This reality compels us to recognise that absolute agreement on all matters cannot be a prerequisite for collaboration," he said.

Both sides are now working on an ambitious roadmap for Indo-US collaboration in seven hightechnology areas.

Fielding strong candidate from PM seat discussed at INDIA meet

Fielding a strong joint opposition candidate from Varanasi in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was among the proposals discussed at the fourth meeting of the INDIA bloc, sources said.

In 2014 parliamentary polls, Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal had fought against Modi from Varanasi, and lost by a margin of 3.37 lakh votes. (PTI)