India Condemns Khalistani Terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun’s Remarks Targeting NSA, R&AW Chief

India on Tuesday described the US midterm elections as an internal matter of the United States.

While reiterating that bilateral relations between the two countries continue to enjoy strong bipartisan backing in Washington. The remarks came after the Democratic Party registered victories in both chambers of the US Congress, dealing a setback to President Donald Trump and his Republican Party.

Responding to questions about the election results, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India would not comment on the domestic political developments in the US. However, he emphasised that New Delhi remains committed to strengthening its strategic partnership with Washington.

“The midterm elections are an internal matter of the US. I have no specific comment on them, beyond underlining that the India-United States relationship enjoys strong bipartisan support in the US. We continue to work to further strengthen our Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership with the US,” Jaiswal said.

Democrats’ Victory Deals Setback To Trump

The election results, held midway through Trump’s presidential term, have emerged as a major political challenge for the Republican administration, with Democrats securing control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The midterm polls were widely viewed as a test of public support for Trump’s second-term policies. The outcome comes against the backdrop of growing disagreements between India and the US over trade tariffs, immigration restrictions, deportations, visa policies and Washington’s engagement with Pakistan’s military establishment.

India Criticises USCIRF Over Religious Freedom Remarks

During the briefing, Jaiswal also strongly criticised the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) over its recent comments concerning religious freedom in India.

Calling the organisation biased and politically motivated, he said its statements lacked credibility. He also accused the commission of overlooking incidents involving attacks on religious institutions in the US and hate crimes and racial discrimination against members of the Indian community.

The MEA spokesperson said, “As I have said before, the USCIRF is a biased and ill-informed organisation with a blatantly political agenda. It is particularly telling that the USCIRF and its Commissioners have consistently chosen to remain silent on attacks on religious places in the US and on the hate crimes and racial abuse targeted at the Indian community in the US. A prejudiced entity can hardly be taken seriously.”

In a recent post on X, USCIRF had cited concerns raised by its Commissioners David Anderson and Joe Grogan regarding reported attacks on Sikh gurdwaras and other places of worship in India.

Anderson called on the US government to link security assistance to India’s response to violence affecting religious freedom. Grogan, meanwhile, urged Washington to press New Delhi to ensure accountability for attacks on churches, gurdwaras and mosques.

India Defends Hiring US Lobbying Firms

The MEA also addressed questions about India’s engagement with lobbying companies in Washington amid strained bilateral relations.

According to a report published by The Indian Express on November 7, filings under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) showed that lobbying firm SHW Partners LLC had facilitated eight telephone conversations between Indian officials and senior White House representatives during May and June 2026.

Responding to the report, Jaiswal said hiring lobbying firms to facilitate diplomatic engagement was an established practice and not unusual. He clarified that India’s diplomatic missions have been working with lobbying companies in Washington since 1948.

He added that such activities are conducted in accordance with American laws, including FARA, which requires foreign agents to publicly disclose their activities.

India Rejects Pannun’s Lawsuit Against Senior Officials

The MEA spokesperson also dismissed a civil lawsuit filed in the US by Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun against Indian officials, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief Samant Goel.

The development follows an order by the US District Court for the Southern District of New York allowing Pannun to pursue service of summons on the two officials through Indian courts.

Rejecting the allegations, Jaiswal described the lawsuit as frivolous and the claims against senior Indian officials as fabricated and malicious.

He said, “We reject the fabricated and malicious attacks on our high officials. Also, we reject the frivolous lawsuits. A request for the service of judicial documents in India can only be routed through India’s designated central authority, which is the Ministry of Law and Justice.”

The MEA’s response comes at a time when India and the US are seeking to maintain diplomatic engagement despite differences over trade, immigration, security and other bilateral issues.