New Delhi: Ajit Doval, India’s National Security Advisor, was not part of the team that accompanied Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent meeting with US President Joe Biden in Delaware.

Doval’s absence from the official list of Indian delegates has raised questions, as he usually joins the prime minister in such important meetings.

President Biden was accompanied by his own National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, as well as Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti.

On the Indian side, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, India’s Ambassador to the US Vinay Kwatra, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri were present, but Doval’s name was missing from the list provided by the White House.

Doval’s absence coincides with a conspiracy lawsuit filed against him and other Indian officials by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a Canadian-American leader of the Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice.

Pannun claims that Indian officials, including Doval, conspired to assassinate him.

The lawsuit, filed in a US court, also names former RAW chief Samant Goel, intelligence agent Vikram Yadav, and businessman Nikhil Gupta.

The Government of India has rejected the lawsuit, calling it “unwarranted” and highlighting Pannun’s extremist background.

According to sources in New Delhi, Doval did not travel to the US because he was busy with the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, rather than due to the lawsuit.

Although no official explanation has been given, Doval’s absence has drawn attention, with many wondering why he was not part of this important meeting, especially given his usual role in India’s national security and diplomatic efforts.

Source: Deccan Herald