Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose has triggered a political and social media storm after describing the Nikhil Gupta case in the United States as a “global embarrassment” for India, linking it to the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a post on X on February 14, Sagarika Ghose wrote: “HUGE global embarrassment for @narendramodi government. Nikhil Gupta pleads guilty to working with an Indian government employee to murder Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on US soil, in New York. Are encounter killings now being exported from Gujarat to New York? Vishwaguru indeed.” The remark quickly went viral, attracting hundreds of thousands of views and prompting intense debate across political and ideological lines.
The controversy follows the guilty plea of Nikhil Gupta, an Indian national charged by US authorities in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in 2023. According to prosecutors, Gupta attempted to hire a hitman, who later turned out to be an undercover law enforcement officer, and paid an advance for the operation. He has pleaded guilty to charges including conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and money laundering and is awaiting sentencing.
The US Department of Justice has alleged that Gupta was acting in coordination with an individual described as a former Indian government employee. Indian authorities, however, have consistently rejected claims of institutional involvement, maintaining that the individual named in the indictment no longer has any official connection with the government.
The Ministry of External Affairs has reiterated that such actions are contrary to India’s policy and that the matter is being addressed through appropriate legal and diplomatic channels. Officials have stated that the case should not be construed as evidence of state-sponsored activity.
Pannun is the head of Sikhs for Justice, an organisation banned in India under anti-terror laws. Indian agencies have accused the group of promoting separatist activities and attempting to internationalise internal security issues through overseas campaigns.
Remarks of Sagarika Ghose drew strong criticism online, with many users accusing her of politicising a sensitive international case. One user wrote, “Nikhil Gupta pleads guilty… so what is embarrassing? Pannun is a terrorist,” questioning her framing of the issue. Another commented, “Your glee at anything that hurts India’s interest is more embarrassing,” suggesting that her post reflected partisan motivations. A third user compared India’s situation with other countries, arguing that similar actions are routinely carried out by global powers and do not necessarily weaken national standing.
Political observers say the episode highlights the growing influence of social media in shaping public discourse on foreign policy and national security. Statements made by senior political figures like Sagarika Ghose are increasingly amplified beyond domestic audiences, often influencing international perceptions before official investigations and legal processes are completed.
The government has so far not issued any direct response to Ghose’s post, sticking to its earlier position that India does not endorse unlawful activities abroad and that all allegations are being handled through established diplomatic mechanisms.
As the case moves towards sentencing in the United States, the debate around remarks of Sagarika Ghose continues to underline the fine balance between political criticism and institutional responsibility. While scrutiny of the government remains a cornerstone of democratic practice, analysts stress that such criticism must be grounded in verified facts and expressed with due regard for legal processes and diplomatic sensitivities.