'We don't involve ourselves in elections': US rejects Russia's allegation of interference in Lok Sabha polls

After Russia said the United States is working to destabilise India during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the US has said it does not involve itself in elections.

Refuting Russia’s charge, the US said that that the Indians elections are for the Indian people to decide.

“No, of course, we don’t involve ourselves in elections in India as we don’t involve ourselves in elections anywhere in the world. Those are decisions for the people of India to make,” sad US Department of State Spokesperson Matthew Miller on Thursday, as per PTI.

Earlier this week, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova charged the US with accusing India and other countries “groundlessly” with the intention to interfere in elections.

“Regular unfounded accusations by the United States against New Delhi… we see that they groundlessly accuse not only India but also many other states of violating religious freedoms are a reflection of the United States’ misunderstanding of the national mentality, the historical context of the development of the Indian state and disrespect for India as a state,” said Zakharova.

The comments were in the context of a media report related to the alleged plot of kill Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Sing Pannun. The US has alleged that an Indian official, purportedly from the Indian intelligence agency RAW, was involved in the plot to kill Pannun on American soil.

“The reason is that they try to unbalance the internal political situation in India in order to complicate the (ongoing) general parliamentary elections. That is part of meddling into India’s internal affairs,” RT further quoted Zakharova as saying.

Zakharova further said, “The Washington Post, it seems to me, should use the term ‘repressive regime’ and everything you quoted in relation to Washington. It is difficult to imagine a more repressive regime than Washington, both in domestic and international affairs.”

While State Department Spokesperson Miller rejected Zakharova’s accusation, he refrained from commenting on the alleged Pannun plot.

“There is a publicly returned indictment that contains alleged facts. They are allegations until they’re proven before a jury that anyone can go and read. I won’t speak to them here because of course it’s an ongoing legal matter and I’ll leave it at that,” said Miller.