US President Joe Biden backed out earlier following diplomatic ructions over an alleged Indian plot to kill a Sikh separatist within the United States.

The Sikh Federation, the most important group of Sikhs in Britain, accused India of “transnational repression”, particularly the “targeting” of Sikh activists in its diaspora.

The group stated it had written to Macron urging him to “pull out” of India’s Republic Day festivities “or raise concerns directly with Narendra Modi when he sees him”.

The US Justice Department in November charged an Indian citizen with plotting the killing, alleging that an Indian authorities official was concerned within the planning.

Canada additionally had a serious diplomatic spat with  India after Canadian chief Justin Trudeau in September linked New Delhi to the June killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, additionally a Sikh separatist activist.

The British Sikh group wished to “show solidarity” with the US and Canadian governments and “send a strong signal” to Modi that India “must come clean and cooperate with the ongoing investigations by law enforcement agencies,” stated the federation’s principal adviser, Dabinderjit Singh.

The US Justice Department says the person allegedly focused on US soil was a vocal critic of the Indian authorities and leads a US-based organisation that advocates for the secession of Punjab, a northern Indian state with a big inhabitants of Sikhs.

Modi stated in December that India would examine any proof supplied relating to the alleged plot.

India’s Republic Day marks the adoption of the nation’s post-independence structure.

The parade is a extremely choreographed cultural and navy spectacle of tanks, fighter jets, motorcycle stunts, and conventional dances from totally different components of the nation.

India shares shut ties with France, which has develop into a key navy provider.

Modi was Macron’s visitor of honour at France’s annual Bastille Day celebrations in July final yr.

pdh/phz/tw