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The Wire Columnist Ajai Shukla Publishes Fake Report On US Drone Sale To India Linking It To Pannun “Assassination Conspiracy”, Lies Busted By US State Dept

February 1, 2024
The Commune

Leftist pro-Congress propaganda news outlet The Wire, has once again garnered attention for its involvement in propagating false information. This time, it was exposed for disseminating false information concerning the anticipated US Drone deal. Ironically, this fake news was later copied by Pakistani outlets like Pakistan Today and presented as newsworthy. This situation raises significant concerns.

In their defence segment, they presented a narrative titled “US Halts $3-Billion Drone Sale to India Thorough Pending Comprehensive Investigation of Pannun Assassination Conspiracy.” Referring to a Washington source, the story repeatedly underscored the call for a meaningful investigation into the US-based Khalistani terrorist Pannun “assassination conspiracy”, suggesting that the US, dissatisfied with the situation, is postponing the delivery of 31 MQ-9A Sea Guardian and Sky Guardian drones to India. The narrative propagated the idea that the delay is linked to concerns among US lawmakers, especially those of Indian-American descent, who are troubled by the “assassination” plot and the indictment of Nikhil Gupta. Gupta was charged with conspiring to kill Pannun. The story highlighted Indian-American lawmakers’ insistence on a thorough investigation by India to hold those responsible accountable and prevent potential harm to the US-India partnership. Additionally, it reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi downplayed the impact on Indo-US ties, emphasizing robust bipartisan support for the relationship. Their narrative seemed aimed at appeasing and satisfying unknown entities opined critics.

Ironically, this article was written by Col Ajai Shukla who was associated with NDTV and is known for his conspiracy theories. The most famous one among them was the one where he claimed that the Pulwama attacks were orchestrated by Pakistan Army and ISI with the aim of securing Modi’s re-election. He alleged that the perpetrators believed that a continued Modi leadership would strategically weaken India, thereby strengthening the position of the Pakistan Army within its own borders.

The Hindustan Times reported that the US State Department has informed General Atomics, the manufacturer of Predator Drones, that the US Congress has approved the ‘tiered review’ of the proposed sale of 31 MQ9B drones to India. General Atomics has conveyed this information to the Indian Government, including the national security establishment. Verification from sources in Washington confirms the impending notification for the sale of 31 MQ9B Predator armed drones to India. Among these drones, the Indian Navy is set to receive 15, while the Indian Army and Indian Air Force are each slated to acquire eight high-altitude, long-endurance drones from the US.

US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller stated, “Generally, the US-India Defence Partnership has seen significant growth over the past decade. The drone deal is a proposed sale that was announced during Prime Minister Modi’s visit last year. We believe it offers significant potential to further advance strategic technology cooperation with India and military cooperation in the region. Congress plays an important role in the US arms transfer process. We routinely consult with the members of Congress on the Foreign Affairs Committees before our formal notification so we can address questions that they might have.”

Responding to the India-US drone deal Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said,“This specific issue pertains to the United States. They have established internal procedures, and we acknowledge and respect that.”

MQ-9B SeaGuardian

The MQ-9B SeaGuardian is a drone designed with a focus on maritime applications created by General Atomics, this drone has the capability to operate through satellite connectivity for more than 30 hours, regardless of diverse weather conditions. The drone is engineered to “safely integrate into civil airspace, enabling to deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the maritime domain day or night.” Equipped with features such as an integrated wide-area maritime radar, an automatic identification system, electronic support measures, and a self-contained anti-submarine warfare kit, the drone is designed to provide comprehensive capabilities in maritime environments.

The Indian Navy currently operates two unarmed Predator drones leased from the US at the Rajali air base in Tamil Nadu. These drones have notably bolstered Indian maritime domain awareness, particularly in dealing with challenges like Houthi missiles and Somali Pirates in the Red Sea.

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