Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met a bipartisan US Congressional delegation on September 29, 2024, and formally conveyed India's concerns about the implications of the Safeguarding Republicans from Indian Aggression (SRIA) Act. The MEA confirmed the meeting, noting Misri communicated India's position directly to American lawmakers. The SRIA, introduced in the US Congress, targets Indian officials allegedly linked to a purported plot against Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil.

The SRIA (Safeguarding Republicans from Indian Aggression Act) is a proposed US Congressional legislation introduced in the context of allegations that Indian government agents were involved in a plot to assassinate Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a US citizen and Khalistani separatist, on American soil. The US Department of Justice indicted an Indian national in connection with this alleged plot in 2023.

The SRIA would impose sanctions and visa restrictions on Indian officials deemed responsible. India has consistently denied state involvement and called the allegations a matter of serious concern affecting bilateral ties.

This episode sits at the intersection of several key themes in India's foreign policy:
1. **India-US Strategic Partnership**: Despite strong defence, trade, and technology ties — underpinned by frameworks like iCET (Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology) and the Quad — both nations are navigating a diplomatic friction point involving sovereignty, extraterritorial jurisdiction, and counterterrorism definitions.
2. **Khalistan Issue**: Canada-India and now US-India relations have been strained by Western governments' concerns over alleged Indian intelligence operations targeting Khalistani activists abroad. India views Khalistani groups as terrorist organisations; Western governments treat several as legally operating political movements.
3. **Parliamentary Diplomacy**: The Foreign Secretary's direct engagement with a bipartisan Congressional delegation — not just the executive branch — signals India's awareness that US legislative actions can independently constrain bilateral relations, bypassing presidential diplomacy.

For UPSC aspirants, this event tests understanding of India's foreign policy doctrine (strategic autonomy), India-US relations architecture, and the diplomatic instruments India deploys when facing legislative pressure from partner nations.