Indian-American members of the US Congress on Friday said it is critical that India fully investigate the alleged plot to murder a Khalistani separatist on US soil and hold accountable all involved including Indian government officials, warning that failure to do so could cause “significant damage’’ to the India-US partnership.

The five Indian-American legislators said this in a joint statement after being provided a classified briefing by the Joe Biden administration on the “indictment of Nikhil Gupta in connection with a foiled plot to assassinate a US citizen in New York City’’ who has been identified as Sikhs for Justice head Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

“We appreciate the administration providing us a classified briefing on the Department of Justice’s indictment of Nikhil Gupta, which alleges that an Indian government official engaged in a murder-for-hire plot of an American citizen. As Members of Congress, the safety and well-being of our constituents is our most important priority. The allegations made in the indictment are deeply concerning,’’ Ami Bera, Premila Jayapal, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Shri Thanedar said in the joint statement.

While Bera and Khanna represent different Congressional districts in California, Jayapal represents one in Washington, Krishnamoorthi in Illinois and Thanedar in Michigan.

Welcoming India’s decision to set up a Committee of Enquiry to investigate the plot, the five legislators added: “It is critical that India fully investigate, hold those responsible, including Indian government officials, accountable, and provide assurances that this will not happen again.’’

All are votaries of the US-India partnership but have concerns that “the actions outlined in the indictment could, if not appropriately addressed, cause significant damage to this very consequential partnership’’.

The Indian-American legislators were briefed over a fortnight after the US department of justice unsealed the indictment in the foiled murder plot that is linked to a larger conspiracy to take out Khalistani separatists across North America, including Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had earlier alleged an Indian government hand in the killing of Nijjar in British Columbia in June this year.