ੴਸ੍ਰੀਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂਜੀਕੀਫਤਹ॥
ਇਨਗ੍ਰੀਬਸਿੰਘਨਕੋਦੇਊਂਪਤਿਸ਼ਾਹੀ।
ਇਹਯਾਦਕਰੈਂਹਮਰੀਗੁਰਿਆਈ।
14 Maagh, Nanakshahi 552 January 27, 2021 CE
Re: Ongoing Indian Foreign Interference and Social Media Censorship
In another example of Indian foreign interference and the collusion of Western corporations and governments, Twitter suspended the accounts of numerous Sikh organizations and activists on the night of January 26, 2021.
After suspending several Punjab-based organizations and activists in the morning, Twitter followed up by censoring several accounts associated with SIkh organizations based around the world later in the day.
The following accounts were recently suspended:
@anandpur.exile-Bhai Shamsher Singh (www.instagram.com/anandpur_exile)
@khalistancentre - Khalistan Centre (www.khalistan.org)
@panth_punjab - Panth-Punjab Project (www.panthpunjab.org)
@sikhliberation - Sikh Liberation Front (www.instagram.com/sikhliberationfront)
@thensyf - National Sikh Youth Federation (www.nsyf.org.uk)
These suspensions follow a pattern of Indian foreign interference around the world, and an increasing trend of social media censorship against Sikh voices. Indian agencies specifically targeted Panthic organizations and pressured Twitter to suspend these accounts as it seeks to silence and repress Sikh dissent.
Twitter’s collusion with the fascist Indian state, has done irreparable harm on a day where hundreds of thousands marched on Delhi in defiance of the state’s violent policies. Rather than engage with the grievances and demands of protestors, media coverage has directly engaged in a disinformation campaign to justify state violence.
Over the course of the day, accounts suspended range from major media outlets, grassroots organizations, academic forums, blogs, prominent journalists and panthic personalities. These are crucial sources countless people depend upon for independent reporting from the ground and reliable panthic analysis.
By censoring Sikh voices, Twitter has directly contributed to the silencing and repression of Sikh dissent.
India’s tactic to isolate Sikh activists by appealing to nationalism and manufacturing claims of Sikh “extremism” is a consistent pattern legitimizing genocidal violence and police repression. The Indian establishment seeks to demonize Khalistan and Sikh political activism, and enforces this by criminalizing any expressions of Sikh sovereignty. We must avoid their trap by rejecting their labels altogether and celebrating our resistance.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Engage with the work these organizations and individuals do to learn why the state considers them dangerous and has targeted them for repression.
Resist the state and mainstream media’s narrative which demonizes and criminalizes Khalistan and Sikh dissent as “extremism” or “terrorism”-- celebrate Sikh resistance.
Educate yourself on how India represses dissent and violates human rights under the banner of “nationalism.”
RESOURCES
Criminalizing Dissent: Repression of Sikhs in Indian-Occupied Punjab
(Southall: National Sikh Youth Federation, and Sikh Liberation Front, 2018)
Jang Hind Punjab: From Dilli Chalo to Liberation (Surrey: Khalistan Centre, 2021)
Siege of Delhi discussion series
Who Speaks for Khalistan: Narrating Sikh Liberation (Surrey: Khalistan Centre, 2020)
For further inquiries, please contact fateh@khalistan.org.