- Protests erupted in four countries- United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia, against India and the action taken against Singh’s group Waris Punjab De.
- The Indian government issued a tough response to the US over the recent anti-India protests, The US further said that it would ensure that such incidents don’t take place in the future.
- The protests across all four countries were marred with acts of violence and vandalism, and the governments have planned strict action against those who organized these coordinated anti-India protests.
- Several Twitter accounts have been withheld in India which includes the accounts of Canadian politician Jagmeet Singh, poet Rupi Kaur, voluntary organisation United Sikhs, MP from Sangrur Simranjit Singh Mann and at least three prominent Punjab-based journalists.
As Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh still remains absconding, protests erupted in four countries against India and the action taken against Singh’s group Waris Punjab De. The Punjab Police has organized a massive manhunt against his outfit. However, the action against Amritpal Singh and his supporters has prompted massive protests in as many as four countries.
What seemed like coordinated protests and outrage could be seen in four countries – United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia as Punjab continues its crackdown against Amritpal Singh and pro-Khalistan outfits in the state. Anti-India slogans were raised and the Indian consulate in San Francisco was vandalised by pro-Khalistan supporters in the US, with a major threat being posed to the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, the Indian government issued a tough response to the US over the recent anti-India protests, as the Indian embassy in Washington “conveyed its concerns to the US State Department along similar lines”. The US further said that it would ensure that such incidents don’t take place in the future. Similar instances were seen in Australia, Canada, and the UK, as protestors surrounded Indian consulates in certain areas and raised slogans in support of Amritpal. High drama erupted at the Indian High Commission in the UK, as Amritpal’s supporters pulled down the Indian tricolor from the building. The protests across all four countries were marred with acts of violence and vandalism, and the governments have planned strict action against those who organized these coordinated anti-India protests.
Amritpal has many charges filed against him, while the crackdown commences soon after Singh and his supporters stormed the Ajnala Police Station with swords and other weapons, demanding the release of his close aide and preacher Toofan Singh.
Amid the crackdown on Amritpal Singh and his organisation Waris Punjab De and the internet ban in Punjab, several Twitter accounts have been withheld in India. The withheld accounts include the Twitter accounts of Canadian politician Jagmeet Singh, poet Rupi Kaur, voluntary organisation United Sikhs, MP from Sangrur Simranjit Singh Mann and at least three prominent Punjab-based journalists.
The reasons for withholding their accounts aren’t clear. Both Kamaldeep Brar and Gagandeep Singh are senior journalists who have been closely covering the developments around Amritpal Singh. They were posting timely updates on this story on their Twitter accounts. Simranjit Singh Mann is known to support Amritpal Singh and has frequently shared a stage with him. Like Amritpal Singh, Mann is also pro-Khalistan and he maintains that he has the constitutional right to advocate for it using peaceful means.
Accounts of advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur have been withheld on both Twitter and Facebook. Manjhpur has been fighting several cases of detainees in India. Journalist Jagdeep Singh Thali’s Facebook page is also said to have been taken down. The Twitter account of Canada-based journalist Gurpreet Singh Sahota, activist Bhavjit Singh who was part of the farmers protest and news portal Anandpur Times have also been blocked. The Twitter account of US-based anti-Hindutva author Pieter Friedrich has also been withdrawn in India, apparently after he tweeted about Amritpal Singh.
