Pro-Khalistani Twitter Accounts withheld in India

New Delhi, India: The Pro-Khalistani Twitter accounts are being blocked in India, which include the accounts of prominent Canadian lawmaker Jagmeet Singh and Canadian poet Rupi Kaur, United Sikhs organisation and the Canada-based activist Gurdeep Singh Sahota. The accounts show a ‘withheld in response to a legal demand’ on being accessed in India. 

The Canadian lawmaker Jagmeet Singh is previously known for his anti-India comments, which makes his account blockage more significant. Moreover, the development coincides with the time when there was a rise in attacks by pro-Khalistanis in foreign nations.

The incidents of Khalistani supporters vandalising the Indian High Commission in London and the attack on Indian Consulate in San Francisco(SFO) have been blemishing the dignity of Indians in foreign nations. The videos of the Khalistani supporters breaking doors and intruding into the Consulate office have been making rounds on social media.

The videos clearly show the mob removing the Indian flag and mounting the Khalistani flag over the poles outside the Consulate office in the United Kingdom. In addition to this, the mob chanted Khalistani slogans while breaking the glass doors and windows of the consulate building and breaking through the security barriers and installing two Khalistani flags inside the premises.

The incident prompted a strong protest from India. The Foreign Secretary, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, notified that the British Deputy High Commissioner was summoned and held discussions over the Indian concerns and demanded an explanation of the course of events and culprits to be prosecuted as soon as possible. 

“We launched a strong protest and also clearly indicated to the British authorities the need for them to put up adequate security at the UK High Commission,” he added.

On Sunday, the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned and was conveyed about India’s strong protests against the actions of separatist elements. The Ministry of external affairs(MEA) stated that the diplomat was questioned about the absence of British security at the High Commission premises. 

“She was reminded in this regard of the basic obligations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention. India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK,” the MEA statement said.