28th January 2021 • article
British Sikh groups condemn Twitter 'censorship' after farmers protests in India
Hours after Indian farmers stormed the Red Fort in New Delhi to raise awareness of their plight, numerous Twitter accounts of Sikh groups in the UK and India were taken down.
Observers say Twitter is increasingly bowing to censorship requests from the Indian government.
In Britain, the Natioonal Sikh Youth Federation (NSYF), a youth group known for its advocacy of a Sikh state (Khalistan), was booted off Twitter along with its co-founder Shamsher Singh's own account.
Accounts in India were suspended too. Sikh Siyasat, a Panjab-based news organisation that covers Sikh issues primarily in Panjabi, also had its account suspended via Twitter. Its editor Parmjeet Singh was also locked out of his personal account.
Twitter told Buzzfeed News it had suspended more than 300 accounts engaged in spam and platform manipulation. “We are monitoring the situation closely and remain vigilant, and strongly encourage those on the service to report anything they believe is in violation of the rules,†the company said.
A statement from the NSYF said: "After suspending several Punjab-based organizations and activists, Twitter followed up by censoring several accounts associated with Sikh organizations based around the world."
"These suspensions follow a pattern of Indian foreign interference around the world, and an increasing trend of social media censorship against Sikh voices."
Observers say Twitter is increasingly bowing to censorship requests from the Indian government.
In Britain, the Natioonal Sikh Youth Federation (NSYF), a youth group known for its advocacy of a Sikh state (Khalistan), was booted off Twitter along with its co-founder Shamsher Singh's own account.
One of many suspended Sikh twitters accounts includes grassroots @panth_punjab doing educational work for Sangat.
— Harsha Walia (@HarshaWalia) January 27, 2021
In solidarity, I will be joining Panth Punjab in webinar this Sat on grassroots anti-imperialist resistance. Join us.#FarmersProtest #TractorParade #FarmBills2020
Accounts in India were suspended too. Sikh Siyasat, a Panjab-based news organisation that covers Sikh issues primarily in Panjabi, also had its account suspended via Twitter. Its editor Parmjeet Singh was also locked out of his personal account.
— Sikh Council UK (@SCUKofficial) January 26, 2021
Twitter told Buzzfeed News it had suspended more than 300 accounts engaged in spam and platform manipulation. “We are monitoring the situation closely and remain vigilant, and strongly encourage those on the service to report anything they believe is in violation of the rules,†the company said.
A statement from the NSYF said: "After suspending several Punjab-based organizations and activists, Twitter followed up by censoring several accounts associated with Sikh organizations based around the world."
"These suspensions follow a pattern of Indian foreign interference around the world, and an increasing trend of social media censorship against Sikh voices."
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