In a surprising move, the Indian Government has requested the social media company X to block two accounts that have been prominent in criticising and countering pro-Khalistan propaganda in Canada.

The accounts, which seem to be blocked in India, belong to Mocha Bezirgan, an independent journalist based in Calgary, and Journalist V, who splits his time between Toronto and the Bay Area in California. They were notified by X’s legal department on Thursday about the "legal removal demand" from the Indian Government.

The notice stated the demand came as it was deemed the accounts’ “content violates India’s Information Technology Act, 2000.” X told them Indian law “obligates” it to “withhold access to this content in India” but it will remain available elsewhere.

Bezirgan has covered several pro-Khalistan events in Canada, including a referendum in Calgary on Sunday organised by the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). He has faced accusations of being part of a spy network run by India, with his image being used in that context in a post from SFJ.

He has also received threats, including a message in mid-July from someone identifying himself as Arshdeep Hans, who wrote, “Your days are numbered. I’m coming to Calgary soon. — Ima kill you when I see you.”

In a message to the Hindustan Times, Journalist V, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “As a freelance journalist covering issues faced by the diaspora in North America, I was shocked to find my Twitter account withheld in India. Other journalists reporting on pro-Khalistan extremism in North America have faced similar restrictions.”

He said this action raised questions “about the criteria” used and “their impact on reporting diaspora issues”, adding he was “seeking clarity on the reasons and the process for addressing this.”

“My goal was to bring out factual information regarding the presence of pro-Khalistani extremism in North America that has becoming an increasing concern for the Indian diaspora,” he said. This was prompted by the killing of pro-Khalistan element Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18 last year when he “saw that Canadian media was whitewashing who he was and reports from Indian media were often dismissed as ‘govt propaganda’.”

Image source: Hindustan Times