Thread by @psgazi

#Thread — #StopTargettingSikhYouth
1. Recent arrests of 2 Sikh youth, & mother of one, is not an isolated case.
2. These arrests are part of a series.
3. Many young Sikhs from Punjab are put behind the bars in recent years on similar allegations, some on even serious allegations.

4. They all were arrested for allegedly supporting or propagating a non-recognised, non-binding online voting campaign.
5. Notably, that campaign is being run by those who are active openly in USA.

7. India says that this campaign is a very serious matter for it, but still it is keeping its diplomatic ties with the USA in a usual manner.
8. It shows that in reality GoI does not take this campaign that much seriously, otherwise it might have pressed USA on this issue.

9. Instead India is using reference of said campaign as a political tool to contain Sikh expression and activism in Punjab.
10. Hundreds of Sikh social media and web media platforms are blocked in Punjab/India without notice while invoking mere reference of that campaign.

11. Dozens of innocent Sikh youth are put behind the bars referring to same campaign.
12. All this shows how the reference of that campaign is being used as a political tool to contain genuine Sikh expression in Punjab, and target innocent Sikh youth.

13. They way arrests are being made in Punjab, it is clear that either on ground bureaucratic setup of Punjab is unable to bear pressure from Delhi Darbar and Punjab DGP Office,
14. OR they fall into line for the sake of their promotions.

15. Sikhs need to understand this wider context of recent arrests and try expose it in order to show that how Sikh expression and activism is being snubbed by using repressive methods.

#StopTargettingSikhYouth