GoI blocks 40 websites supporting Khalistan group

On July 5, 2020, the Government of India blocked 40 websites that were linked to the Khalistan group. The websites linked to the campaign to register supporters to the Khalistan group.

Highlights

The Sikhs for Justice organization had launched a campaign to register supporters for its cause. The organization was declared unlawful by Government of India under UAPA (Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act), 1967.

The order of blocking the websites were issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the recommendation of Ministry of Home Affairs. The MeitY is the nodal authority that monitors cyberspace in India.

What is the issue?

The Sikhs for Justice is a US-based group that supports freedom of Punjab as Khalistan. It was established in 2007 to get justice for the 1984 Sikh Genocide.

Operation Blue Star

On July 1, 1984, the then PM Indira Gandhi launched Operation Blue Star to remove Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the Sikh leader and his armed followers from the complex of Golden temple. This killed several civilians as well. They were all Sikhs. This had huge impact and many Sikhs joined the Khalistan movement post Operation Blue Star. Khalistan Movement (Sikhs for Justice) demands for separate state of Sikhs in Punjab called “Khalistan”.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2020