In a decisive move to quell separatist sentiments, the Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has intensified its efforts against the pro-Khalistani movement by blocking approximately 10,500 URLs linked to the Khalistan referendum over the past three years.
Under the provisions of Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has systematically targeted online platforms to remove content deemed a threat to India’s national security, sovereignty, and public order. According to a recent report by The Indian Express, these actions were deliberated in high-level meetings between MeitY and top officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The crackdown primarily targets Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) associated with the Khalistan referendum, a campaign orchestrated by the US-based group Sikhs for Justice, led by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. This referendum aims to establish an independent Sikh state, often garnering support from Sikh communities in Western countries.
“Many mobile apps launched for spreading the Khalistan referendum were blocked by the department concerned,” an anonymous official disclosed to The Indian Express. The government’s strategy includes blocking access to content on major social media platforms to disrupt the spread of separatist ideology.
Over the last three years, the Centre has blocked a total of 28,079 URLs. A significant portion of these, 10,976, originated from Facebook, primarily due to involvement in fraudulent schemes. Additionally, 10,139 URLs from X (formerly Twitter) have been restricted, alongside 2,211 YouTube accounts, 2,198 Instagram handles, 225 Telegram channels, and 138 WhatsApp accounts.
The enforcement has escalated annually, with 6,775 social media accounts blocked in 2022, a sharp rise to 12,483 in 2023, and 8,821 accounts already blocked in 2024. Detailed statistics reveal that platforms like X saw 3,417 accounts blocked in 2022, increasing to 3,772 in 2023, and 2,950 by September 30, 2024. YouTube and Instagram have also experienced significant shutdowns, with YouTube accounts blocked rising from 809 in 2022 to 862 in 2023, and Instagram handles from 355 to 814 within the same period.
Facebook remains a primary focus, with 1,743 accounts blocked in 2022, surging to 6,074 in 2023, and 3,159 in the current year. WhatsApp has seen a more modest number of blocks, totaling 66 in 2022, 16 in 2023, and 56 thus far in 2024.
This aggressive approach underscores the Indian government’s commitment to maintaining national unity and combating separatist movements through stringent online surveillance and control. Critics, however, argue that such measures may impinge on freedom of expression and raise concerns about digital censorship.
As the digital landscape evolves, the government’s actions highlight the ongoing struggle between national security imperatives and the preservation of civil liberties in the age of information warfare.
