In recent times, the boundaries between free speech and hate propaganda have become dangerously blurred — none more clearly than in the actions of groups like Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). Under the guise of exercising democratic rights, such entities are not just spreading divisive ideology but actively inciting hatred, threatening peace, and manipulating religious sentiments to polarize communities. A striking example emerged as SFJ issued provocative directives and displayed public acts of desecration across Punjab, India, in the lead-up to the anniversary of Operation Blue Star.
The SFJ recently released videos showcasing disturbing acts of aggression against public religious spaces. “Khalistan Zindabad” slogans were brazenly painted on the walls of the Shiv Mandir in Ikolaha (Khanna), and the Khalistan flag was raised at the Rajpura Railway Station — a direct challenge not just to state authority, but to the fabric of communal harmony in Punjab. These were not random acts of vandalism, but carefully orchestrated symbolic aggressions aimed at provoking unrest.
In an incendiary video message, SFJ’s legal spokesperson Gurpatwant Singh Pannun issued a highly provocative “directive” to Hindu temples across Punjab — including iconic sites like the Durgiana Temple in Amritsar and Kali Devi Mandir in Patiala — to shut down their lights on June 6 to mark the so-called “martyrdom” of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Worse still, the message warned of “untoward incidents” if this demand was not met. Such veiled threats barely conceal their intent: coercion through fear.
Pannun went further, issuing a direct ultimatum to the Hindu population of Punjab: “Time to choose your side — Khalistan or Hindustan.” This is not free speech. This is a calculated, dangerous invocation of sectarian loyalty — weaponizing religious identity to fracture society.
What is even more alarming is how such individuals and organizations continue to operate freely under the umbrella of “free expression,” taking advantage of democratic safeguards designed to protect diversity of thought, not to shield violent extremism. The democratic ethos allows space for debate, dissent, and discourse — but it was never meant to be a refuge for those who promote secessionism through fear and hate.
The SFJ’s message, riddled with historical revisionism and inflammatory rhetoric, dangerously rewrites the past and rekindles wounds that India has worked for decades to heal. The reference to Hindus allegedly “celebrating” Bhindranwale’s death in 1984 is not only historically contentious but also designed to provoke sectarian anger and sow discord between communities that have coexisted in Punjab for centuries.
This misuse of speech is not about civil liberties — it’s about psychological warfare. When calls for loyalty are made along religious lines, when places of worship are used as canvases for political messaging, and when fear becomes the tool for “compliance,” we are no longer in the realm of democratic discourse. We are staring into the face of extremism masquerading as freedom.
The challenge before civil society, law enforcement, and policymakers is twofold: to uphold the sanctity of free speech while drawing a firm legal and moral line against hate speech and incitement. Groups like SFJ, who exploit legal gray areas and global platforms to spread their divisive message, must be held accountable.
India’s strength lies in its pluralism. That strength must not be undermined by those who wear the mask of liberty while wielding the weapons of division. True democracy demands vigilance — not just against censorship, but against those who poison the well of public discourse with hatred.
