Diaspora (Commonwealth Union) _ The Indian government has vehemently refuted the existence of a purported “secret memo” allegedly issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) directing consulates in North America to initiate a crackdown against Sikh diaspora organizations in Western countries. Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson for the MEA, dismissed the claims, labeling them as part of a sustained disinformation campaign against India.
In response to a report by The Intercept, which detailed the alleged memo and called for concrete measures against Sikh diaspora groups, Bagchi asserted, “We strongly assert that such reports are fake and completely fabricated. There is no such memo. Those who amplify such fake news only do so at the cost of their own credibility.”
The document, titled “Action Points on Khalistan Extremism,” as per The Intercept, instructed consulates to collaborate with Indian intelligence agencies to address separatist Sikh groups, including Sikhs for Justice, Babbar Khalsa International, Sikh Youth of America, Sikh Coordination Committee East Coast, World Sikh Parliament, and Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar America. Bagchi dismissed these claims and emphasized that the outlets reporting such information are known for propagating fake narratives linked to Pakistani intelligence.
The context surrounding the alleged memo gained attention following the murder of Sikh terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver, named as a target in the purported document. Additionally, the U.S. had accused the Indian government of involvement in an attempt to murder another Sikh terrorist, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, around the same time. The Indian government, through spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, vehemently denies the existence of a purported secret document related to China’s alleged concerns over India’s ties with Taiwan. Bagchi’s response emphasizes the government’s commitment to countering disinformation and underscores the importance of verifying information before amplifying it. In an era of fast-paced information dissemination, this incident highlights the need for caution and critical evaluation of sources to prevent the spread of false narratives.
