Centre shuts down TV channel, social media accounts associated with Sikhs for Justice

New Delhi: A new order published by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has ordered the shuttering of Punjab Politics TV, based on intelligence inputs that it had close links with the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ).

Under the new Information and Technology Act passed last year, the government can now invoke emergency powers granted by the act to ban all "apps, website, and social media accounts of foreign-based 'Punjab Politics TV' having close links with Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), an organisation that has been declared unlawful under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967."

The ministry said, "Relying on intelligence inputs that the channel was attempting to use online media to disturb public order during the ongoing State Assembly Elections, the Ministry used emergency powers under the IT Rules on 18th February to block the digital media resources of 'Punjab Politics TV'."

This comes two days after polling for the assembly polls began in all districts in Punjab on Sunday. It was observed that the launch of new apps and social media accounts was timed to gain traction during the ongoing elections, the Ministry said.

The order from the I&B Ministry claimed that the Punjab Politics Channel, which had resources abroad, had the potential to 'incite communal fisharmony' and threatened the "sovereignty of India, security of the state and public order".

The government had issued orders to ban the pro-Khalistani SFJ under the UAPA in January 2019, which was challenged in the court. But a UAPA tribunal upheld the ban in 2020.

Under direction from Indian intelligence officials, SFJ leader Jaswinder Singh Multani was arrested in Munich this year and is suspected to be linked to the Ludhiana blast in Punjab and planning more terror attacks in New Delhi, among other cities in India.

The pro-Khalistani outfit has been accused multiple times of fomenting dissent in the country and sometimes outright violence, as Multani is also accused of radicalising Punjabi youth using SFJ resources.

Two other cases have been filed against him by the Punjab police in February and August of last year, one of which pertains to a conspiracy to kill farmer's protest leader Balbir Singh Rajewal in order to stoke unrest, as well as numerous allegations of using Pakistani help to smuggle explosives, arms and drugs to Punjab.