NEW DELHI: The Modi government has blocked access to a documentary shedding light on the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistan separatist, murdered by the Indian intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in Canada.
Produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the documentary implicates Indian agents in Hardeep Singh Nijjar ‘s assassination outside a gurdwara in British Columbia last June.
Following orders from India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, YouTube has restricted access to the documentary titled “Sikhs, Spies, and Murder: Investigating India’s Alleged Hit on Foreign Soil,” sparking criticism for curbing freedom of expression.
During the documentary’s production, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation faced pressure from Indian authorities. Instances of Indian intelligence officials interrogating reporters and hindering filming in Punjab highlight the government’s efforts to suppress this narrative.
Last month, YouTube and X complied with a directive from India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to block access to a CBC News story titled “The Fifth Estate,” indicating a recurring pattern of stifling dissenting voices.
This is not the first instance of India resorting to such measures. The government previously used emergency powers to block a BBC documentary, raising concerns about press freedom violations.
YouTube’s cooperation with Indian authorities extends beyond documentaries; it also restricted access to a news segment covering a meeting between Australian Security Intelligence Organization agents and Sikh activists in Australia regarding Hardeep Singh Nijjar ‘s death.
