Amritsar, India, June 11, 2025– Following the 2025 Indo-Pakistan standoff, Indian authorities have aggressively escalated a campaign against the Sikh community. The state has increasingly used national security as a pretext to surveil, harass, and arrest Sikhs, many of whom are community leaders, activists, or simply citizens asserting their cultural and political rights. The criminalization of Sikh identity has now become a dangerous and visible trend across Modi’s India.
Crackdown on Sikh Voices Intensifies
Immediately after the standoff, Indian agencies launched widespread operations targeting Sikh organizations. Authorities raided Gurdwaras and Sikh-led humanitarian institutions across Punjab. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) accused these groups of “terror funding,” yet they failed to present credible evidence. In many cases, the government treated a peaceful protest, a social media post, or a community gathering as evidence of sedition.
Meanwhile, mainstream media outlets, especially those aligned with the Modi government—often known as “Godi media”—played a crucial role in fueling the crackdown. They repeatedly labeled Sikhs as “Khalistanis” or “anti-nationals,” further stigmatizing a community already under pressure. As a result, dissenting voices continue to be silenced, not debated.
From Sacred Sites to Soft Targets
Although the government claimed to be enhancing security around religious landmarks, Sikh places of worship remain vulnerable. For example, it falsely claimed that a missile system protected the Golden Temple in Amritsar. However, community leaders reported that security forces had instead targeted these sites, using force rather than offering protection. Consequently, these actions deepened mistrust and provoked unrest among the Sikh population, who saw these moves as deliberate intimidation.
Silencing Through Surveillance and Arrests
Across regions like Kashmir and Punjab, Indian security forces have detained numerous Sikh individuals on espionage charges. They made arrests without due process, often offering no public evidence. The Pahalgam incident, now suspected to be a BJP-led false flag operation, gave the state further justification to intensify surveillance. Since then, reports of harassment, intimidation, and warrantless raids have surged.
Even non-Sikhs who challenge the official narrative are not spared. Authorities arrested Jyoti Malhotra, a Hindu journalist, simply because she portrayed Pakistan in a peaceful light. Her imprisonment on unproven espionage charges sends a chilling message: in Modi’s India, truth-telling equals treason.
Conclusion: Identity Becomes a Crime
India’s current regime has not only undermined democratic norms but also weaponized nationalism to punish Indigenous peoples. It has turned the country into a place where Sikhs—once hailed as patriots and defenders of India—are now treated as enemies. Ultimately, the criminalization of Sikh identity reflects a broader erosion of civil rights and a growing intolerance for any voice that dares to dissent.
Also See: Operation Blue Star: The Indian State’s Assault on Sikh Identity
