Satyam Surana is pursuing an LLM at the London School of Economics
London:
Satyam Surana, an Indian student, who came into limelight when he took the road tricolor and braved the attack on the Indian High Commission in the UK by extremist elements last year, now alleges hate and smear campaigns against him during the student union elections at the London School of Economics this year.
Satyam has alleged that a very ‘well-planned’ campaign was launched against him just twelve hours before the elections, somehow linking him with the Bharatiya Janata Party and making him a ‘fascist’ called to boycott him and his campaign.
The Pune-born student also spent several months practicing at the Bombay High Court and is pursuing an LLM from the London School of Economics. His course ends later this year.
Elaborating on the slew of incidents, he said the LSE elections had been called in February and early March and he had filed the nomination for the post of general secretary.
“From March 14 to 15, we noticed that my posters were being ripped off and torn. We filed a complaint with the authorities. After replacing our posters, on March 16 we noticed that some posters were unreadable. There were crosses on my face, it said ‘anyone except Satyam’. I was excluded,” Satyam told news agency ANI.
“On March 17 afternoon there were messages across all groups in the LSE. Indian groups, law student groups. The messages claimed, ‘This Satyam Surana is a BJP supporter, he is a fascist person, an Islamophobe, a transphobe’. so inflammatory and controversial of the Indian government and the current establishment,” he added.
Satyam alleged that the radical elements had also taken screenshots of his posts on social media handle .
He also said that his manifesto had no political points but only addressed the real issues on campus. Although he initially received overwhelming support, this hate campaign derailed his chances.
“With my entire team, I searched the entire campus. We contacted all departments and explained our policies. I had a very well-written and well-drafted manifesto, which was not political at all. It talked about how things need to be improved at LSE, how there is a need for a grievance portal, with subsidized food on campus. We got support and people said they would vote for me,” Satyam said.
“But out of the three people, I was the only one who was randomly targeted. When these messages started coming, my entire team was shocked, we were in a dilemma and the entire moral conscience of the team was shattered,” he added . .
Recalling last year’s Indian High Commission episode, Satyam said: “Sometime in early October, I was in the news for picking up the national flag among the Khalistani protesters outside the Indian High Commission. I was blessed to get media attention. I was interviewed by national media outlets.”
He further said that he was targeted because he had labeled Khalistanis as ‘terrorists’ in one of his posts.
“Look, this is my country. I will always be an advocate for my country. How is Indian politics relevant to the student union elections in Britain? My views and statements of support for my government are entirely my own,” Satyam added to.
People are now anti-India because they are anti-Modi‼️
They tried to harass me. I was canceled, I was unclear.
Why?
– Because I supported Prime Minister Modi.
– Because I supported BJP.
– Because I spoke for the truth when the Ram Mandir was built.
– Because I… pic.twitter.com/OArzoof3aN— Satyam Surana (@SatyamSurana) March 25, 2024
The Indian student said his photo with Maharashtra MP CM Devendra Fadnavis – which was clicked when he was invited by Mr Fadnavis during his visit to India – was used by extremist elements to allege his links with the BJP.
He further pointed out that since the entire smear campaign against him was against the ‘right-wing’, Satyam believes that the campaign was planned by ‘left-wing’ groups.
“I was called a neo-Nazi supporter, Right Wing, Off Campus. See, when the message headline was spread as the Right Wing Off Campus, it is very clear that the campaign was dictated and planned by the Left Wing.” he said.
When asked whether the hate campaign against him was started by an Indian or a foreigner, Satyam said the first message he received was from an Indian and most of those involved in this campaign were only Indians.
He added that this was not a random or personal campaign but a “well-planned hate and toolkit campaign” involving people who are politically motivated against the incumbent BJP government in India.
Satyam even claims that those who targeted him are part of the group that cannot digest the success of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is therefore spreading such false and malicious propaganda.
“The people of the international community are not aware of what is going on in India. Every international person looks up to India and looks up to the current Prime Minister as a tough, legendary politician. Our Prime Minister has the highest approval rating in the world. Around the world, we have shown what we can do during COVID-19, emerging as the third largest economy. But unfortunately, these groups, unable to digest this fact, are not spreading misinformation, but disinformation,” Satyam said.
However, Satyam failed to cross the finish line despite receiving support in the initial stages of the campaign. He believes the way his campaign was targeted and hampered damaged his goodwill.
He further said that this campaign had a huge impact on him and his life on campus even after the elections were over. But he also acknowledged that he had support from many people who stood by him in this hour.
Satyam stated that the point in the episode that hurts him the most is the fact that the majority of the people who carried out the hate campaign against him were actually just Indians.
“The only thing that hurts is that these were our fellow Indian students who spread these messages and questioned India’s sovereignty. How shameless can people be to forward these messages? I cannot believe that Indian students are forwarding these messages and the sovereignty and integrity of our country,” he added.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by WhatsNew2Day staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)