The Punjab Police on Tuesday arrested YouTuber Paras Singh after a case was registered against him for making a racial slur against former Arunachal Pradesh MLA Ninong Ering. Inspector-General of Police (Law and Order) Chuku Apa remarked that Paras was on the run since Monday and it was under close monitoring of Arunachal Police and Ludhiana Police that his whereabouts could be traced.
The racism incident came to light when Paras on his YouTube channel posted a video on Sunday where he dissed Congress leader Ninong Ering for writing a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to not allow Battlegrounds Mobile India, the Chinese clone app of PUBG.
“Requested @PMOIndia @narendramodi ji to not allow Chinese deception #BattlegroundsMobileIndia. It is a big threat to security of India & privacy of our citizens and a way to circumvent & disregard our laws. @AmitShah” Ering had tweeted.
Requested @PMOIndia @narendramodi ji to not allow Chinese deception #BattlegroundsMobileIndia. It is a big threat to security of India & privacy of our citizens and a way to circumvent & disregard our laws.@AmitShah #IndiaBanBattlegrounds #NationFirst #AatmaNirbharBharat @ANI pic.twitter.com/H8nzUJ4aRk
— Ninong Ering (@ninong_erring) May 22, 2021
Calling Ering a non-Indian while going through his Twitter account, Paras started regurgitating a series of racial slurs that any sane person would not have dared to make in any situation.
“Mujhe to nahi lagta yeh Ering Indian hai (I don’t think he is an Indian)” while pointing out at the MLA’s profile picture on Twitter. Paras did not stop here and, while searching for Arunachal Pradesh on the Indian map, claimed that Arunachal Pradesh is in fact a Chinese territory.
“Can’t see Arunachal Pradesh. There it is in the corner. It has Chinese cities over it, Chinese cities around it. Essentially, it is a territory of the Chinese,” the YouTuber could be heard saying in the video.
1/4. I am appalled and greatly dismayed to see a recent YouTube post by one Mr Paras Singh(Bunty) where he has not only questioned the nationality of an MLA from my State of Arunachal Pradesh but also questioned the existence of our State within India.@PMOIndia @DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/A7RISx8viU
— Chowna Mein (@ChownaMeinBJP) May 24, 2021
As many as ten FIRs were lodged in various police stations of Arunachal Pradesh against the YouTuber but taking suo moto cognizance of the case, the police registered a single case under three sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The incident gained national traction when Union Minister of State for AYUSH, Youth Affairs and Sports and an Arunachal Pradesh MP, Kiren Rijiju took to Twitter to give the latest update on the case.
“Punjab Police searched & taken Paras Singh under custody. Arunachal Pradesh Police team is reaching Punjab. I’ve spoken to Police Commissioner of Ludhiana for urgent Judicial process for transit remand as it’s inter-state arrest so that he can be brought to Arunachal Pradesh,” Rijiju tweeted.
Punjab Police searched & taken Paras Singh under custody. Arunachal Pradesh Police team is reaching Punjab. I've spoken to Police Commisioner of Ludhiana for urgent Judicial process for transit remand as it's inter-state arrest so that he can be brought to Arunachal Pradesh. https://t.co/jm3WFAeVBL
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) May 25, 2021
After receiving instant backlash for his racist monologue, the YouTuber released an insincere apology video where he blabbered and played the usual victim card. Such was the apology video that it was monetized with a couple of neat ads pasted at the beginning. The netizens schooled Paras for his weak apology and reprimanded him for milking it for profit.
There’s a reason PUBG was banned in India and if the proponents of unbanning the game are loudmouths and as thick as Paras Singh, then it certainly bodes well that the game stays banned.
Racism in any shape, form or variety is not acceptable. It is one of the few non-negotiables that every single citizen of the country has to agree upon. Paras crossed the line and he has to pay the price for it.
Paras has made anti-national and racist comments hurting the patriotic Indian citizens from Arunachal Pradesh. Not only booking but quickly pronounce a judgement put him behind bars for long time and make him as an example to future offenders.
Indians won’t tolerate these kind of offenders.