Vishal Jood – an Indian nationalist who has been taking Khalistanis in Australia head-on has been languishing in a jail in the down under country for two months now. While he has been lodged in prison on charges of damage to property, affray, and assault, Jood frequently stood up for India and challenged separatist elements making anti-India comments and shaming the Indian community because of their actions. People from Haryana tweeted up a storm on Tuesday demanding Vishal Jood’s release. A majority of Jood’s online supporters have cited his nationalism and enthusiasm for the Indian flag as grounds for his release.
Vishal Jood’s family has claimed the police have acted under pressure from Khalistani groups to frame him. In fact, his family has claimed that Vishal’s only fault was that he tried to take out a tricolour rally in support of India. That seems to have upset a few Khalistani groups back in Australia. Meanwhile, according to Australian media, Vishal Jood was living in Australia on an expired visa and is now facing deportation. On their part, Australian police have claimed that Jood’s crimes have been caught on CCTV cameras.
According to the Daily Guardian, when a pro-Khalistan group was conducting a rally at Sydney’s Harris Park to support the protesting Indian farmers and what happened at the Red Fort on 26 January this year, Vishal, with a few other students, opposed the group raising slogans against PM Modi and India. He, along with other people, started shouting “Modi zindabad” and “Hindustan zindabad”. This led to a brawl between the two sides.
According to the father of Vishal Jood quoted by the publication, “We want consular access to Vishal. He should be free as early as possible, he tried to save India’s flag, he has done nothing wrong, but Khalistani people framed him.”The need of the hour is for Indian authorities to take up the matter with their Australian counterparts immediately. India must demand consular access to Jood, even if Australia argues that he has been living in the down under country on an expired visa.
The ties between Australia and India are very strong, and New Delhi must demand action from Canberra immediately. It is believed that Vishal Jood was the person involved in a Harris Park brawl last year when Khalistanis were beaten up by Indian nationalists for their anti-India views. When Jassi, a Khalistani, started posting anti-India content on TikTok, a Haryanvi (most probably Vishal) strongly objected to the videos and engaged in a video war. This led to an organised brawl after both the persons managed to convince their friends for a group fight in Harris Park.
According to the Daily Guardian, on January 26, Vishal along with others had organised a “Tiranga car rally” and also burnt the Khalistani flag. Ever since he is said to have become a target of the Khalistanis who have tried to attack him multiple times by breaking into his house and attacking his car. The government of India needs to listen to the voices growing in support of Vishal Jood and ensure that the Indian national is not unfairly incarcerated in Australia.