Truth behind viral video clip claiming Indian Armed Forces to throw out Punjabis. Know where the original audio came from

Ever since the farmers’ protest started, the Khalistani propaganda has been at its peak on various social media platforms. Now, a morphed video has been tweeted by what appears to be ISPR propaganda handles where claims are being made about the security establishment wanting to throw Punjabis out of the Indian Army.

https://twitter.com/hayakaur1/status/1479383565917999105?s=21

https://twitter.com/minahil_anwar7/status/1479409035216490496

Most of these accounts have similar bios 

However, this video is morphed. 

Defence journalist tweeted a fact-check of the video saying that it was fake. 

Upon searching further, we stumbled upon a tweet where the same audio, used in the ISPR propaganda video, was tweeted. The tweet said that it was a room on Clubhouse, a voice-based social media app, where these comments were made in the presence of OpIndia editor-in-chief Nupur J Sharma. 

In the video, an individual called “Khal” was heard saying that he was tired of Punjabis telling the rest of the country how much they had contributed to the nation, as if, others like the Maratha regiment did not exist in the Indian Army. He went on to say that the Army should dismiss all Punjabi soldiers just so the nation never has to hear the gloating about how only Punjabis enrol themselves in the Indian army and work for the nation. 

This audio matches with the videos posted by the ISPR propaganda handles thereby confirming that no such conversation took place within the security establishment. 

TFI reached out to Nupur J Sharma, the editor-in-chief of OpIndia to understand in what context these comments were made, given that she was also a moderator in the Clubhouse discussion. 

She confirmed that these statements were indeed made by the individual in question however, she said that these comments were made in reaction to several Khalistani elements on Clubhouse saying that India must be thankful to them because they are the ones who have saved the nation and even Hindus on numerous occasions.

Along with these statements, they had claimed that they have paid the price for “choosing India” and that the Indian state must capitulate to their demands given that Sikhs are enrolled en-masse in the Indian Army. He had said that it would be “problematic” for India, if Punjabi soldiers decided to revolt because other “Brahmin and Hindu soldiers were incapable of defending the nation”.

Regardless of the context, Nupur J Sharma said that she had taken strong exception to the comments made and left the room minutes after these comments were made. 

She said, “I had vehemently disagreed with the comments made in that room by the individual in question. I believe that every soldier serves in the army regardless of his religion or sub-identity. It is the likes of Caravan that count the caste of our heroes, not us”. 

She further added, “Clubhouse is a voice application and this room was clearly recorded. However, the Khalistanis, who are aware that I am working on an article to expose them, released this selective video months after that room was held. This room was held way back in November”. 

Sharma says that even though she had opposed the views of Mr Khal and left the room, the Khalistanis who are hands in gloves with the Leftists and “liberals” on Clubhouse and at large, released this video without her condemnation because they were miffed about her position on the recent security breach of the Prime Minister. 

In the audio itself, one cannot hear Nupur J Sharma making these comments, however, the usual suspects have targeted her for the comments made by someone else, taken out of context and selectively leaving out her follow up condemnation, merely because she was present in the room. 

Nupur J Sharma is often targeted by the Islamists, Leftists and Khalistanis because of the stands she takes on various issues and because of the reportage of OpIndia, of which, she is the editor-in-chief. 

Interestingly, the very elements who abuse the Indian Army at the first opportunity they get took to Twitter to accuse Sharma of being “anti-Army” after the selective video was tweeted by anti-national elements. 

“The very people who want to see India Balkanized are today talking about the Army being defamed. If my mere presence in a room where comments I did not agree to were made can turn Khalistanis into supporters of the Nation and the Indian Army, I will happily take the fall for this”, Sharma said in jest, referring to several tweets that tagged the Indian Army. 

https://twitter.com/amaanbali/status/1479418488183681025?s=20

Zubair Mohammad, the self-proclaimed fact-checker who has spread fake news on several occasions to shield Islamists also targeted Nupur J Sharma over the video. 

“It is the nature of my job that leaves me open to slander and abuse. There have been Khalistanis who have been threatened with rape and murder. These Khalistanis are fuelled by the very Leftists and Liberals who are targeting me today. Perhaps they should focus on lynching some poor man hungry for food instead of talking about the Indian Army, the nation and the welfare of Indians,” said Nupur.

It is one of the many unethical practices adopted by Khalistanis, that proves that they can go to any extend, just to establish their fake cause. The audience should double-check any information circulated by such radical activists, who would do anything to demean India.