(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
AVANI DIAS: For two and a half years
I was the ABC's South Asia correspondent.
One of the first things that hit me when I arrived in India
One of the first things that hit me was the passion for this man,
Narendra Modi.
(CHEERING)
I mean, look at this popularity that Narendra Modi has.
The crowd is going absolutely crazy. CROWD: (CHANTS) Modi! Modi! Modi!
And it feels like the biggest rock star in the world
has just arrived.
As prime minister of an emerging superpower,
As prime minister Modi's courted like a god,
including in Australia.
Prime Minister Modi is the boss!
(CHEERING)
But Modi does not tolerate accountability.
(PHONE LINE RINGS)
He's gone square... looked at us in the face and said,
"You are the most hostile foreign organisation in India right now."
They're not going to extend my visa.
And his government's accused of assassinating dissidents overseas.
MONINDER SINGH: I heard a panicked voice on the other side saying,
"They've shot Hardeep."
Now we've uncovered the long arm of the Indian state
here in Australia...
We're from the ABC's Four Corners. Don't shoot, don't shoot.
It's not the conduct you'd expect from a friendly nation.
..waging a secret war and threatening Australia's national security.
Insane.
Australia is nothing. Do you know the size of India?
So, next time, Australia is nothing. shut up and show respect. Do you know the size of India?
So, next time, shut up and show respect.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
(BIRDS TWITTER)
Over 600 million people in India
are about to vote for their prime minister.
It's a story I've always wanted to cover...
Pack.
..but my partner and I are leaving.
Well, we are packing up our house in Delhi.
It's gotten to this point where we're running out of time now.
It's just two days before my visa expires,
and it's a real struggle to get any answers
and it's a real struggle about what's actually going on.
And we just have no choice now
but to actually pack up our lives and leave the country.
Last month, I got a call from a government official
saying my reporting had crossed a line.
He said a story I'd done was "beyond extreme."
He said a story I'd done It was a shock.
But when I really interrogate what's happened to India in the past decade
But when I really interrogate what's under Narendra Modi,
I'm not surprised.
(TRAFFIC BUZZES, HORNS BEEP)
During Modi's 10-year reign
India's middle class has grown.
He says he's lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty.
CROWD: (CHANTS) Modi! Modi! Modi!
Modi! Modi!
Modi! Modi! Modi!
Modi! Modi!
Wherever you go, you find spick and span roads, good infrastructure.
(CROWD CHANTS IN HINDI)
CROWD: (CHANTS) Modi! Modi! Modi!
Modi! Modi! Modi!
Modi! Modi! Modi! Modi! Modi!
(MILITARY MUSIC PLAYS)
At age eight
Modi joined the far-right Hindu nationalist organisation
the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, or the RSS.
(WHISTLE BLOWS)
PRIYA CHACKO: The RSS is commonly described
as a far-right paramilitary organisation.
as a far-right It was formed in the 1920s
and it was inspired
by German Nazism and Italian fascism.
SONG: # Namaste... #
The RSS rejects secular India
and wants it to be a Hindu state. rejects secular India
and wants it to be a Hindu state.
It's the largest far-right organisation in the world
with millions of members.
Modi's ruling party, the BJP, grew out of the RSS.
Modi was a long-time RSS member.
Most of the BJP's top leadership have a history in the RSS,
so, he went through the paramilitary training, the indoctrination.
(CHEERING)
Supporters say these organisations are reclaiming a lost Hindu identity.
Others criticise them for politicising the religion.
Others criticise them (CHEERING)
The BJP seeks to conflate (CHEERING)
The BJP seeks to conflate a very pluralistic religion
The BJP seeks to conflate into a very narrow form.
India is a very diverse country.
Modi's ideology wants to diminish all of that.
Modi's pushed Hindu supremacy and ultra nationalism,
but claims democracy is still strong in India.
Democracy is the spirit
that supports equality and dignity.
(APPLAUSE)
India is blessed to have such values
from times immemorial.
In the evolution of the democratic spirit,
In the evolution India is the mother of democracy.
Thank you.
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
But he's hardened his stance
against minorities, dissidents and freedom of speech.
Mandeep Punia is part of India's enormous media landscape.
Mandeep Punia is part of India's (SPEAKS IN HINDI)
(KNOCKS)
Hello! Hello. How are you?
Mandeep? Yeah.
Mandeep? Avani. Nice to meet you.
In 2021 he was jailed
after reporting a story
claiming a BJP worker and affiliate attacked protesters
with a petrol bomb.
Police accused Mandeep of obstructing an officer at the protest.
(TRAFFIC DRONES, HORNS BEEP)
(INAUDIBLE)
Minorities like Sikhs and Muslims also say they're being targeted.
Modi's party has been accused
of supporting demolitions Modi's party has been accused
of supporting demolitions of Muslim homes and mosques...
..like Shabbana's place in North Delhi.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
I quickly learned holding Modi to account can land you in hot water.
When I started reporting on the death of a Sikh separatist,
When I started reporting things started getting difficult.
Hi.
I have to inform you Hi.
I have to inform you that your permission was cancelled.
I have to inform you You need to give us a reason
for why you've suddenly decided not to allow us.
for why you've suddenly decided The reason I can't explain you that.
The Indian government blocked my story on YouTube and Facebook
The Indian government blocked and it was quick to act against me.
They're not going to extend my visa.
Um...
Honestly, pretty crazy.
It feels weird and it's disappointing.
It feels weird Um...
I actually can't quite believe Um...
I actually can't quite believe that they're doing this,
and it sets a really bad precedent for India.
and it sets a really bad precedent (TRAFFIC BUZZES, HORNS BEEP)
I don't think there's much more we can really do.
The Australian government started lobbying on my behalf.
Hello?
(SPEAKS IN HINDI)
At the same time
my colleague Meghna and I were At the same time
my colleague Meghna and I were trying to organise our access passes
my colleague Meghna and I were for the election.
Sir, elections start on Friday.
Sir, elections We need the passes.
So, what did they initially We need the passes.
So, what did they initially say to you about the passes?
What they've said is that
the ministry has given them a directive
not to release the ABC's passes.
He said, "Australian Broadcasting is not to receive passes."
He said, "Australian Broadcasting So, he directly said that to you?
He directly said that to me this morning.
(TRAFFIC BUZZES, HORNS BEEP)
'Cause obviously you'll be travelling with Meghna later this week,
we've got our shoots this week...
Meghna spoke to the BJP about our coverage.
We finally end up in a room with someone who's a BJP spokesman.
We finally end up in a room We said, "We're from the ABC,"
and he sort of just looked at us and he's gone square...
..looked at us in the face and said,
"You are the most hostile foreign ..looked at us in the face and said,
"You are the most hostile foreign organisation in India right now.
"You are after us and you have the most biased reporting."
How do you feel about covering it after that conversation?
Getting that confirmation straight from the horse's mouth?
Getting that confirmation I'm not going to lie, I was like...
For a second we were sort of like,
"How are we going to get through the next six weeks
"in a balanced, factual way
"if one half of the team isn't talking to us
"and that's the team that's in power?"
Eventually Meghna got her pass, but mine didn't come through.
The night before our flight home to Australia
The night before our flight home I got a short visa extension,
but it was clear
I wasn't getting access to cover the election properly,
I wasn't getting access so, I decided to leave.
Well, I'm in the terminal in Delhi,
made it through security and immigration.
I don't like that this intimidation is getting to me,
but the last few weeks have been so stressful,
but the last few weeks it's been so unsettling,
and I'm ready to go home.
I arrived home to a media storm.
ARCHIVE REPORTER: Avani Dias, Australian...
Outlets sympathetic to the Modi government started discrediting me.
This ABC journalist also has a track record
of peddling anti-Hindu propaganda, which could be...
Australia is nothing.
You're nothing.
Do you know the size of India?
So, next time, shut up and show respect.
You're talking about the Prime Minister of India.
Yeah, you can go and abuse the Prime Minister of Australia
Yeah, you can go and abuse for all you like, I don't care.
When you talk about for all you like, I don't care.
When you talk about the Prime Minister of India,
When you talk about you do so with respect.
And don't give me this nonsense about media freedom.
And don't give me this nonsense What you're writing is lies.
The Australian government response was muted.
It said it appreciated India's assistance
in eventually granting me a visa.
As I settled in back home,
I discovered the Modi government's tentacles stretch into Australia.
To understand it
you need to know two of the main organisations
that hold up the Hindu nationalist movement -
the RSS, described as a far-right paramilitary group,
and Modi's more mainstream political party, the BJP.
I found out these groups have sister Hindu nationalist organisations
operating in Australia.
(BIRDS SQUAWK)
(BIRDS TWITTER)
I've come to a part of western Sydney
where many Hindus practise their faith.
So, what would you usually do at the river here?
Well, we'd have the conclusion of the Ganesha festival,
and they bring the idols...
Arjun Nidigallu was an HSS camp leader.
His parents signed him up when he was a kid.
His parents signed him up My parents, like most migrants,
were concerned My parents, like most migrants,
were concerned that I wasn't getting,
were concerned like, a cultural upbringing,
and, so, they'd send me to these camps.
The HSS has at least 30 branches across Australia.
Arjun says for years it felt harmless.
Arjun says There are people you meet
who go through similar issues There are people you meet
who go through similar issues around racism and bullying,
and you come back feeling like you're not alone,
and you come back and that was a big thing.
Where I was more involved...
Eventually, he helped run the camps.
What was the final straw for you
that made you want to leave all of these organisations?
that made you want to leave It was a festival event,
a lot of young children,
and children as young as seven were playing tug of war
as part of the games they were playing for the festival,
and they were instructed to shout a slogan repetitively
and they were instructed as they played tug of war.
Um... And in Hindi it goes like this,
Um... And in Hindi it goes, "Hindustaan Hinduon kahai,"
which means, "Hindustan," or India, it goes, "Hindustaan Hinduon kahai,"
which means, "Hindustan," or India, "belongs to the Hindus."
And you've got young kids who... and I knew these kids,
they didn't speak anything but English.
And that image just didn't sit well with me.
And, no matter how hard you try,
the toxicity eventually trickles down to the children.
the toxicity eventually And that was my last event
and I had to walk away from that And that was my last event
and I had to walk away from that after that.
So, this is your studio?
Welcome to the studio. (CHUCKLES) So, this is your studio?
Welcome to the studio. (CHUCKLES) Nice.
Welcome to the studio. (CHUCKLES) It's been almost 10 years
since Arjun left the Hindu nationalist movement in Australia.
These organisations have more or less taken a monopoly
on what it is to be Hindu.
You don't hear the voices of those who are secular Hindus.
So, we found a few videos on social media
So, we found a few videos of the RSS shakhas and the camps,
and I just wanted to kind of of the RSS shakhas and the camps,
and I just wanted to kind of understand them a bit more.
So, there's this one. There's all these kids.
Do you want to play this one? Yeah, sure.
Do you want to play this one? Ha!
Teen! Ha!
We've analysed dozens of videos and photos
We've analysed dozens of Australian-Indian kids
and adults of Australian-Indian kids
and adults
at HSS camps.
It looks normal, but there's another side.
These two framed photos, they're the founders...
At the camps there's a tribute to two influential historical figures
At the camps there's a tribute in the Hindu nationalist movement.
One of them, MS Golwalkar,
said minorities like Muslims One of them, MS Golwalkar,
said minorities like Muslims were a threat to India
and the country could learn from the Nazis' killing of Jews.
I think the way the history is told to the children
and the way the narrative is structured
and the way the narrative is that these are our heroes.
It's clear that the Hindu race is seen as the dominant race,
one that matters
and, more importantly, one that actually has ownership
and, more importantly, of the Indian land.
In parks and halls across Australia
participants are also being taught
an Indian martial art called danda.
The large and heavy bamboo sticks,
and this is to inculcate a sense The large and heavy bamboo sticks,
and this is to inculcate a sense of self-discipline, self-defence
and this is to inculcate a sense and the way they frame it
is to be prepared "for any invaders and any attacks."
is to be prepared Arjun, this does look a bit
like a normal martial arts class.
What makes it dangerous?
The way it plays itself out in the real world.
In India, when it comes to minority treatment,
when it comes to tearing down the places of worship of minorities,
when it comes to tearing down this does play itself
in a violent way.
(INSTRUCTOR SPEAKS in HINDI) in a violent way.
(INSTRUCTOR SPEAKS in HINDI)
(INDISTINCT YELLING)
As you can see in this footage,
danda is used As you can see in this footage,
danda is used by Hindu nationalist devotees
in deadly riots against Indian Muslims.
We've also found Australian HSS volunteers
have attended RSS training camps in India
and held talks for RSS leaders in Australia.
A spokesperson from HSS Australia
told us danda is like other self-defence training.
They said the organisation does charity work
and that it takes inspiration from the RSS.
As one of the largest diasporas in the country,
Indian-Australians now hold huge political power.
It's something Australian politicians are keenly aware of.
Together we are building a better world.
For several years
our politicians have been cosying up to the Indian government,
keen to position us to benefit from this emerging superpower's growth.
Prime Minister Modi and I discussed
the increasingly uncertain global-security environment.
India is also an important bulwark
against China's increasing power in the region.
(CHEERING)
Some watching the Australia-India relationship
Some watching are asking, "At what cost?"
PRIYA CHACKO: The Australian government has been very quiet
in terms of commenting on or criticising
India's turn toward authoritarianism.
It's embraced Narendra Modi.
So, a lot of the authoritarian features
So, a lot of the Narendra Modi government
simply have been swept under the carpet
by the Australian government, unfortunately.
by the Australian government, (CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
The last time I saw someone on the stage here was Bruce Springsteen,
and he didn't get the welcome that Prime Minister Modi has got!
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
Prime Minister Modi is the boss!
(CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
I want you to give a big Australian welcome to my dear friend,
Prime Minister Narendra Modi!
Hindu nationalist groups in Australia
helped organise this stadium event during Modi's Sydney visit last year.
One of the groups is called the Overseas Friends of the BJP.
One of the groups is called (CHEERING, APPLAUSE)
Would you classify the Overseas Friends of BJP as a political party?
They are, actually, a branch, a type of equation
with the Bharatiya Janata Party, or BJP, from India.
The their job is to promote the policies and views of BJP here.
The their job is to promote There's no other purpose.
And, in fact, There's no other purpose.
And, in fact, the global head is in New Delhi
and it's called Global Overseas Friends of BJP.
and it's called So, they are linked with BJP.
A lot of promises made. They will fix the...
Yadu Singh was a BJP supporter.
They presented themselves as the saviour,
as the people who would do good thing for India.
He's a cardiologist and community leader in Sydney.
He's a cardiologist I'm a Hindu, I'm a practising Hindu,
but a Hindu who does not discriminate or hate anybody else.
Why did you feel the need to say that?
I think it's important. I believe in Hinduism, or Hindu dharma.
Are you worried that Mr Modi and the BJP
are promoting a narrow version of what Hinduism is?
Well, there have been some commentaries in rallies
which were not very good.
Sources have told us the Overseas Friends of the BJP's strategy
Sources have told us the Overseas is to infiltrate politics.
So, it wants to get elected is to infiltrate politics.
So, it wants to get elected to local councils first,
then state government and ultimately federal parliament.
then state government So, we started looking for patterns
of the organisation's influence So, we started looking for patterns
of the organisation's influence in Australia,
and it led us here to the north-west of Sydney, The Hills Shire,
which is also the federal electorate of Mitchell
which is also the federal electorate held by Alex Hawke.
It's great to be here with the Hindu Council of Australia.
We've discovered one of Alex Hawke's closest deputies, Rahul Jethi,
is a founding member of the Overseas Friends of the BJP in Australia.
He's seen here chanting a slogan co-opted by Hindu nationalists
and was seen at organisation events co-opted by Hindu nationalists
and was seen at organisation events
with senior Indian ministers
this year.
J'ai Shri Ram!
He also holds a powerful position
in Alex Hawke's seat
supervising his branches.
Sources say Alex Hawke and his allies
Sources say Alex Hawke lobbied councillors and his allies in The Hills Shire
lobbied councillors in The Hills Shire
lobbied councillors to get Rahul Jethi's wife, Reena,
the position of deputy mayor in 2019.
the position of deputy mayor Hawke has told us he wasn't involved.
We've linked Rahul Jethi to a Hawke has told us he wasn't involved.
We've linked Rahul Jethi to a fundraising war chest for Alex Hawke
We've linked Rahul Jethi to a called The Mitchell Club.
Four Corners has found this flyer
with an email address accessed by Jethi.
He and Mr Hawke deny Jethi's connected.
It seems He and Mr Hawke this political alliance deny Jethi's connected.
It seems this political alliance
It seems continues to deliver.
We've been leaked data continues to deliver.
We've been leaked data from Alex Hawke's seat.
We've analysed the last five years,
and in more than half the branches
Indian-Australians make up
a substantial proportion
a substantial of the new members.
It's almost impossible to get Liberal members to speak about this.
Hello. Hi. How are you?
I'm Avani. Nice to meet you. Nice to meet you.
How are you? Come in, please.
Thanks for having me. Welcome.
When I was on executive and... Thanks for having me. Welcome.
When I was on executive and...
Long-time Alex Hawke rival Matthew Camenzuli
was a senior member of the party Matthew Camenzuli
was a senior member of the party
until he was expelled a couple of years ago.
Alright, so, I just want to show you
some of these numbers that we've been given.
What goes through your mind when you see this?
What goes through your mind Insane. Insane.
Why so insane? Insane. Insane.
Why so insane? I mean...
..that's nuts. Why so insane? I mean...
..that's nuts.
And the further up and down the list you go, the more you're seeing it.
And the further up and down the list It's out of control.
We've been told by several recruits
that Rahul Jethi signed them up.
Jethi denies it all.
He says he's just like any other Liberal Party office bearer.
He says he's just like any other It's entirely possible
that he could tell Alex Hawke that he can roll him
in his next preselection,
which means he won't be the MP anymore.
I think the Liberal Party should be doing a significant investigation.
The member for Mitchell has to answer to this.
It doesn't look good. It doesn't look good.
We have to stop...
In a statement
Alex Hawke said he complies with all In a statement
Alex Hawke said he complies with all Liberal Party and electoral rules
and said he's modernised his electorate.
and said he's modernised A Liberal Party spokesman
said the Overseas Friends A Liberal Party spokesman
said the Overseas Friends of the BJP Australia
said the Overseas Friends isn't registered as a foreign agent.
That's true. The organisation IS operating here without scrutiny.
In this video
they're drumming up votes for a candidate in Southern India.
In the US it's been declared a foreign agent
and has to disclose all political activities.
I've heard that the Overseas Friends of the BJP
is having an event here in Parramatta.
I really want to know what they think about these accusations
that they're trying to infiltrate Australia.
that they're trying So, let's go and ask them.
Hello.
We're greeted by one of the group's office bearers, Ankur.
How are you? Are you live?
How are you? At first we're not allowed inside.
Yeah, you gotta turn off. At first we're not allowed inside.
Yeah, you gotta turn off. You gotta turn off.
I'm not... We're not... We're just...
Yeah. Then I wouldn't let you come in.
OK, sure. So, are we able to go inside?
No. You're not.
After some convincing, we're invited in.
They are supporters in there.
What's your aims of your group here?
Nothing. Nothing. Just... Just... We... We are more...
We are a fan group.
It's just like, you know, Manchester United,
It's just like, you know, there is a lot of Aussies,
they might be supporting those particular teams, right?
It's the same thing.
I ask him if the organisation
is trying to infiltrate Australian politics.
No. No. No, not at all.
We are Indian diaspora, you know? We are Indian diaspora.
Obviously, being a citizen,
obviously we exercise our rights here,
but other than that, there is nothing.
There is nothing here.
And what's the aims of...
The BJP has a head of foreign affairs,
who says his role is to coordinate
with the party's global outreach platform,
with the party's the Overseas Friends of the BJP.
Obviously you work with the BJP in India
to kind of organise your events and how you sort of function here.
No. No, not really.
Not really. No connection at all?
No, no. Look, sometime, obviously,
if, a major event like Narendra Modi's, you know, reception and all,
if, a major event like Narendra alright, as a community
we join hands together with the community and we just help them.
Nothing else. Other than that there is nothing.
Nothing else. Helps the diaspora by the...
Look, our organisation is a non-profit organisation.
So, please, alright? Uh... Respect our...
Then we're told we've overstayed our welcome.
India is not just accused of covert forms of foreign interference.
The most shocking allegations against the Indian government
involve assassinating dissidents on foreign soil.
Moninder Singh's just stepped off a flight from Vancouver.
What other passengers don't know is he's in grave danger.
How are you? Good. How are you?
Nice to meet you. How was the flight?
Nice to meet you. Long.
A few hours into the flight I started getting notifications
that there's been a duty to warn
that's been provided to another member of the community.
To have these duties to warn's a...
..yeah, which are imminent threat to assassination.
(HUBBUB)
Moninder is in Australia to sound an alarm.
He says Canadian authorities have told him and eight others
they could be killed at any moment,
including a Canadian Sikh federal MP.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
So, we know the risks that we're kind of like taking at the moment.
At the time we leave your house to the moment you get back,
At the time we leave your house and even when you're in your house,
everything from the doorbell ringing to everything,
everything is coordinated.
Moninder is part of a global movement
calling for the state of Punjab
to break away from India
and become a separate Sikh nation called Khalistan.
It's, like, basically what we think
is that, like, either we'll see It's, like, basically what we think
is that, like, either we'll see Khalistan or we'll die trying.
Last year, Moninder's close friend Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead
outside their local temple in Vancouver.
Canada has accused the Indian government
Canada has accused of orchestrating the assassination.
The Modi administration denies it
and has accused Nijjar of being a terrorist.
Can you tell me about that day that Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed?
It was actually Father's Day 2023.
We had dinner and then, just like any other family,
my kids were playing in the next room,
and I got, like, multiple calls on my phone over and over again.
And I picked up and I heard a panicked kind of voice
on the other side saying, uh... "Bhaji," which means 'brother',
"come right away, they've shot Hardeep."
Moninder rushed to the Sikh temple, or gurdwara,
Moninder rushed to the Sikh temple, where Hardeep was killed.
I would oddly say to you I've shed two tears since he's died.
I would oddly say to you And both of them were when I...
..leaned in to kiss his forehead in his casket.
..leaned in to kiss his forehead But it's one of those things
that, if it starts, it's probably not going to finish,
so, you just don't allow yourself that type of emotion.
You focus on the bigger fight. You focus on what the community needs.
Two months before Hardeep Singh Nijjar's assassination,
Two months before the Indian Foreign Secretary
sent a secret cable to Indian consulates across North America.
We got a copy of the memo,
and it orders a "sophisticated crackdown" on pro-Khalistan groups
that have been designated as terrorists by the Indian government.
It also calls Nijjar an "extremist"
against whom "concrete measures" need to be taken.
against whom "concrete measures" And it instructs Indian consulates
to work with India's foreign spy service, RAW.
The Indian government has called this document a fake.
After the execution in Canada
the Indian government After the execution in Canada
the Indian government allegedly didn't stop there.
It's accused of going for a much more ambitious target in New York City...
..this man - Gurpatwant Pannun,
the leader of pro-Khalistan group ..this man - Gurpatwant Pannun,
the leader of pro-Khalistan group Sikhs for Justice.
GURPATWANT PANNUN: This did not come as a surprise to me
or even if something is going to happen to me tomorrow,
or even if something or if I get killed in future,
that would not be a surprise to anybody.
The only thing we all must know
that this is the Indian system
that is trying to suppress the freedom of speech and expression
that is trying to suppress of pro-Khalistan Sikhs.
As President Joe Biden welcomed Narendra Modi to Washington DC,
the murder plot against Pannun was ramping up.
Several hundred miles to the north in New York City
you had an assassination plot unfolding.
you had an assassination plot You had an Indian
intelligence officer in India
urging what he thought was a hit team
to rush ahead and take care of this targeted killing.
It failed dramatically.
It was penetrated from the start.
The Indian government tried to hire a hitman in New York,
The Indian government ultimately turned to somebody
who was working as an informant ultimately turned to somebody
who was working as an informant for the US Drug Enforcement Agency.
So, from the very outset, the United States was able to see
right into this operation as it unfolded.
Indian authorities told media
the assassination could have been orchestrated by a rogue operative.
Washington Post reporter Greg Miller
revealed India's top spy chiefs
were implicated in the plot against Pannun.
The way the Indian security system works,
it just seems very unlikely
that you would have an intelligence chief
that you would have and a national security adviser
who would set plots like this in motion
without a pretty clear understanding
that ultimately the Prime Minister would be OK with it.
The Indian government has justified
cracking down The Indian government has justified
cracking down on the Khalistan movement
because it sees it as a terror threat.
It points to the '80s and '90s,
when the movement turned into an armed militancy
when the movement and an Air India flight was bombed,
killing more than 300 people.
The Sikh bodyguards
who assassinated the prime minister, Indira Gandhi, in 1984
were incensed by her decision
to order Indian military to storm Sikhism's holiest site.
ARCHIVE REPORTER: Smoke billowing over New Delhi, reflecting...
Thousands of Sikhs were then killed in reprisals.
(INDISTINCT YELLING)
(SPEAKS IN PUNJAB)
Today, authorities say Gurpatwant Pannun's social-media posts
are threatening India's safety,
especially when he draws on the past.
He denies he's a threat.
What did you mean when you said that it could be life-threatening?
What did you mean when you said I'm stating over and over again,
if anybody flies Air India,
you will be funding a Sikh genocide,
which will be life-threatening for your future generations.
So, whether they wanted to assassinate me
So, whether they wanted or whether they want to kill me,
I will not stop.
I will continue to campaign for Sikhs' right to self-determination.
I will continue to organise Khalistan referendums.
And, even if the destiny is a death, our destiny is a bullet,
And, even if the destiny I'm ready to take it.
(TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYS)
Sikhs who've migrated to Australia
continue to worship in temples like this.
The fraught history in India led many to migrate here,
including separatists.
(TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYS) (MAN SINGS HYMN)
Moninder fears even Australia isn't far enough removed
from the Indian state.
MONINDER SINGH: I think in Australia it's brewing.
They're already here, they're already interfering.
And it's very dangerous for the Sikh community here.
If something isn't checked soon,
that, you know, If something isn't checked soon,
that, you know, a country like Australia
could be in the same position as Canada in a few years.
So, I've heard that Sikh separatists
are feeling the pressure So, I've heard that Sikh separatists
are feeling the pressure of the Indian government
are feeling the pressure all the way here in Australia.
It's a really sensitive issue for these guys,
but one of them has agreed to speak to me on camera,
so, I'm heading to meet him now.
Harjinder Singh lives in suburban Melbourne with his family.
So, what's out here?
I'll show you the car.
By day he's a taxi driver.
His real passion is his activism
in the Australian chapter of Sikhs for Justice,
the same group as executed leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
the same group as executed leader I love Khalistan.
It makes me feel happy.
Makes me proud to be a Khalistani,
to put the Khalistan sticker Makes me proud to be a Khalistani,
to put the Khalistan sticker on my car.
So, that's why I put over there so big, so boldly over there.
Harjinder's an Australian citizen.
He says he's been the victim of an intimidation campaign.
At a key moment in the Khalistan movement
Harjinder got a threatening call from a private number.
A couple of months later his phone rang again.
I got a call at midnight and I was scared.
Why... Who calling me this time with no caller ID?
And I got a call on that time -
"You are not listening us," in Punjabi.
"You are not listening us," "You are not listening us now.
"So, be careful."
Harjinder wasn't deterred.
He kept speaking out about Khalistan.
Then, he says,
Indian authorities sent people Then, he says,
Indian authorities sent people to his parents' home in Punjab.
Some people visited my place -
"We told you to stop him.
"And we got orders from the Indian authorities,
"if anyone's doing opposite, like, against the country," yeah,
"if anyone's doing opposite, "we got orders to kill them."
And we... He don't know, he's not sure - is it from the police?
And we... He don't know, he's Is it from intelligence?
How did your parents react
when these Indian authorities said that your life was in danger?
when these Indian authorities They get scared.
How did you feel
hearing that authorities are going How did you feel
hearing that authorities are going to Harjinder's parents' house
hearing that authorities are going and saying all these things?
If they're targeting him, obviously they targeting me as well.
I don't know. If something happened...
..I don't know. It's scary.
I feel so scared sometimes, even say, "Oh, Harry..."
He say, "Don't worry," like, you know, "We're not doing wrong things.
We found more than six other Australians in the movement
who say they're also being threatened by Indian authorities.
(BIRDS TWITTER)
The next part of my investigation brings me to the Australian capital
and the nerve centre of the country's intelligence services.
and the nerve centre of It's here in 2021
that the head of ASIO, Mike Burgess,
announced a serious incursion that the head of ASIO, Mike Burgess,
announced a serious incursion on our sovereignty.
(APPLAUSE)
One of our investigations focused on a nest of spies
from a particular foreign intelligence service
from a particular that was operating in our country.
These spies developed targeted relationships
with current and former politicians,
a foreign embassy and a state police service.
They monitored their country's diaspora community.
We confronted the foreign spies
and quietly and professionally We confronted the foreign spies
and quietly and professionally removed them from our country.
It's fertile ground for sharing...
Burgess didn't name the country.
But the Washington Post did.
GREG MILLER: That was, I think, also quite troubling
GREG MILLER: That was, I think, that India, a presumed ally,
another democracy,
would be trying another democracy,
would be trying to get at information
that would apparently identify vulnerabilities in Australia.
Greens senator David Shoebridge has been following this case closely.
DAVID SHOEBRIDGE: I was shocked.
It's not the conduct you'd expect from a friendly nation,
but remember this is an administration,
but remember the BJP administration,
that has been involved
in the assassination of a Sikh leader in Canada.
When you reflect upon that very recent history,
it doesn't seem at all out of character.
It's part of what I think is a very disturbing trend we've seen.
This is the Indian High Commission in Canberra,
and it's where the Modi government's representatives work
and it's where the Modi government's here in the country.
It's also where the Indian spies
were pretending It's also where the Indian spies
were pretending to be unsuspecting diplomats.
And through the course of my investigation
I found out something that's pretty surprising.
It was previously reported that just two Indian intelligence operatives
were asked to leave the country.
We've now confirmed that at least four were kicked out of Australia.
The expulsions were done secretly,
and the intelligence operatives were asked to leave one by one.
The Modi government thought it got away
The Modi government without any public embarrassment.
Australia should have condemned it publicly at the time.
Australia should have That not only would've been good
to have an honest baseline for our relationship with India,
but it would've also sent a message to the diaspora communities here
but it would've also sent a message that "We've got your back."
The Indian government didn't get back to our requests for a response.
Australian ministers declined an interview.
Australian ministers In a statement a spokesperson said
the government is "deeply concerned by these allegations."
They said the government "doesn't tolerate threats of violence."
PENNY WONG: I think the Indian diaspora has a range of views,
PENNY WONG: I think the Indian and we have made clear, uh...
..in relation and we have made clear, uh...
..in relation to democratic debate in Australia
..in relation that, uh...the non...
..the peaceful expression of different views
is a key part of Australia's democracy.
Unlike Canada,
Australia hasn't put substantial brakes
on the relationship with India.
Isn't it fair that the Australian government
is pursuing this strong relationship with India,
is pursuing this strong relationship considering it's become
such an economic and technological powerhouse?
Well, I think it's absolutely a good strategy
to forge close ties with India,
to reach out as a friend to India.
But it's bloody foolhardy to do it and not protect yourself
when you know there's an active threat in play.
We have a very recent case study in Australian history
about what happens when all you see is money and trade
about what happens when all you see and a growth economy,
and you don't see any of the kind of concerns.
And it's what we did with China.
It turns out we're repeating many of the same mistakes with India,
and that's just setting us up for trouble.
(LAUGHTER, CHATTER)
It's judgement day for Narendra Modi,
and across Australia and the world
people are glued to screens and across Australia and the world
people are glued to screens watching election results roll in.
people are glued to screens (CROWD CHANTS IN HINDI)
(CHEERING)
(SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY) It is. Yeah.
Modi said he'd win this election in a landslide,
Modi said he'd win this election but he could barely make a majority.
(CHEERING)
It's a defeat for this leader (CHEERING)
It's a defeat for this leader who once seemed invincible.
Maybe the result will take Modi down a notch
and force him to respect India's strong democratic foundations.
Or he could crack down even more,
changing India forever...
..and testing Australia's desire to stay close
even at the expense of its own citizens.
(THEME MUSIC PLAYS)
Captions by Red Bee Media
Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation Captions by Red Bee Media
Copyright Australian Broadcasting Corporation