Indian student faces hate campaign at London School of Economics for supporting PM Modi
Satyam Surana, an Indian student studying in the United Kingdom, found himself embroiled in controversy during student union elections at the London School of Economics (LSE) for expressing support towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the development of India.
He observed his posters were being ripped off and torn, prompting him to lodge complaints with the authorities. Upon replacing these posters, he found that some had been defaced, with crosses marked on his face and phrases like “anyone but Satyam”.
“I was cancelled out,” he said.
People are now Anti-India because they are Anti-Modi‼️
— Satyam Surana (@SatyamSurana) March 25, 2024
They attempted to harass me. I was cancelled, I was slurred.
Why?
– Because I supported PM Modi.
– Because I supported BJP.
– Because I spoke up for the truth when the Ram Mandir was built.
– Because I supported the… pic.twitter.com/OArzoof3aN
Allegations surfaced that a coordinated effort was made to discredit Surana’s campaign by falsely associating him with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and labeling him as a ‘fascist,’ ‘Islamophobe,’ and ‘transphobe.’
Even his association with dignitaries like Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis became fodder for malicious propaganda. Satyam decried, “My photograph with Mr. Fadnavis was used to claim that I am linked to the BJP.”
Surana emphasized that the international community is often unaware of India’s developments and praised Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, highlighting India’s achievements during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite facing smear campaigns and false allegations, Surana remains steadfast in his support for India and its progress under PM Modi’s governance.
He denounced the dissemination of misinformation aimed at undermining India’s global image and expressed gratitude for the support he received during the challenging period.
Satyam Surana gained attention previously for bravely lifting the Indian flag during an attack on the Indian High Commission in the UK.
The incident underscores the complexities of political discourse and nationalism among Indian students studying abroad, especially in the context of student elections and activism at prestigious institutions like LSE.
