Singh, a 30-year-old preacher, has been a popular figure within a separatist movement that seeks to establish a sovereign state in Punjab called Khalistan for followers of the Sikh religion. ”Raman Jit Singh Chima, Asia-Pacific policy director for Access Now, said the Punjab government in effect “declared a state of emergency or curfew across the entire state of Punjab when it comes to the internet. At a time when the government is pushing its citizens to pay for goods and receive welfare services online, such widespread internet shutdowns threatened to undermine the government’s own efforts, Sugathan said