Indian Student Harassed in UK: Satyam Surana labelled ‘Islamophobe’ for supporting BJP

Satyam Surana, an Indian student at the London School of Economics (LSE) has alleged that he was targeted and called a fascist while campaigning for this year’s student elections.  Satyam was in news last year when he defiantly picked the tricolour off the ground during an attack on the Indian High Commission by Khalistani elements.

Speaking to an Indian news agency, the Pune born Satyam alleged that campaign was initiated against him hours before the voting for the student elections began. He also alleged that his opponents associated with the BJP and labelled him a fascist to boycott him.

Elaborating on the sequence of the events, Satyam said the elections at the London School of Economics were announced in February and early march this year, after which he filed his nomination for the post of General Secretary.

“From March 14-15, 2024, we noticed that my posters were ripped off and torn. We complained to the authorities. After we replaced out posters, on March 16, 2024, we saw some posters were defaced and there were crosses on my face. It was written anyone, but Satyam and I was cancelled out,” Satyam said.

“On the afternoon of March 17, 2024, there were messages all over the LSE groups that “this Satyam Surana is a BJP supporter, and he is a fascist person, an Islamophobe, transphobe. The messages were so seditious and contentious of the Indian government and the current establishment,” the student said.

Satyam alleged that the radical elements also screenshot his posts on social media X, where he merely praised the BJP government, but his posts were used with a malicious agenda to call him fascist. Speaking about his manifesto, for the student union elections Satyam said it spoke of addressing genuine issues on campus.

“With my entire team I went through all campus. We were reaching across departments and explaining our policies. I had a very well written and well drafted manifesto, which was not at all political. It said how things need improvement at the LSE, how there is a need for a grievance redressal portal and to have subsidised food on campus. We were getting support and people were saying that they would vote for me,” Satyam said.

The student also said his photo with the Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis was used to associate hiem with the BJP. “I was called a neo-Nazi supporter, right wing outside the campus it is very clear that the campaign was dictated and planned by the left wing, he said. Satyam also claimed those who targeted him were the ones who could not see the success of PM Modi, thus resorting to false information and propaganda.

“The people of the international community are not aware of what is going on India. Every international person looks up to India and the current PM Modi as a stalwart, legendary politician. Our Prime Minister has the highest approval rating in the entire world, we have shown what we can do during the COVID pandemic and we are emerging as the third largest economy. But sadly, the groups who cannot digest the fact are spreading not misinformation but disinformation,” Satyam said.

Satyam said he could not reach past the finish line despite gathering enough support in the initial phase of the campaigning. He further said that the campaign lefty a huge impact on him and his life at the campus, even after elections was over. However, he acknowledged the support he received from those who stood by him.

Recalling last year’s attack on the Indian High Commission in London, Satyam said, “Somewhere around early October, I was in the news because I picked up the national flag outside the Indian High Commission among the Khalistani protestors. He further said that he was targeted for referring to Khalistani as terrorist in one of his posts.