Two weeks apart in two democracies.

Two monuments to democracy breached.

Two capital city’s police attacked.

This is what fake news, conspiracy theories and religious radicalization wrought.

This is hard for Indian Americans. The parallels are uncanny and unignorable.1/

Both protests were religionized. Both were framed as religious revolutions against manufactured injustice.

One incited by a rejection of an election. The other incited by rejection of #FarmLaws2020 that were passed by a democratic parliament & that economists say are needed.2/

I want to believe these protests are not religiously motivated-that they are folks misled by #fakenews and demagoguery.

But why are some diasporic advocates continuing to suffuse the protests with religious imagery or Khalistan, when most Sikhs globally reject separatism? 3/

But sanity will prevail. Trump left office and power was transferred.

Many farmers are calling off the protests and going home. Govt of India is seeking reconciliation.

Both countries are reviewing security failures.

Here’s to optimism. Satyameva Jayate. (End)