Amid the Doklam stand-off on the Bhutanese border, the state owned Chinese news agency Xinhua has put out a three-minute video in which an actor mocks India by dressing up as a Sikh soldier.
The actor in a Sikh turban and a shabby beard clowns around on screen while the anchor attacks India in the clip titled "7 sins of India".
The video has been uploaded on Xinhua's site and Twitter handle at a time when India has posted burly Sikh and Jat soldiers at the Doklam tri-junction in a bid to intimidate Chinese soldiers.
The anchor in the clip starts by saying that it has been two months since Indian troops illegally crossed into China.
"The whole world is trying to wake India up but China has realized that it is impossible to awaken a guy who is pretending to be asleep," she says and shows a man with the ill-fitting turban saying in a mock Indian accent: "Nobody's blaming me because I'm asleep." He then snores amid canned laughter.
#TheSpark: 7 Sins of India. It’s time for India to confess its SEVEN SINS. pic.twitter.com/vb9lQ40VPH
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 16, 2017
UK-based Sikh Press Association called the clip, "blatant mockery of the Sikh identity". UK-based Sikh Press As sociation said, "It is sad to see just how low Chinese media have stooped in using the Sikh identity as a pawn in their state propaganda against India.
Sikhs make up less than 2% of India's population, so to use a mocked-up image of a Sikh as the face of propaganda targeted against India shows just how ill-informed Xinhua is." Akal Takht Jathedar Gurbachan Singh said, "It is racist and reflects poorly on the Chinese state-owned media. Despite the stand-off India should raise the issue with China."
The anchor in the clip also calls Doklam undisputed Chinese territory and alleges that India is trampling on international law.
She mockingly asks, "Didn't your mama tell you never break the law?" The clown also says, "He is building a path in his garden, I am in danger," which is followed by another bout of laughter.The clip claims that India is holding a small neighbour like Bhutan to ransom in the name of protecting it.
Propaganda is not enough for Xinhua, it now also makes racist videos about India. This is really unbelievable coming from state news wire. https://t.co/doU7bPO8J1
— Jojje Olsson (@jojjeols) August 17, 2017
This is funny shit, but why are they using a Sardarji to mock India? They could have made someone wear a Modi mask. https://t.co/l5g4zli9eV
— Rahul Roushan (@rahulroushan) August 16, 2017
What the hell did I just watch...
— Jeff M. Smith (@Cold_Peace_) August 17, 2017
I've got it! Let's make a hyper racist video alienating the fastest-growing big country on earth! Super! https://t.co/4HgPLeh8mO