Ten years ago this town was the heart of community activism. Folks would gather at the park on Sunday mornings to discuss local issues, including the environment. Back when people still talked about these things openly.

Last night, Indian police raided the homes of environmental activists Harjeet Singh and Jyoti Awasthi, the founders of Satat Sampada, an organization dedicated to combating fossil fuel usage in India. The raids were conducted under allegations tied to criminal activities related to their anti-fossil fuel campaign efforts.

The two strongly deny any wrongdoing and accuse the police actions as politically motivated attacks on free speech and environmental advocacy. They’ve been at it for years now, pushing back against what they see as harmful industry practices.

“This is a direct attempt to silence us,” said Harjeet Singh in an interview with The American Sentinel. “We have always operated within the law, promoting renewable energy and cleaner air.”

Jyoti Awasthi echoed these sentiments, adding that such actions set a dangerous precedent for activists everywhere.

“If we can’t speak freely about issues affecting our health and environment,” she said, “then what does that say about the future of activism in this country?”

The pattern isn’t new. Activists across India have faced similar challenges from those who see them as threats to traditional economic interests.

“We’ve seen this before,” explains Singh. “When our voices become too loud, they try and shut us up.”

This latest round of raids comes amid a broader crackdown on dissent in recent years. It's reminiscent of the Obama-era approach but with a sharper edge now.

The activist duo plans to fight these charges in court, hoping for a fair hearing that respects their rights as citizens and activists.

“We’ll continue our work,” Awasthi vows, “no matter what.”

Back then, folks used to say, "if you have nothing good to say about someone, don’t say anything at all." Times sure change.