The controversy over Diljit Dosanjh‘s film Satluj has taken a fresh political turn. Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has called the actor-singer an “impostor” while denying allegations that the Centre had anything to do with the film being taken down from Zee5.Speaking in Ludhiana, Bittu said the government has no control over OTT platforms and dismissed claims that political pressure led to the film’s removal. Satluj disappeared from Zee5 within 48 hours of its release, sparking criticism from sections of the Punjabi film industry, social media users and the Punjab government.Bittu claimed the makers themselves removed the film after earning the money they wanted.“Diljit Dosanjh only thinks about money,” he said.He went on to question the narrative around the film’s removal. “We should have understood that there was something fishy when Diljit Dosanjh said that the film would be available on the OTT platform for two-three days and then would be removed. If the government really intended to remove the film, why would it allow it to stream in the first place?”“It seems that once they had earned the required money, they removed the film. The government has no control over OTT platforms,” he added.
Bittu takes aim at Diljit over Chamkila and his public image
Bittu did not stop at the controversy over Satluj. He also criticised Diljit over his film choices and public image.Referring to Amar Singh Chamkila, Bittu said, “If Diljit Dosanjh had any respect for the women in his family, such as his mother or sister, he would not have acted in the movie Chamkila.”He accused the actor of making the film only to earn money and questioned why he had never made a film on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.The Union minister also described Diljit as an “impostor” and accused him of misleading people in Punjab while living in Los Angeles.“He is misleading Punjab while sitting in Los Angeles,” Bittu said.Talking about Diljit’s concerts abroad, he claimed that the singer asks for people carrying Khalistan flags to be removed from his shows before asking, “Which agencies are behind Diljit?”
‘I am not against the movie’
Bittu said he was not opposed to films based on Punjab’s militancy years but felt Satluj presented only one side of the story.“I am not against the movie, but a one-sided story should not be shown,” he said.He also challenged Diljit Dosanjh and director Honey Trehan to make a film on the police officers who lost their lives during the insurgency.“Will Diljit Dosanjh and Honey Trehan make a movie on the police officers who were assassinated during the 1984 era?” he asked.
Why is Satluj facing controversy?
The debate began after Satluj was removed from Zee5 just two days after it started streaming. The sudden move led many to question whether the platform had acted under political pressure.Adding to the speculation, Diljit had earlier said that the film would be available on the platform only for a short period before being taken down.The film reportedly explores Punjab’s militancy years and includes references to the Beant Singh government and the role of the Punjab Police during that period.
