The focus of debate is Diljit Dosanjh‘s film Satluji has taken a new political turn. Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu called the actor-singer an “impostor” while denying the allegations that the Center had anything to do with Zee5’s removal of the film.Speaking in Ludhiana, Bittu said the government has no control over OTT platforms and refuted claims that political pressure led to the removal of the film. Satluj disappeared from Zee5 within 48 hours of its launch, sparking criticism from the Punjabi film industry, social media users and Punjab government departments.Bittu claimed that the producers pulled the film themselves after making the money they wanted.“Diljit Dosanjhi only thinks about money,” he said.He went on to question the narrative surrounding the film’s removal. “When Diljit Dosanjh said that the film would be available on OTT platforms for two or three days and then be removed, we should have understood that there was something fishy about it. If the government was really planning to remove the film, why did it allow it to be released in the first place?”“It seems that once they made the required money, they deleted the film. The government has no control over OTT platforms,” ​​he added.
Bittu attacks Diljit over Chamkila and its public image
Bittu did not stop at the Satluj controversy. He also criticized Diljit’s film choices and public image.Talking about Amar Singh Chamkila, Bittu said: “If Diljit Dosanjh had respected the women in his family, like his mother or sister, he would not have acted in the film Chamkila.”He accused the actor of making the film just to make money and questioned why he never made a film on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Kalra.The federal minister also described Diljit as an “impostor” and accused him of misleading the people of Punjab while he was living in Los Angeles.“He is misleading Punjabis while sitting in Los Angeles,” Bittu said.Referring to Diljit’s concerts abroad, he claimed the singer asked people carrying Khalistan flags to be removed from his shows, then asked: “What institutions are behind Diljit?”
“I have nothing against this movie”
Bittu said he was not opposed to films set in the militancy years of Punjab, but felt Satluji only told one side of the story.“I have nothing against the film, but it shouldn’t show a one-sided story,” he said.He also challenged Diljit Dosanjh and director Honey Trehan to make a film about police officers who lost their lives during the insurgency.“Will Diljit Dosanjh and Honey Trehan make a film about a policeman who was assassinated in 1984?” he asked.
Why is Satluj facing controversy?
The controversy started after Satluj was removed from Zee5 two days after it started airing on Zee5. The sudden move led many to question whether the platform acted under political pressure.Diljit had earlier said that the film would only be available on the platform for a short period before being taken down, fueling speculation.The film reportedly explores the militancy years in Punjab and mentions the role of Bint Singh’s government and the Punjab Police during that period.
