Sukhbir Badal Condemns Removal of Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Satluj’ from OTT Platform

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has strongly condemned the removal of Diljit Dosanjh’s much-awaited film ‘Satluj’ from an OTT platform in India, saying Punjab deserves to confront its past with honesty rather than suppress it. Originally produced under the title ‘Punjab 95’, the film was released on the ZEE5 streaming platform in India last Friday. However, it disappeared from the platform just two days after its release. Reacting to the development, Badal said he was deeply shocked and saddened by what he described as the arbitrary decision to remove the film. In a post on social media platform X, the SAD leader said the move was not merely an act of censorship but an attack on collective memory, truth, and freedom of expression. He stated that Punjab has the right to face its history with honesty and should not be forced into silence through pressure. Badal further said that a powerful film highlighting Punjab’s painful history and paying tribute to the sacrifice of late human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra should not be silenced in such a manner. Who Was Jaswant Singh Khalra? In the film, Diljit Dosanjh portrays human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Khalra investigated the alleged secret cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab during the period between 1984 and 1994. In 1995, he himself disappeared under mysterious circumstances. In 2005, four Punjab Police personnel were sentenced to seven years in prison for his abduction and murder. In 2007, the Punjab and Haryana High Court enhanced their sentences to life imprisonment. A Film Surrounded by Controversy The film has faced several hurdles over the years. In 2023, it was scheduled to premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) but was removed from the festival lineup without any official explanation. The project also remained locked in a prolonged dispute with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which reportedly sought 127 cuts to the film. As a result, its release was postponed multiple times. The film was later scheduled to be released worldwide outside India on February 7, 2025, under the title ‘Punjab 95’ without any cuts, but that release also did not take place. Directed by Honey Trehan, the film was eventually released directly on an OTT platform in India last Friday. However, by Sunday evening, it was removed from the platform until further notice. The decision was reportedly taken over concerns related to national security and the possible misuse of the film by anti-India elements.