Political parties and Sikh bodies in Punjab on Monday criticized the removal of Diljit Dosanjh’s film “Satluj” from the OTT platform, saying the film forces India to confront one of the state’s “darkest chapters” and that history should be confronted with honesty, not buried through censorship.
Criticizing the removal of the film from the ZEE5 platform, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said: “This is not just censorship, it is an assault on our collective memory, truth and freedom of expression.”
The film, originally titled ‘Punjab 95’ and based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, was released in India on streaming service ZEE5 last Friday. However, it became unavailable on the platform after just two days.
Read also | Satluj Row Explained: Who is Jaswant Singh Khalra and why does his life story make Diljit Dosanjh’s film controversial?
Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khera said, “I strongly condemn the removal of Diljit Dosanjh’s film Satluj on police brutality in the kidnapping and elimination of Professor Jaswant Singh Khalra, a human rights activist, in 1995.”
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and MP Malvinder Singh Kang said that when a country starts fearing its history, censorship becomes its most dangerous weapon.
Kulwant Singh Manan, principal secretary of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SPGC), asserted that people should know what happened during those days in Punjab.
“The film should not have been removed from the platform. The government should make sure that people watch this film. What is wrong if reality is shown and the public gets to know what happened during those days in Punjab,” Manan told PTI over phone.
Sukhbir Badal calls the removal an attack on the truth
Badal said he was shocked and saddened by the “arbitrary removal of Satluj from #ZEE5 in India”.
He said this is not just censorship, it is an assault on our collective memory, truth and freedom of expression.
“I strongly condemn this move,” Badal said in a post on X. “Punjab deserves to confront its past with honesty, not with oppression.”
Read also | Extrajudicial Killings, Secret Burials and Labata Punjab: The True Story Behind Satluj by Diljit Dosanjh
“A powerful film that bravely exposes the painful history of Punjab and honors the ultimate sacrifice made by S. Jaswant Singh Ji Khalra cannot be silenced in this way,” Badal said.
The film based on Khalra’s life has been under censorship for more than three years.
The Honey Trehan-directed film was released without any cuts, but on Sunday evening the platform shared a statement informing viewers that it is no longer available in India.
Khaira and Kang demand the restoration of the film
In a post on website
“This film is based on true facts upheld by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India while convicting the guilty police officers. I feel sad that the same #PoliceState is still operating shamelessly in Punjab under the @BhagwantMann government,” Khaira said.
The Congress leader urged the government to “release the film so that the present and future generations know what a police state is that unfortunately still rules the roost in Punjab.”
In a post on website
“I unequivocally condemn the unjustified removal of #Satluj from Zee5 India. The film that forces India to confront one of Punjab’s darkest chapters and depicts the alleged human rights violations of the 1980s and 1990s, brought to light by the courageous struggle of Jaswant Singh Khalra, has suddenly become unavailable without any transparent explanation,” Kang said.
“By banning #Satluj, BJP4India has revealed its true face. This is another reminder of its deep discomfort with the reality of Punjab and its persistent bias against Punjabis.
“I strongly urge the government to ensure that Satluj is restored to office without delay. History must be faced honestly, not buried with silence and censorship,” Kang said.
Congressman’s statement, ZEE5
Congress member from Patiala, Dharamvira Gandhi, said the removal of the film was “unfortunate” and an attack on freedom of expression.
He added that the film sought to introduce younger generations to the turbulent period that Punjab witnessed during the 1990s, and raised important questions related to human rights and governance.
“It is very unfortunate that a film trying to depict the reality of Punjab during that era has been removed. After concerns over media freedom, it now seems that even the film industry is facing restrictions,” Gandhi said.
The Honey Trehan-directed film was released without any cuts, but on Sunday evening the platform shared a statement informing viewers that it is no longer available in India.
“In light of the current developments, Satluj will not be available in India until further notice. We are committed to exploring all appropriate avenues through due process to bring the film back to our audiences at the earliest opportunity,” the company said in a statement.
In the film, Dosanjh plays the role of Khalra, who investigated the burning of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab over a 10-year period from 1984 to 1994, before disappearing in 1995.
In 2005, four Punjab Police personnel were convicted of his kidnapping and murder and sentenced to seven years in prison.
Two years later, the Punjab and Haryana High Court increased their sentences to life imprisonment.
In 2023, the film was scheduled to have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), but was removed from the list without any official statement from the organizers.
The social drama ran into trouble with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), which reportedly requested an unprecedented cut for 127 films. The delay in getting clearance from the censor board forced the filmmakers to postpone the planned releases.
With its previous title ‘Punjab 95’, the film was scheduled to be released worldwide on February 7, 2025, without any cuts, except in India. But this version also did not happen.
