Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Wednesday reacted to the removal of the film ‘Satluj’ from OTT platform Zee5, questioning allegations that the government was behind the removal.
He said that if the Center had intended to remove the film, it would not have allowed it to be shown on the platform in the first place. Moreover, Betu slammed Diljit Dosanjh, and the actor slammed the singer while commenting on the controversy surrounding the film’s release and subsequent removal.
The song ‘Satluj’ has been making headlines ever since it was removed from the streaming platform.
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“We should have understood that something was fishy when Diljit Dosanjh said that the film would be available on OTT platform for 2-3 days and then it would be removed. If the government really intended to remove the film, why would it allow it to stream in the first place?” The minister said.
“It seems that as soon as they got the required funds, they (the makers) removed the film. The government has no control over OTT platforms,” Bittu said.
He also criticized another of Diljit’s films, ‘Chamkila’, saying that the actor would not have portrayed a character in it if he respected women. Bittu added, “Diljit Dosanjh only thinks about money. If Diljit Dosanjh had any respect for the women in his family, like his mother or sister, he would not have acted in Shamkila.”
“He’s sitting in big mansions in Los Angeles, what does he care about in Punjab?” Bittu said, adding that the state only wants peace.
Ravneet Bittu is the grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was assassinated in 1995.
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‘Satluj’ movie has been removed from OTT
The film, which was earlier titled ‘Punjab ’95’, delves into the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra in Punjab in the 1990s, and was released uncut on ZEE5 on July 3 under a new title: ‘Satluj’.
The film “Satluj”, directed by Hani Trehan, details the life of Khalra, who investigated the burning of thousands of unidentified bodies in the state during 10 years from 1984 to 1994. He disappeared in 1995.
Then, in 2005, according to news agency PTI, 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.
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Earlier, the film was stuck before the censors for more than three years. After its OTT release, it was removed from the platform two days later on July 5.
The removal of the film “Satluj” from the OTT platform sparked reactions from several political parties and Sikh bodies in Punjab.
