Akali Dal to Screen ‘Satluj’ Across Punjab, BJP Rejects Allegations Over OTT Removal

Chandigarh, July 2026 : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday announced that it would organise screenings of actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh’s film Satluj across Punjab, saying the initiative is intended to preserve the memory of a painful chapter in the state’s history and educate younger generations about the alleged human rights violations during the militancy era.

Announcing the decision, SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal said the party would ensure the film reaches every village, town and city in Punjab. He maintained that the objective is to familiarise the youth with the events surrounding the alleged fake encounters of thousands of innocent Sikh youths and the killing of human rights activist Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra.

In a statement, Badal said the film depicts the anguish and suffering experienced by Punjab during one of the most turbulent phases in its history. He said the Sikh community was already grappling with deep emotional and religious trauma following the military action at Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib and Sri Akal Takht Sahib, and that the violence which followed left lasting scars on the community.

Referring to the anti-Sikh riots that erupted later in 1984, Badal alleged that countless innocent Sikhs were killed in New Delhi and several other parts of the country. He claimed that attempts are now being made to prevent Punjabis, particularly Sikhs, from documenting and remembering that period through films and other historical records.

Calling upon party workers to actively support the initiative, Badal directed every office-bearer and leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal to organise screenings of Satluj across the state. He said the party believes it is essential for future generations to understand the sacrifices and hardships endured during that period so that such events are never forgotten.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu dismissed allegations made by certain political leaders linking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the Central government to the reported removal of Satluj from the OTT platform ZEE5.

Addressing reporters in Jalandhar, Bittu described the accusations as baseless, misleading and politically motivated. He pointed out that the events portrayed in the film occurred during a period when both the Punjab government and the Central government were led by the Congress, making attempts to associate the BJP with those historical events factually incorrect.

Bittu also clarified that film certification and regulatory provisions differ depending on the mode of release. While theatrical releases are governed by one set of regulations, content broadcast on satellite television and OTT platforms is subject to separate statutory and regulatory frameworks.

He asserted that there was no factual or legal basis for blaming either the BJP or the Central government for the film’s removal from ZEE5. According to the Union Minister, efforts to politicise the issue were aimed at creating unnecessary controversy rather than presenting the facts surrounding the film’s availability on digital platforms.