Honey Trehan's film Satluj, featuring Diljit Dosanjh, premiered on Zee5 on Friday but was unexpectedly removed by Sunday evening. The film, which focuses
on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has sparked controversy and raised questions about censorship in India. In response to its abrupt removal, RTI activist and Member of Parliament Saket Gokhale has written a letter to the Indian government, seeking clarification on the decision. In his letter addressed to Ashwini Vaishnaw, the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Gokhale expressed his dismay over the film's ban. He stated, "I was fortunate to watch the film Satluj yesterday before an order, purportedly from your Ministry, forced the OTT platform Zee5 to take it down." Gokhale urged the minister to view the film, emphasizing its significance in shedding light on the events of 1995 in Punjab, a period marked by human rights violations and state-sponsored violence. Gokhale described Satluj as a poignant reminder of Khalra's efforts to expose extrajudicial killings and the plight of families searching for their loved ones, whose bodies were often labeled as "unclaimed." He criticised the government's decision to ban the film, stating, "It’s unfathomable why such a powerful film would be banned while other countries have confronted their dark past." He argued that the film does not target any political party but rather highlights systemic failures that led to mass killings for personal gain. In his concluding remarks, Gokhale asserted that banning Satluj would not erase the painful history it portrays. He called for a national conversation about the atrocities committed during that time, suggesting that the film could serve as a catalyst for healing and reconciliation. "Instead, the conversation sparked by this powerful film should be a starting point for righting the wrongs that we committed," he wrote. Following the film's removal, Zee5 issued a statement indicating that Satluj would be unavailable in India until further notice, citing "current developments." The platform expressed its support for the film and its creators. Diljit Dosanjh, anticipating the backlash, reaffirmed his commitment to Punjab during a livestream, stating, "You can trouble me as much as you want. I am with Punjab till the day I die."
