BJP Caught in Crossfire: Bittu vs Dosanjh Over ‘Satluj’ Film Row

Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu’s recent criticism of the film Satluj, starring Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, has ignited a political controversy in Punjab. While Bittu, a former Congress MP now in the BJP, argues that the film presents a one-sided narrative of Punjab’s militancy years, his remarks have drawn sharp responses from rival parties and put his own party in a delicate balancing act.

The controversy began after Satluj was removed from the OTT platform ZEE5. The BJP’s Punjab unit president, Kewal Singh Dhillon, welcomed the Centre’s decision to form a three-member review committee to examine the removal, calling it a victory for transparency. He emphasised that the rule of law should prevail while acknowledging the concerns of Punjab’s film fraternity.

Bittu, however, shifted the focus. He denied any role of the BJP or the Centre in the film’s removal, insisting that Satluj offers a one-sided view of the militancy period. Invoking the legacy of his grandfather, former Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was assassinated in 1995, Bittu defended the anti-militancy campaign of the 1990s and called for a balanced portrayal. He accused Dosanjh of misleading the public while living abroad and challenged the actor and director Honey Trehan to make a film on the security forces and civilians who lost their lives during the militancy.

Bittu’s comments gave an opening to the BJP’s rivals. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) state chief, Aman Arora, questioned Bittu for targeting Dosanjh while claiming no role in the removal. He reiterated that the Punjab government had no objection to private screenings and said OTT decisions rest with the Centre. Congress state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring defended Dosanjh, reminding Bittu that the actor had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and urged him to be cautious in attacking an artist who has promoted Punjabi culture globally.

Within the BJP, the party publicly backed Dhillon’s stance, but some leaders privately acknowledged Bittu’s emotional connection to the issue due to his grandfather’s assassination. However, they cautioned against personalising the debate, which could overshadow the party’s broader political messaging ahead of the Punjab assembly elections. “The film covers a period when the Congress was in power, so why should the BJP be the focus?” a senior BJP leader asked.

Notably, other members of the Beant Singh family—including his son Tej Parkash Singh Kotli, grandson Gurkirat Singh Kotli, and daughter Gurkanwal Kaur—all Congress leaders, have remained silent on the film and the controversy.

This episode follows a pattern in Bittu’s political career. During the 2020 farmers’ agitation against the now-repealed farm laws, he alleged “Khalistani elements” had infiltrated the protests. After joining the BJP in March 2024, he continued his combative style, calling for an inquiry into farmer leaders’ assets during the Gidderbaha by-election. Despite these controversies, Bittu’s stature in the BJP has grown. Though he lost the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat in 2024, he was appointed to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan and inducted into the Union council of ministers.