‘Punjab deserves the truth,’ Sukhbir Badal slams Satluj’s removal from ZEE5

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has strongly condemned the sudden removal of Diljit Dosanjh's long-delayed film ‘Satluj’ from ZEE5, calling the decision an attack on freedom of expression and Punjab's collective memory.

Originally titled ‘Punjab 95’, the Honey Trehan directorial premiered on ZEE5 on July 4 after delays and censorship battles. However, the film became unavailable on the streaming platform just two days later, leaving viewers surprised and sparking widespread debate.

Reacting to the development, Badal shared a statement on X, saying he was "shocked and saddened" by the "arbitrary removal of Satluj from #ZEE5 in India."

Calling the move far more serious than a routine content takedown, he wrote, "This is not mere censorship, it is an assault on our collective memory, truth, and freedom of expression. I strongly condemn this move. Punjab deserves to confront its past with honesty, not suppression."

Praising the film's subject, Badal said, "A powerful film that courageously unveils Punjab's painful history and honours the supreme sacrifice of S. Jaswant Singh Ji Khalra cannot be silenced this way."

The film is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, portrayed by Diljit Dosanjh. Khalra investigated the alleged cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994 before he himself disappeared in 1995. In 2005, four Punjab Police personnel were convicted for his abduction and murder and their sentences were later enhanced to life imprisonment by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.