Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh had a message for his critics as he opened the India leg of his Aura Tour with a spectacular concert at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday. Addressing the controversy surrounding his perceived distance from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP)-led student protest, the singer asserted that nobody needed to teach Punjabis how to fight their battles.

To advertise here,

“I love everyone because I’m an artist, bro,” Diljit told the packed stadium before adding, “Don’t teach Punjabis how to fight battles.”

He also brought up the struggles surrounding the release of ‘Satluj’, his film based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Referring to those who had mocked the film, Diljit said, “The film you stood on stage and mocked Jaswant Singh Khalra ji’s film. We fought for a very long time for that film.”

ALSO READ: ‘Chota bhai samajh ke mitti pao’: Abhijeet Dipke’s open letter to Diljit Dosanjh after CJP row 

Explaining his approach towards criticism, he added that he preferred to remain quiet and respond with love, even when faced with hostility. “If someone hates us, no problem. From our side it's only love for everyone,” he said.

Diljit Dosanjh Addresses Attempts To Stop His Delhi Concert

The singer also acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding the Delhi show and thanked fans for turning up despite the challenges. The concert, which marked the beginning of his seven-city Aura India Tour, went ahead under enhanced security arrangements, with hundreds of personnel deployed around the venue and traffic restrictions in place.

“There were a lot of attempts made to stop me. But I will be here in India till the 20th of December. The rest of the shows will be live,” he told the audience.

ALSO READ: ‘Specific threat-related inputs’: Delhi Police denies permission for Diljit Dosanjh’s October 30 concert

The concert had initially faced a hurdle after Delhi Police withheld permission, citing security and law-and-order commitments during the festive season. Organisers subsequently received clearance after submitting a detailed security, traffic and crowd-management plan.
From ‘GOAT’ To ‘Main Hoon Punjab’: Highlights From Diljit’s Delhi Show

Beyond the controversy, the evening was a celebration of Diljit's music and his connection with fans. Making a dramatic entry on an elevated platform against a giant moon backdrop, the singer opened the show with ‘Kehnde Soniye’, followed by popular tracks such as ‘5 Taara’, ‘Do You Know’ and ‘Patiala Peg’.

He also brought Punjabi folk music into the mix with ‘Laung Gawacha’ and revisited older favourites, including ‘Kali Teri’, ‘Sanson Ki Mala’ and ‘Khuda Gawah’. One particularly touching moment came when he invited a CRPF woman personnel on stage and thanked her for her service.

Later, the singer returned to his high-energy set with ‘GOAT’, ‘Born to Shine’, ‘Kinni Kinni’, ‘Ranjha’, ‘Rog’ and ‘Hare Krishna Hare Ram’ from ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’. He closed the concert with ‘Main Hoon Punjab’ from his film ‘Amar Singh Chamkila’.

The Delhi concert also marked the beginning of a packed tour schedule, with Diljit set to perform in Indore, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Lucknow, Chandigarh and Kolkata over the coming weeks.