Diljit Dosanjh's film *Satluj* deeply stirred the hearts and minds of the audience. If you managed to watch Diljit Dosanjh's film during the brief window it was available on ZEE5, consider yourself fortunate, as it was removed from the OTT platform within just 48 hours. Now, the film has sparked a debate within political circles as well. Based on the life of Punjabi human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, the film had been awaiting Censor Board approval for four years. The Board had suggested 120 cuts for clearance, but the director stood firm, resulting in the film never making it to theaters.

After a long battle and a lengthy wait, *Satluj*—directed by Honey Trehan—was finally released on ZEE5 without any cuts. However, its removal from the platform just two days later has raised questions regarding the growing trend of censorship in India. Artists believe that freedom of expression is being eroded amidst this rising censorship.

**‘Satluj’ Vanishes from OTT in Two Days**
Following the removal of *Satluj* from ZEE5, Diljit Dosanjh expressed his displeasure via social media. Voices from Punjab's political circles have also risen in support of the film; Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal questioned the ban in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

**Sukhbir Singh Badal Expresses Displeasure**
In his post, he wrote, "I am deeply saddened and disturbed by the removal of *Satluj* from ZEE5. This film deals with a painful chapter of Punjab's history and highlights the sacrifice of Jaswant Singh Khalra. This is not merely censorship; it is an attempt to conceal our painful history and a direct assault on our freedom of expression." Diljit Expresses Anguish

After the film was pulled, Diljit Dosanjh took to social media to express his displeasure and sorrow. In his post, he wrote that he had always suspected his film would meet the same fate as Jaswant Singh Khalra. Sharing a clip from the film, he wrote, "I will challenge the darkness. Shaheed Jaswant Singh Khalra... the same thing happened to *Punjab 95* (or *Sutlej*) that happened to Jaswant Singh Khalra."

Who was Jaswant Singh Khalra?
Jaswant Singh Khalra was a human rights activist who exposed the killings that took place in Punjab during the tenure of the Indira Gandhi government. His investigation revealed that the police were illegally taking the lives of innocent people in Punjab; the police were killing and burying innocents while reporting only a fraction of the actual figures. Jaswant Singh paid a heavy price for exposing this truth. He suddenly disappeared, and his family never found any trace of him.

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