The controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh's film Satluj has taken a new turn after Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu questioned why the movie was removed from ZEE5 just two days after its release.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Bittu dismissed claims that the Central government was responsible for the film's removal. He said that if the government had wanted to stop the film, it would never have allowed it to release on the OTT platform in the first place.

Ravneet Bittu Questions 'Satluj' Takedown

Bittu said that Diljit had earlier claimed the film would remain available on the streaming platform for only two or three days before being removed. According to the minister, this statement itself raised doubts.

He suggested that the filmmakers may have taken down the movie after earning the revenue they wanted. He also stated that the government does not control OTT platforms like ZEE5.

Minister Targets Diljit Dosanjh

The Union Minister also criticised Diljit Dosanjh personally. He accused the actor of caring more about money than Punjab and questioned his decision to star in the film Chamkila.

Bittu further said that Diljit now lives in luxury in Los Angeles and does not understand the concerns of people in Punjab. He added that the state wants peace and stability.

Why Was 'Satluj' Removed From ZEE5?

The film was released on ZEE5 on July 3 under the title Satluj after originally being known as Punjab '95. However, it was removed from the platform on July 5, sparking criticism from several political parties and Sikh organisations.

The film is directed by Honey Trehan and is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, who exposed the illegal cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab between 1984 and 1994.

Khalra disappeared in 1995. In 2005, four Punjab Police personnel were convicted for his abduction and murder. Later, the Punjab and Haryana High Court increased their sentence to life imprisonment.

Before its OTT release, the film had remained stuck in the censor certification process for more than three years.

The makers of Satluj have not yet officially explained why the film was removed from ZEE5.