The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has constituted a three-member committee to examine the circumstances surrounding the removal of the Punjabi film Satluj from an OTT platform, Punjab BJP president Kewal Dhillon said.
The BJP has come under criticism over the film's removal, with several social media posts alleging that Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu played a role in the decision. Bittu has not responded publicly to the allegations.
The film depicts the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was Bittu's grandfather, and also alleges that the Punjab Police and the then Congress government were involved in extra-judicial killings. Dhillon said the Centre's decision followed an appeal he submitted to the ministry on Monday, seeking a review of the film's removal.
Directed by Honey Trehan and based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Khalra, the film was removed from ZEE5 on Sunday evening, just two days after its release. The action followed objections from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, which said the film had not completed the mandatory certification process with the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) before being released on the streaming platform.
Also read: ‘Satluj’ released without required certification: I&B Ministry
Welcoming the Centre's move, Dhillon said Punjabi cinema and its artistes represent the voice, history and cultural identity of the people of Punjab. He added that concerns expressed by members of the Punjabi film industry and the public over the manner in which the film was taken down had prompted him to take up the issue with the government.
"I welcome the Centre's prompt decision to refer the issue to a review committee. Due process, transparency and respect for Punjab's cultural and creative voices must always go hand in hand," Dhillon said, adding that he would continue to stand with Punjab's artistes and the people of the state on the matter.
He further said while the rule of law must be respected, the legitimate concerns of Punjab's film fraternity and the wider public deserved an impartial and objective hearing. Dhillon added that the Punjab BJP would continue engaging with all stakeholders to ensure the issue is resolved fairly and without unnecessary delay.
Earlier, ministry officials had maintained that the film, previously titled Punjab '95, had not obtained the required certification before its OTT release. They alleged that the makers changed the title and released it online without securing fresh clearance, in violation of the Information Technology Rules. The CBFC had earlier recommended 127 cuts to the film, which its makers declined to accept.
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