SAD Vows to Screen Punjab Militancy Film ‘Satluj’ Amid Political Row
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A film about a turbulent period in Punjab’s history has become the centre of a political controversy. The movie, earlier called ‘Punjab ’95’, tells the story of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and the violence Punjab witnessed roughly between the mid-1980s and early 1990s. It was released without cuts under a new title, ‘Satluj’, on a streaming platform on July 3, but was later taken down.
Soon after its removal, the Shiromani Akali Dal announced it would step in to ensure the film still reaches people. Party president Sukhbir Singh Badal said he has instructed every SAD worker and leader to arrange screenings in villages, towns and cities throughout Punjab. He argued that young people and future generations must learn about the suffering and repression of that era, which he blamed on the Congress governments in power at the time.
Badal framed the issue as one of historical memory, saying Punjabis, especially Sikhs, are being denied the right to record and remember this painful chapter. He declared that SAD would not stay silent while this happened.
However, the Aam Aadmi Party pushed back sharply. Its Punjab spokesperson accused SAD of a double game, citing a claim by Paramjit Kaur Khalra, the widow of Jaswant Singh Khalra, that Sukhbir Badal had actually written to the Central government asking for the film to be banned.
AAP said that if this claim is true, it would be deeply hypocritical of SAD to now claim credit for promoting the film. The party argued this exposes an alliance of convenience: the Congress for the original atrocities, the current central government for blocking the film’s distribution, and the Badal family for allegedly supporting that suppression.
This exchange is unfolding against the backdrop of Punjab’s sensitive history of militancy, when the state saw a violent insurgency and equally violent state crackdowns, leading to serious allegations of human rights abuses. Films and public memory about this period remain politically charged even decades later.
The controversy also reflects a larger tussle in Punjab’s politics, where SAD and AAP compete for the loyalty of Sikh and Punjabi voters, especially by positioning themselves as defenders of Punjab’s identity and historical grievances.
What happens next will depend on whether SAD follows through with organised public screenings, and whether clearer facts emerge about who exactly was responsible for the film’s removal from the streaming platform.
Why it matters
This episode is not just about a film, but about how political parties in Punjab use historical memory and cultural products to shape public opinion and voter sentiment. The dispute over who tried to suppress the film versus who claims to be championing it shows how sensitive and politically valuable Punjab’s militancy-era history remains, and how competing parties try to position themselves as protectors of Sikh and Punjabi identity ahead of future electoral battles.
Test yourself
1. What is the current title of the film at the centre of this controversy?
2. Who is the film based on?
3. On which platform was the film first released uncut?
4. What did SAD announce it would do after the film's removal from the OTT platform?
5. According to SAD, which governments were responsible for the repression depicted in the film?
6. What claim did Paramjit Kaur Khalra reportedly make about Sukhbir Badal?
7. Which party accused SAD of siding with those responsible for injustices against Punjab and Sikhs?
8. Who is Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal?
9. According to AAP, which three entities have worked together to hide the truth about Punjab's history?
10. What broader historical period does the film 'Satluj' depict?
Your notes
Source: The Hindu