AMRITSAR, June 30 — Amid mounting criticism against singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh over his film Sardaar Ji 3, Akal Takht’s officiating Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj and Punjab Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa came out in his support on Sunday, urging calm and rejecting calls for punitive action.
Diljit has faced a wave of backlash for featuring alongside Pakistani actress Hania Aamir in the recently released film, especially in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, which triggered heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty and the launch of Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory military campaign targeting terror camps across the border.
Addressing the controversy, Jathedar Gargaj called for restraint and discouraged divisive rhetoric. While refraining from naming any country directly, he invoked Gurbani to emphasise unity and coexistence. “The sky remains undivided, air flows without any barrier, and birds fly without restrictions,” he said, urging people not to spread hatred.
Gargaj clarified he was not in favor of any restriction on the screening of the movie, suggesting that art should not be a casualty of political sentiment. “The nature itself does not accept boundaries. We, too, must not impose walls on creativity,” he added.
A day earlier, the BJP had also rallied behind Diljit, calling him a “national asset” and a “global ambassador of Indian culture.”
Adding political heft to the artist’s defence, Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa condemned the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) for demanding the revocation of Diljit’s citizenship. “I find FWICE’s demand not only unreasonable but also unjustified,” Bajwa said in a statement.
He praised Diljit’s contributions on global platforms, citing his appearances at Coachella and the Met Gala as examples of how the artist has elevated Indian and Punjabi culture on the world stage.
“It is Indian investors who finance these creative ventures, and it is the people of Punjab and India who earn livelihoods and recognition through them,” Bajwa said. “Such international representation should be applauded, not questioned.”
As the row continues, voices across religious and political lines are coalescing around the view that Dosanjh’s artistic collaborations should not be politicised, especially in a climate already fraught with national security tensions.
