The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) held a protest march in Amritsar on Friday and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, urging the government to lift the ban on the film Satluj, which is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.
Speaking to the media, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said the film tells the story of Jaswant Singh Khalra, who documented alleged cases of unidentified and unclaimed cremations during Punjab's years of militancy.
Dhami said Khalra gathered records from cremation grounds and municipal committees to document people who were allegedly cremated without being identified between 1980 and 1997.
"Many innocent lives were affected during that period. While those who fought on the battlefield are one matter, the government did not spare many innocent people who were working for justice and rights," he said. He alleged that Khalra was taken into custody, tortured and later killed.
Dhami said the film was originally titled Punjab 95 before being renamed Satluj. He claimed it faced objections during the certification process and several scenes were removed.
"Even after it was released and ran for just two days in Punjab, the government immediately banned it. The government needs to clarify what exactly was wrong in showing that history," he said.
The SGPC chief said the organisation would continue its campaign for the film's release. He also announced that an Ardas (prayer) would be held on July 14 on the banks of the Sutlej River, following directions from the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. He urged people to attend the gathering and said the SGPC would make all necessary arrangements.
Dhami said the film should reach younger generations so they can understand what happened in Punjab during the years of militancy.
"Even though the censor board has mandated numerous cuts, this film must be released in its original essence. It is crucial that children born after 1984, 1995, or 2000 understand what truly happened in Punjab," he said.
He also raised issues related to Sikh prisoners, including Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana and Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, and accused political parties of failing to address concerns related to the Sikh community.
Meanwhile, officials from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry said the film did not have the mandatory certification required for a theatrical release.
An I&B Ministry official said instead of completing the certification process, the filmmakers changed the title of the film and released it on an OTT platform on Friday. The official also alleged that the release violated provisions of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.
Satluj is based on the life of Jaswant Singh Khalra, who exposed alleged illegal killings and secret cremations during Punjab's militancy and counter-insurgency period in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Khalra disappeared in 1995, and his body was later recovered near Harike Bridge on the Sutlej River. He was allegedly kidnapped and killed, with allegations involving former Punjab Police officials.
Directed by Honey Trehan and produced by RSVP and MacGuffin Pictures, Satluj stars Arjun Rampal, Kanwaljit Singh, Suvinder Vicky and Geetika Vidya Ohlyan.
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