Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh used the opening night of his India tour in Delhi to respond to criticism from the Cockroach Janta Party over his decision to stay away from its protests, saying that Punjabis do not need lessons on how to fight for a cause.
He was performing at his Aura India Tour concert in the capital on Friday, October 30, when he turned to the controversy over his earlier “I’m an artist, bro” remark.
According to IANS, he was responding to people who, he suggested, had mocked his film “Satluj” during the CJP protests in Delhi a few months ago, because he did not take part in the demonstrations or back them.
“Do not teach Punjabis how to fight battles,” he told the audience, in Punjabi. He said he loves everyone present, that he supports them, and that he is staying quiet because he is an artist. He said that if someone hates him and his community, that is acceptable, but that he still has love for them.
Diljit also defended the film Satluj, which is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. He said the team fought for a long time to get it made, and that it was wrong to make fun of it on stage. He said that on an Instagram Live session he had made it clear that he was not bothered by those who wanted to spread negativity around him.
The remarks follow criticism of Diljit by members of the CJP, including its leader Abhijeet Dipke, who had questioned the singer’s silence during the protests. They pointed out that Diljit has been involved in politically charged projects such as “Satluj”. Dipke later said the comment from the singer in June had left him a little hurt.
After the concert, Dipke responded with a long note on Instagram titled “To Diljit Paaji”. He said he had no personal grievance against the singer, and that he had always seen him as someone who speaks up for causes.
Dipke said he has long admired Diljit, still listens to his music and attended his concert in Chicago in May, just before returning to India, out of respect for him. He said one disagreement or misunderstanding does not change that respect, and asked Diljit to treat him as a younger brother and let the matter go. He ended the post with a Punjabi couplet about how a brave man speaks sweetly even to an enemy.
The CJP, a satirical online movement that began in May after a remark by Chief Justice Surya Kant comparing unemployed youth to cockroaches, has led protests on examination paper leaks and, more recently, on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Its leaders have faced detentions and arrests in Delhi and elsewhere in recent weeks.
Public figures from film and music have been pressed by supporters on both sides to take a stand, and some have chosen to stay out of it.
