Punjab political leaders have strongly condemned the unexplained removal of the film 'Satluj' from the ZEE5 streaming platform in India, calling it an act of censorship that suppresses the state's painful history.
Sukhbir Singh Badal's Reaction
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal expressed shock and sadness over the removal. In a post on social media platform X on July 5, 2026, he wrote: 'Shocked and saddened by the arbitrary removal of #Satluj from #ZEE5 in India. A powerful film that courageously unveils Punjab’s painful history and honours the supreme sacrifice of S. Jaswant Singh Ji Khalra cannot be silenced this way. This is not mere censorship — it is an…'
Sukhpal Singh Khaira's Statement
Punjab Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira also condemned the removal on July 6, 2026. He stated: 'I strongly condemn the removal of film Satluj from @ZEE5India platform in India. We all know about the gross human rights violations prevalent then in Punjab and the subsequent mysterious disappearance of Prof Jaswant Singh Khalra! The removal of this fact based film is in…'
Malvinder Singh Kang's Criticism
Former MLA Malvinder Singh Kang called the removal 'beyond shocking.' He said: 'When a nation begins to fear its own history, censorship becomes its most dangerous weapon. I unequivocally condemn the unexplained removal of #Satluj from Zee5 India. A film that compels India to confront one of Punjab's darkest chapters and portrays the alleged…'
Background on the Film
'Satluj' is a film that depicts the human rights violations in Punjab during the 1980s and 1990s, focusing on the alleged extrajudicial killings and the mysterious disappearance of human rights activist Professor Jaswant Singh Khalra. Khalra was a former bank manager who documented cases of enforced disappearances and was himself abducted and killed in 1995. The film had been available on ZEE5 since its release but was removed without any official explanation from the platform.
Political Implications
The removal has sparked a political controversy, with leaders accusing the platform of bowing to pressure from the central government. They argue that the film is a factual account and that its removal amounts to censorship of historical truth. The issue has reignited debates about freedom of expression and the portrayal of sensitive historical events in Indian media.
