The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) staged a protest against the ban imposed on the film Satluj, which is based on the life of Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra. The protest march was led by SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami. It began from the Information Centre located in the Golden Temple complex and proceeded towards the Deputy Commissioner's office. The march was attended by SGPC members, office-bearers, and a large number of devotees, who carried banners and raised slogans throughout the procession.
Ardas on banks
Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami said that, following the protest march, the SGPC will hold an Ardas (Sikh prayer) on the banks of the Sutlej River on July 14. Speaking before the march, he said Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra had dedicated his life to bringing the truth about a difficult period in Punjab's history before the world and ultimately paid the ultimate price for those efforts. Dhami added that the film based on Khalra's life had already undergone changes and was renamed Satluj after objections from the censor board, yet its release has still been halted. He said this was unfair and that the film should be allowed to reach the public.
Preventing the release was Unjustified
SGPC member Rajinder Singh Mehta said that Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra had brought before the world the incidents and human rights issues related to Punjab during the period from 1980 to 1995. He said Khalra's efforts in exposing the truth behind the unidentified bodies that were cremated by authorities constitute an important chapter in history, and that the film Satluj seeks to present this truth to the public. Mehta added that despite changing the film's title and making several modifications, preventing its release was unjustified, and the government should reconsider its decision.
Appeal to the government
Appealing to the Central Government, Rajinder Singh Mehta said that if it criticises the alleged excesses committed during previous governments, it should not stop a film based on historical events from reaching the public. He further said that instead of banning the film, people should be given the opportunity to learn about history. Responding to questions from journalists regarding statements made by Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, Mehta also expressed disagreement with the minister's remarks.
ADC Pallavi Sharma
Meanwhile, the memorandum submitted by the SGPC at the Deputy Commissioner's office was received by ADC (General) Pallavi Sharma. She said that the SGPC's memorandum and demands would be forwarded to the government through the prescribed procedure so that the matter could be brought to the attention of the concerned authorities