A controversy over the film Satluj, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has led to different views among senior BJP leaders and the debate is mainly about how Punjab's militancy period of the 1980s and 1990s should be presented and remembered.
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has repeatedly spoken about the issue and said that while he has no objection to a film being made on Jaswant Singh Khalra, any historical claims shown in the film must be based on verified facts.
Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi, Bittu questioned the figure of 25,000 alleged illegal cremations mentioned in the film and said this number should be verified through proper records, also called for the formation of a commission to find out the actual number of people who lost their lives during Punjab's militancy period.
According to Bittu, such a commission should identify the number of police personnel, civilians, Hindus, Sikhs and militants who were killed during the years of insurgency and said the facts should be established before such figures are presented publicly.
The Union Minister also spoke about the Ardas, or congregational prayer, announced by Sri Akal Takht Sahib and said the prayer should remember all those who lost their lives during the conflict, including police personnel, Hindus and Sikhs, instead of focusing on only one group.
Earlier as well, Bittu had asked for documentary proof to support the claim of 25,000 unidentified bodies highlighted in the film and had also said that legal action could be taken if such claims were made without evidence and his remarks have started a wider political discussion. The debate is not limited to opposition parties but has also led to different opinions within the BJP.
Senior BJP leader and former National Commission for Minorities chairman Iqbal Singh Lalpura publicly disagreed with Bittu's stand and he said the issue should not be unnecessarily escalated, he also said the figure of 25,000 was originally raised by Jaswant Singh Khalra during his work on alleged illegal cremations, Lalpura also pointed out that the matter was later examined by the National Human Rights Commission and added that there should be limits while discussing such sensitive issues.
Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon had earlier taken a different position and said that a committee had been formed to examine demands seeking the removal of the film from OTT platforms, at the same time, he said there was "nothing wrong in showing the truth."