Ananya Lohia , Punjab - Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has questioned the sudden removal of the film Satluj from the OTT platform Zee5, saying the government had no role in the takedown and criticising actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh over the controversy. He argued that if the Centre had intended to remove the film, it would not have allowed it to be released on the platform in the first place.

He suggested that the makers may have taken it down after achieving their commercial objectives and maintained that the government has no control over OTT platforms. He said that once the government has earned the required money, they removed the film. The Union Minister also criticised Diljit Dosanjh, accusing him of prioritising money over values. Referring to Dosanjh's film Chamkila, Bittu questioned the actor's choices and said Punjab needs peace rather than controversy.

Satluj, earlier titled Punjab 95, is based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and was released on Zee5 on July 3 before being removed two days later. The film's takedown has triggered political reactions and criticism from several Sikh organisations.

As debate over Satluj continues, the reasons behind its removal remain unclear, with the controversy drawing sharp political reactions and renewed attention to the film's sensitive subject matter.