In a 2025 interview, Bibi Parmjit Kaur Khalsa, the widow of Shaheed Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra, claimed that Sukhbir Singh Badal had also written to the screening committee in an effort to stop the release of the film Sutlej (Punjab 95).
Similarly, Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra’s daughter publicly stated that when their family sought justice, the then Chief Minister, Prakash Singh Badal, told Bibi Parmjit Kaur Khalsa to give up the pursuit of justice and instead accept a chairperson’s post.
The pain of the grave human rights violations and atrocities committed against Sikhs during Beant Singh’s tenure as Chief Minister remains undeniable. However, what is even more distressing is the allegation that those who came to power in the name of the Panth also sought to suppress the truth instead of helping secure justice for the martyrs and bringing the facts before the world.
The sacrifice of Shaheed Bhai Jaswant Singh Khalra was not only for his family but for the cause of human rights, truth, and justice. Therefore, every attempt to suppress the truth does a disservice to both history and justice.
publicly tagged Sukhbir Singh Badal on X (formerly Twitter) and claimed that Parkash Singh Badal used to enter KPS Gill’s house from the rear entrance at night.
According to newspaper reports from that period, Parkash Singh Badal would express sympathy with the families of victims during the day. Based on this tweet, does it suggest that, on the other hand, he was also holding private meetings with KPS Gill at night?
Even today, the Badal-led Akali Dal appears to be following the same approach—on one hand, it is trying to derive political mileage from the film based on the martyrdom of Jaswant Singh Khalra, while on the other hand, it remains silent about allegations such as these.
KPS Gill was such a kind hearted man he used to take away women who were abused by their husbands and romance them, today the children of those women fondly call him supercop and savior of Punjab.
Just saw SATLUJ and it is not a film , but a deep wound that will never heal. It stirs up the sludge in one of the darkest chapters of our history
This is cinema used as confrontation , where @diljitdosanjh acts with a quiet fury with no chest thumping heroism.. His only weapons are a ledger and a conscience. @rampalarjun adds layers of moral rot in the institutional complicity that feels chillingly realistic
Director @honeytrehan instead of sensationalising the horror unfolds the film like a slow burn investigative thriller through bureaucratic files, cremation records, and hushed conversations
This restraint makes the brutality of the subject matter hit that much harder because it explodes with the force of truth and not exploitation.
The philosophical core of the film about how a democracy devours its own citizens and then tries to erase the evidence is explored without any preachiness and that’s no normal
achievement .
The various issues surrounding its exhibition and publication prove that any art which makes the powerful uncomfortable has done its job, and that is the true purpose of true art , which SATLUJ is .
It is highly courageous essential filmmaking because it unsettles, educates, and lingers . In the times where main stream chases spectacle and popcorn cinema , SUTLEJ shoots out a hard reminder of what cinematic medium can truly achieve when it takes on truth and honesty
SATLUJ is a film that has to be seen , shown, discussed, debated and not ENCOUNTERED like the victims in the film
My appeal to all the powers is , please don’t do to SATLUJ what has been done to JASWANT SINGH KALRA 🙏🙏🙏
TRUTH HITS HARDER when one tries to HIDE IT .
— AYN RAND