Satluj removal row: Union minister Bittu says OTT platforms decide content, not govt
Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu dismissed allegations that the BJP or central government was behind the removal of the film Satluj from ZEE5, calling them baseless. He clarified that OTT platforms independently decide on content, and the film’s events relate to a Congress-led era in Punjab.
Jalandhar: Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Wednesday refuted recent allegations by certain political leaders from rival parties that the BJP or the central government is linked to the removal of the film “Satluj” from the OTT platform ZEE5, saying they are completely baseless.
Bittu said it is important to place the issue in its proper context. The events depicted in the film relate to a period when both Punjab and the central government were led by the Congress party. Therefore, any attempt to attribute developments surrounding the film or its portrayal of that period to the BJP is politically motivated and factually untenable, he said.
The minister is the grandson of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh who was assassinated in 1995.
Bittu, the minister of state for railways, was speaking on the sidelines after he visited the redeveloped Jalandhar Cantt railway station along with senior officials of the Ferozepur Division.
The film, which was earlier titled “Punjab ’95” and details the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra in Punjab in the turbulent 1990s when the state was reeling under terrorism, was released uncut on ZEE5 on July 3 under a new title — “Satluj”.
However, the movie, which was stuck with the censors for more than three years, was removed from the platform two days later on July 5.
Bittu felt Punjab’s history should be presented in its entirety and not through a “one-sided narrative”. Equally important is the legal position governing digital streaming platforms, he said, adding that OTT platforms are not subject to prior government censorship in the manner applicable to theatrical film releases.
The minister said decisions regarding the hosting, continuation or withdrawal of content from an OTT platform are taken by the platform itself in accordance with its editorial, legal and commercial policies.
He said government certification and regulatory provisions relating to films primarily apply to theatrical releases, while satellite television and cable broadcasts are governed under separate statutory and regulatory frameworks. Consequently, attributing the removal of “Satluj” from ZEE5 to the BJP or the central government has no factual or legal basis, he said.
Bittu said he has consistently maintained that any discussion on the years of militancy must acknowledge not only allegations against the state but also the immense suffering inflicted by terrorism on thousands of innocent civilians, police personnel, public servants, elected representatives and ordinary families.
He reiterated that militancy has no religion and that violence must never be glorified or associated with any community or faith. Punjab’s history should be examined through facts, verified records and historical context rather than selective narratives or political propaganda, he emphasised.
Bittu said that the government led by former chief minister Beant Singh inherited a Punjab devastated by years of terrorism, with its foremost responsibility being the restoration of peace, law and order, and democratic governance. The return of normalcy, revival of democratic institutions and restoration of public confidence remain an integral part of that historical period and deserve equal recognition, he said.
Bittu said the BJP believes that history can and should be debated in a democratic society.
However, such discussions must be based on facts, evidence and balanced historical perspective rather than misinformation or attempts to create political controversy. The focus must remain on preserving peace, strengthening democracy and ensuring that Punjab’s future is built on development, employment, education and social harmony rather than reopening old divisions, he said.
The allegations seeking to portray the BJP or the central government as being responsible for the removal of Satluj from an OTT platform are, therefore, entirely unfounded and should be viewed as an attempt to mislead the public for political purposes, Bittu said.
Several political parties and Sikh bodies in Punjab had on Monday slammed the removal of the film “Satluj” from an OTT platform, saying the movie compels India to confront one of the state’s “darkest chapters” and history must be confronted with honesty; not buried through censorship.
Directed by Honey Trehan, “Satluj” delves into the life of Khalra who investigated the cremation of thousands of unidentified bodies in Punjab during a 10-year period from 1984 to 1994. He disappeared in 1995.
In 2005, four Punjab Police personnel were convicted for his abduction and murder and sentenced to seven years in prison. Two years later, the Punjab and Haryana High Court enhanced their sentence to life imprisonment.
