Image source: Getty Images
Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Deepke has publicly apologized for his remarks on singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh.
He had criticized Diljit for not raising his voice during the student protests in Delhi after the NEET paper leak.
Deepke issued this apology after Diljit Dosanjh reacted on this issue during his concert at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on Friday evening.
Without taking the name of DeepK or CJP, Diljit said that there is no need for anyone to teach Punjabis to fight. He also raised the question as to why his film 'Sutlej' was made fun of on the stage.
On Instagram, Deepke appealed to Diljit to end the dispute and said that he should consider him as his younger brother and let it be.
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What did Diljit Dosanjh say?
Image source: Pedro Becerra/Redferns
During the concert, Diljit defended his response to a fan's question regarding the protests against the NEET paper leak. At that time he said, "I am just an artist."
His comment was widely criticized. Abhijeet Deepke was also among those who criticized.
He accused Diljit of adopting double standards. He said that Diljit works in films based on political themes like 'Sutlej', but does not support student protests.
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Without naming any political party, Diljit told the audience, "I love you all because I am an artiste. I am silent, so let me remain silent. I support all of you. But don't teach Punjabis to fight."
He said, "We have struggled for a long time for the film of Jaswant Singh Khalda that you are making fun of on stage. I love all of you. If someone hates us, it doesn't matter. But I love all of you."
After this comment of Diljeet, now Abhijeet Deepke has reacted.
Abhijeet Dipke said- 'End this dispute by considering me as your younger brother'
On Instagram, Deepke wrote, "Paaji, I was a little hurt by your comment when we were protesting in June. It was not because I had anything against you personally, but because I have always seen you as someone who raises his voice on any issue. As you yourself said."
He further wrote, "If there is anything, it is that I have always been your fan and this has not changed even today. I listen to your songs even today. In fact, in May this year, just before returning to India, I had come to your concert in Chicago. Not only for your music, but also because I have always had great respect for your personality."
Deepke praised Diljeet
Deepke also praised Diljit's courage, his genuineness and his efforts to take Indian culture to the global stage while staying connected to his roots.
He wrote, "Perhaps this is why I feel a little saddened by your comment, because I have always held you in very high regard. But a single disagreement or misunderstanding does not diminish my respect and admiration for you."
At the end of his post, he gave a message of reconciliation and wrote, "Baaki paaji, please forgive me as a younger brother. And in the end, I would just like to say - 'Gabru ta vairi nu vi mitha bolda, ni tu taan fer jatt da pyar goriye.'" (He is my enemy, I love him too, you are my love.)
What is the dispute between Abhijeet Deepke and Diljit Dosanjh?
This controversy started in June, when Diljit Dosanjh distanced himself from the ongoing protests at Jantar Mantar against alleged irregularities in the examination and NEET paper leak.
During Instagram Live, a fan had asked him if he would participate in these demonstrations. To this he replied, "Keep me away from all these things. Brother, I am an artist. I am not a politician. I don't know what you think of me."
He then quoted a line from the Guru Granth Sahib, "Nanak dukhiya sab sansar, so sukhiya jis naam aadhaar." (That is, this whole world is surrounded by sorrows, worries and sufferings. Only that person is happy, who has made God the basis of his life).
He had said, "Look, everything can never be perfect in this world. So, congratulations to those who are protesting and also congratulations to those for whom it is being protested. Because I don't know anything about this."
Image source: Bharat Bhushan/Hindustan Times via Getty Images
Many people did not like his reaction. People compared this to his stance during the farmers' movement of 2020. At that time, Diljit had publicly supported the farmers protesting against the agricultural laws of the Central Government, which were later withdrawn.
Meanwhile, the film 'Sutlej' based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalda was released on Zee-5 for some time, but was later removed.
The film took almost three years to be released due to alleged denial of certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).
This film tells the story of Khalda. He exposed cases of alleged illegal killings and clandestine cremations in Punjab in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The government had removed it from the OTT platform citing threat to the country's security and the possibility of the film being used by opposition elements.
Published by Collective Newsroom for the BBC.
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