The New Year came up with something unexpected. Indian singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh began his 2025 by meeting the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on New Year’s Day. Sharing his excitement, Diljit described the meeting as “very memorable.”
“A fantastic start to 2025. A very memorable meeting with PM Narendra Modi Ji. We talked about a lot of things including music of course!’
However, the tweet did not age well for his supporters of the Islamo-Leftists-Khalistani lobby. The umbrella lobby seems to be upset with the singer who uplifted him as their messiah.
But what can be extracted out from the meeting of Diljit and PM Modi? Diljit Dosanjh, a singer embroiled in multiple controversies, one who was elevated to the highest of the rank by the opposition’s umbrella lobby. His meeting with the Indian Prime Minister indicates a drastic shift in optics.
It indicates that the actor-singer is not only attempting to mend his public image but also reflects the pressure to align with national sentiments after years of controversy and facing heat for ambiguity, if not proximity with Khalistani elements. This meeting could be interpreted as Diljit climbing down from the pedestal of so-called defiance and boorish arrogance, acknowledging the need to engage with mainstream national discourse.
Controversial History of Diljit Dosanjh
Undoubtedly, Diljit Dosanjh has earned a huge fan base in recent years but all these years he has remained controversy’s favourite child.
Initially Diljit threw his unconditional support for the farmers protest, in which his supporters, members and co-stars from the Music industry, demonstrated a deep seated animosity towards the Modi government. Back then, the lobby including Diljit remained adamant in not acknowledging the fact that Khalistani elements were exploiting the movement to fan separatist, hate-mongering and divisive narrative. However, Diljit’s so-called defiant attitude earned him admiration from the umbrella ecosystem of rabid Hindu haters, leftists, Islamists and overseas Khalistanis and their stooges sitting in India.
In 2019, Diljit had planned a US performance promoted by Pakistani national Rehan Siddiqi amidst heightened India-Pakistan tensions. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) urged the government to cancel his visa, leading to the show’s postponement.
Diljit has also publicly supported British national Jagtar Singh Johal, accused of masterminding the murders of Hindu and RSS leaders in Punjab. Johal’s links to the Khalistan Liberation Force added fuel to the fire, casting further doubt on Diljit’s ideology.
In 2020, Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu demanded an FIR against Diljit Dosanjh and others for supporting Khalistan terror group Sikhs for Justice and Pannun. However, in response to Khalistan charge, Diljih Dosanjh dismissed the allegations adding that he has always stood by India and Punjab.
The same year, in 2020, Dosanjh went live on social media to condemn Operation Bluestar launched by the Indian security personnels to neutralise the Khalistani elements which were planning to carve out Punjab from the rest of India back in 1980s. The singer urged the youth to pick up arms and seek revenge for the 1984 events. His appeals could have reignited communal tensions decades after the event.
Diljit Dosanjh’s career is marked by a pattern of controversies that suggest a troubling alignment with divisive ideologies. While he continues to shine on stage and screen, his questionable actions and affiliations cast a long shadow over his reputation, raising critical questions about his role in shaping public opinion and social harmony.
Diljit’s stage performances outside the country too creates a troubling narrative around him. The singer had once registered his disapproval from a fan who came up with an Indian National flag.
He has often furthered the pro-Pakistan narrative with the trope that it’s the politicians who draw borders and that the Punjabis don’t care, they love everyone be it Indian or Pakistan, an ignorant or deliberate attempt to whitewash the wounds of terror inflicted by the perpetrators sitting across the border.
During his Manchester concert, @diljitdosanjh invited a Pakistani fan on stage, gifting her shoes and an autograph, saying, “Politicians draw borders, Punjabis don’t care, Punjabis love everyone.” He emphasized that his music transcends India 🇮🇳 Pakistan 🇵🇰 divides, with love ❤… pic.twitter.com/Iu6etISXlS
— Ghulam Abbas Shah (@ghulamabbasshah) September 29, 2024
These all controversial actions of the Punjabi singer had made the umbrella lobby fall in love with Diljit Dosanjh. He was elevated as G.O.A.T, King, one with a spine, but his meeting with PM Modi has pissed them off. Once again, Arfa Khanum Sherwani’s evergreen tweet stands immortal, “Ek roz ek naya zakhm”.
