Ravneet Singh Bittu on Satluj row: 'Where did the 25,000 number come from?'

A controversial OTT film, Satluj, based on a human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra has sparked a massive political storm ahead of the state elections in Punjab. The movie, which delves into the turbulent period of terrorism and extrajudicial killings during the eighties and nineties, faces severe backlash for alleged historical distortion. Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu has openly challenged the filmmakers to provide official documentary evidence for their claims regarding twenty-five thousand missing or illegally cremated bodies. The minister argued that creative freedom cannot be used as an excuse to present disputed figures as established historical facts. Furthermore, the film is accused of misrepresenting the timeline of events and the roles of key political figures, including a former Chief Minister who was assassinated during that dark era. While opposition parties advocate for creative freedom and organise public screenings, the ruling government and other political factions remain divided. The controversy highlights the deep-seated sensitivities surrounding the state's tragic past and the ongoing battle over historical narratives and the right to tell a story.