Chandigarh, July 9 (IANS) Amid the controversy over Diljit Dosanjh’s film ‘Satluj’, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab on Thursday dismissed allegations that the state government had signed any file related to the premature release of convicts in the 1995 abduction and murder of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra.

Presenting a chronology, the party’s media in-charge, Baltej Pannu, said here that the proposal for premature release was first sent during the Congress government, while the Bhagwant Mann government has not signed any such file.

He pointed out that since the case was investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the entire process falls under the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and that no proposal is pending with either the Punjab government or the Governor.

Pannu further said that Paramjit Kaur, the wife of the late Khalra, has exposed how the Akali Dal failed to fulfil its promise to secure justice for Khalra, and accused political opponents of spreading false propaganda to divert public attention from the truth.

“A few days ago, the film ‘Sutlej’ was released. Within a few hours, it was removed from the OTT platform. Whatever has happened since then has been very interesting to watch. The entire incident pertains to a period when the Congress was in power, and its real face was being exposed. Yet, within 48 hours, the BJP-led Central government got the film removed from the OTT platform,” he said.

He added: “After the film was removed, it started reaching people through different groups and social media platforms. Along with the film, another important thing began spreading rapidly: Paramjit Kaur’s statement. Her statement has now reached people across social media and various channels.”

Pannu said Paramjit Kaur stated that in 1996 they supported the Shiromani Akali Dal led by Parkash Singh Badal because they believed that once the Akali Dal formed the government, it would sincerely help find the Khalra and ensure justice. She said she had been made to constitute a ‘Truth Commission’ and bring the guilty officers to justice. However, after the government was formed in 1997, rather than prosecuting those responsible, many of the officers were rewarded with higher positions.

Pannu said three political parties have been exposed by the removal of the film.

“During the Congress government, these incidents took place. The BJP government at the Centre removed the film from the OTT platform. Now, the Akali Dal has also come under serious scrutiny because Jaswant Singh Khalra himself was associated with the Akali Dal’s Human Rights Wing. Despite this, no meaningful support was extended to his family after the party came to power,” Pannu said.

–IANS

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