Diljit Dosanjh recently made headlines after he addressed a group of attendees waving Khalistani flags during his concert in Calgary, Canada. The singer-actor reportedly asked to leave the group, expressing his discomfort towards the performance and distancing himself from pro-Khalistani elements during live performances.
Diljit Dosanjh calls out pro-Khalistani group at Canada concert
The incident came amid ongoing criticism from a section of people who had questioned Diljit for showing respect to veteran actor Amitabh Bachchan. Responding to these allegations during the concert, Diljit clarified his stand by emphasizing on his continuous efforts to highlight the issues related to Punjab on global platforms.
“My job is not to donate. But whatever platform I go to, I always talk about Punjab”, he said and added, “We often say that the national media does not talk enough about Punjab. I went everywhere for Punjab, including that channel. I put the issues of Punjab there. Even I have donated generously to my state whenever needed.”
The backlash over her conversation with Amitabh Bachchan stems from long-standing criticism by some groups. Bachchan had faced controversy decades ago over comments he made after the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during Operation Blue Star. Although the comments have been widely debated over the years, some groups have continued to hold the actor accountable.
The singer also elaborated on his intentions behind international appearances, including a trip to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. He said, “I also went to Jimmy Fallon’s show to talk about Punjab and the Guru Nanak Jahaj incident. I did not go there to promote any film or song. I went there to bring Punjab and its issues to light so that the national media talks about it. If you still have an issue that I am sitting with someone on television, then keep waving as many flags as you want.”
During the show, Diljit had mentioned the historical Komagata Maru incident, where Indian immigrants faced discrimination in Canada. He also mentioned performing in Vancouver, near the incident site, where a large number of people attended his concert.
Diljit’s recent statements indicate his attempt to separate his artistic and cultural reach from political interpretations. By directly addressing the issue at a public event, he focused his attention on representing the culture and concerns of Punjab on global platforms, while dismissing associations with which he is not aligned.
The conversation has sparked online since the Calgary incident, with fans and observers reflecting on the singer’s stance and his broader message during the international performance.
