Actor-singer Diljit Dosanjh was recently performing in Canada, as part of his Aura Tour. At one point during the performance, protesters waved pro-Khalistani flags and the singer addressed them. He asked his security team to remove them from the show. On May 11, Diljit addressed the controversy on his Instagram Stories, and said that he will not tolerate when protesters cause trouble to his fans at concerts.
What Diljit said
Taking to his Instagram Stories, the singer wrote in Punjabi, “Standing outside and protesting — anyone can do that. But if you try to come inside and harass my fans, that will not be tolerated. If someone brings a banner or a flag, it usually means they want to show where they’ve come from and that they support me. But if you’re standing outside with the same banner abusing my fans, and then try to come inside and do the same thing, that will not be tolerated.”
He went on to add, “This is not about any banner or flag — the real issue is your intention behind it. I told security that anyone trying to disrupt the program should be picked up and thrown out. I never said anything against any banner, so don’t spread fake narratives. I’ve been avoiding this issue since last year — but not anymore). Thank you. Love & peace (peace sign emoji).”
Why did the controversy begin?
In October 2025, Diljit appeared as a contestant on KBC 17 and touched host Amitabh Bachchan’s feet. Amitabh even hailed him as ‘Punjab da puttar’ (Punjab’s son) for his efforts towards relief during the floods. Reportedly, Diljit received threats from the Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) group, linked to the pro-Khalistan movement, after the episode aired.
According to NDTV, SFJ leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun alleged that Diljit “insulted every victim, every widow, and every orphan of the 1984 Sikh Genocide” by touching Amitabh’s feet. The group claimed that on 31 October 1984, Amitabh “publicly incited mobs with the slogan ‘Khoon Ka Badla Khoon’ (Blood for Blood).” In 1984, the Bollywood veteran had denied the allegations.
After the airing of the KBC episode, SFJ threatened to disrupt Diljit’s concerts. The singer-actor, however, advocated for peace. “I will always keep talking about love. For me, this Earth is one. My Guru says, ‘Ik Onkar.’ I was born from this earth, I got my life from this land and one day I will return to this soil. So, there is only love from my side for everyone, even if someone gets jealous of me or trolls me. I will always spread the message of love. I have always done so. I don’t care how anyone feels about it,” he said.