New Delhi: Abhijit Deepke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), said on Saturday that he was hurt by Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s decision to distance himself from student protests, but maintained that his admiration and respect for the star remained unchanged.
Deepke’s remarks came hours after Dosanjh responded to his critics during a concert at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday evening, reiterating his earlier statement, “I’m an artist, bro,” which had drawn criticism from Deepke and others in July.
During the concert, Dosanjh also spoke about the criticism surrounding his film Sataluj, saying the team had struggled for a long time to bring the project to fruition.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Deepke said Dosanjh’s remarks during the protests in June had disappointed him because he had always viewed the singer as someone who stood up for people’s rights.
Deepke clarified that his criticism was not personal and that he continued to listen to Dosanjh’s music. He also recalled attending the singer’s concert in Chicago in May, shortly before returning to India, saying his appreciation extended beyond the music to his respect for Dosanjh as a person.
Praising the singer’s courage, authenticity and ability to achieve global success while remaining connected to his roots, Deepke said their disagreement had not diminished his respect for him.
He added that differences of opinion or misunderstandings would not change the admiration he held for Dosanjh, appealing to the singer to treat him like a younger brother.
At the Delhi concert, Dosanjh responded to the criticism by saying he preferred to remain silent and urging people not to question how Punjabis chose to fight for their causes.
“I am silent, so let me remain silent. I support all of you. Do not teach Punjabis how to fight their battles,” he said, according to the report.
Dosanjh also defended Sataluj, saying considerable effort had gone into making the film. Reiterating his message of inclusivity, he said he loved everyone because he was an artist.
The disagreement dates back to the CJP-led student protests, during which Deepke had argued that artists should speak out on important public issues. He had also warned that remaining silent could leave artists vulnerable to repeated controversies and potential bans affecting their films, referring to the dispute surrounding Sataluj.
