The recent release of Satluj, starring Diljit Dosanjh, has sparked renewed discussion about the life and legacy of renowned human rights defender and political activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The film has brought renewed attention to Jaswant Singh Khalra’s landmark work in exposing extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, staged police encounters, and the secret cremation of thousands of Sikhs labeled as “unidentified dead bodies” during the 1980s-90s period in Punjab.

In this speech, Paramjit Singh Mand, Acting President of Dal Khalsa, addresses the growing trend of screening films inside Sikh gurdwaras, arguing that such practices violate the Sikh Maryada (code of conduct). He also emphasizes that Jaswant Singh Khalra should not be remembered merely as a victim of state repression, but as a courageous and principled leader who steadfastly advocated for Sikh sovereignty.