Patiala (Punjab)In a firm rebuttal to a senior journalist’s recent remarks, retired ADGP and senior Congress leader Gurinder Singh Dhillon IPS has asserted the maturity and responsibility of Punjab’s people, emphasising communal harmony between Sikhs and Hindus while cautioning against narratives that could stoke unnecessary tensions ahead of the film ‘Satluj’.Dhillon stated, “Sikhs in Punjab are very responsible citizens of the country. They are not mass killers. The present-day Punjabi youth of both major religions are detached from orthodoxy. Mr. Shekhar Gupta, do you know anything about present-day Punjab? You are trying to gaslight the issue without knowing anything about the current condition of Punjab’s religio-political demography. I am saying this with thorough knowledge.”
He further added that relying on outdated or structured intelligence is misguided: “So, don’t try to create a negative impression of Punjabis, as if they will start fighting each other based on religion after watching Satluj. How naive you can be. Even Pakistan failed during the height of terrorism.”Dhillon highlighted the shared history: “Punjabis, including major religious communities, never attacked each other. Both sides faced sponsored, targeted killings. You also know it was ISI-sponsored. Punjab Police bravely faced it and received accolades; now the police will responsibly confront the scars of the past as dedicated officers of the state’s enforcement wing. Leave my Punjab behind. Hindus and Sikhs know each other better than anyone else in India.”
He noted that the entire Punjab, including young members of his family, has engaged with the content without any communal fallout: “No one has thought of rising to engage in communal street battles. This narrative is only being propagated by one prominent politician, disregarding sanity and wisdom.”Dhillon warned against motivated elements: “Moreover, I see you and some other prominent, disgruntled, and motivated individuals; if necessary, I will name them too. Both major communities are well aware of the intentions of these politicians and so-called intellectuals, as they have manipulated them in the past for vote bank politics. I urge the youth of Punjab to oppose such individuals publicly. Punjabis should be cautious of such elements.”
Addressing the film directly: “The film ‘Satluj’ will not cause any trouble, but still the statements of these individuals shall stop. However, I am sure that peace will prevail. Punjabis are a peace-loving, close-knit community. At this point, I will politely say, ‘Stay away.’”This statement underscores the current peaceful religio-political demography of Punjab, where youth from both Sikh and Hindu communities prioritize progress over orthodoxy. It calls for responsible discourse and unity as the state moves forward.