Ravneet Singh Bittu on Satluj row: 'Where did the 25,000 number come from?'

India Today

In an exclusive interview with India Today, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu addressed the controversy surrounding the movie Satluj and its portrayal of Punjab's history. He challenged the film's claim of 25,000 missing bodies, asking, "Where did the 25,000 number come from?"

Transcript

00:00Good evening, you're watching NewsTrack with me, Maria Shakeel.

00:03What started as a controversy over a movie has now turned into a larger battle over history, memory and the

00:11right to tell a story.

00:13Satluj, a film based on the life of human rights activist Jaswan Sinkalra, has brought back the debate around Punjab's

00:23dark past.

00:24Blocked by the censor board and removed from the OTT platform, the film has now become a political flashpoint with

00:31screenings being organised at gurudwara's and parties taking sharply different positions.

00:38While the opposition has backed the movie invoking free speech and creative freedom, questions are being raised over the film's

00:45claims and historical portrayal.

00:49The biggest challenge has come from Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, who has demanded proof from the makers over the

00:5625,000 missing claim, arguing that disputed figures cannot be presented as established facts in the name of cinema.

01:05He will be joining me shortly.

01:08And as Punjab heads towards elections next year, Satluj has become more than a film.

01:15Before I bring in the Union Minister, here's a report.

01:29A film, a controversy and a political storm.

01:38Satluj has become Punjab's biggest flashpoint ahead of the state elections.

01:44The movie, based on the life of human rights activist Jaswan Sinkalra, and covers the turbulent period of terrorism and

01:51extrajudicial killings in the state, is being screened at gurudwara's across the state.

01:59The Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandha Committee, which manages Sikh places of worship, is staging protests against the ban.

02:06The Shiromani Akali Dal has come out in support of the movie.

02:12Akali Dal president Subbi Singh Badal has announced that the party will organize public screenings of the movie across every

02:18village and corner of Punjab.

02:41The Yama Admi Party, the ruling party in the state, has targeted the BGP and the Akali Dal.

02:46Bibi Khalada Ji's opinion of these issues is very important.

02:51He said, I'm going to go to Badal Sahib, that Badal Sahib, I'm the president, and I'm the president of

02:57Khalada Ji.

02:58I'm the president of Khalada Ji.

03:00So Badal Sahib said, I don't want a chair that I want to be a chair.

03:04He said, I'll tell you, I'll tell you, what do you want to take your children to take your children

03:07to take your children?

03:08This is true, that they didn't have any help.

03:14The Congress has denounced the restrictions.

03:18Meanwhile, Union Minister Ravaneet Singh Bittu has issued a direct challenge to the film's makers.

03:23He has asked them to provide proof of the 25,000 missing claim.

03:27The union minister said that filmmakers cannot invoke creative freedom to portray disputed figures as established historical facts.

03:36As the president of Khalada Ji has demanded this, I also want to demand it.

03:40They absolutely need to make a commission to make a commission.

03:43They need to come in front of the truth.

03:45And the number of 25,000, the number of 25,000, the number of 25,000, the number of 25

03:52,000,

03:52the number of 25,000, the number of national and international channels, I challenge it.

04:07Punjab endured unimaginable pain and suffering during the 80s and the early 90s,

04:12a period when separatists backed by Pakistan unleashed terror and the police launched an operation to crush terrorism.

04:19The ban on the movie, which refers to that dark period, has triggered a fresh debate on free speech and

04:24human rights.

04:27Bureau Report, India Today.

04:32And joining me now is Union Minister Ravaneet Singh Bittu.

04:35Mr. Bittu, really appreciate your time here on India Today.

04:38You challenged the makers of Sat Luj to produce documentary evidence or official records for the 25,000 missing or

04:46illegally cremated bodies or issue a public clarification.

04:51Why do you believe this crosses from creative freedom into distortion of history that requires correction?

05:01Mariya Ji, I'm beginning with two, three points.

05:08Because the film, the picture of the film and the picture of the film,

05:14there is no one on my side, party's side of my side, no problem has, no problem has.

05:23It does not have any problem.

05:27Over the top OTT, there are no issues.

05:31There are no issues with censorship.

05:35You know, censorship will not have, but

05:37But my debate is just so much.

05:42Khalraji who has killed him, he has been killed with him, he has been wrong with him.

05:51That is my fault.

05:54We all have seen these things in our families from 80 to 93 to 80, but 25,000,

06:06number 1, one is a movie for entertainment, one is a movie for entertainment.

06:15This picture, when you say that someone has made a biopic and it is in reality,

06:22then you can't figure out the number of things that you can't do.

06:26Now, I have a big winemar with you, and everyone else,

06:32and I have one thing to do with honey train.

06:33Hintz sahab ko bhi, meri ek hi guja.

06:35The 25,000 number, kahaan se aya, kis nye diya,

06:41or kahaan phe ye number hai?

06:45Aaj, Mrs. Khalra me, woh joh respected, kyunki unhoon hi jhe lao,

06:50aaj unhain tweet kiya hai,

06:52and media ke sama nye rukha hai, bhi iske oopar, joh unidentified bodies hain,

06:59uske oopar eek commission banen.

07:02Unhau nye aaj, akal tak sahab ke sgpc tab ko appeal ki hai.

07:07Ager unhau nye ki hai, it means,

07:10koi number nahi hai, kisi ka pata nahi hai,

07:13khod unhau nye aaj,

07:16aaj press conference karke,

07:18aaj press conference karke,

07:19bhi woh commission,

07:21chahe akal tak sahab ke jathedar banaye,

07:24kyunki hemare to sara,

07:26sab kuch wo hi hai,

07:27woh banaye, sgpc banaye,

07:29koi banaye,

07:31bilkul joh khalra ji,

07:33Mrs. Khalra keh raya hai,

07:34hem bhi victim hai,

07:36yeh bunna chahiye,

07:38aur iske oopar pori,

07:41kis tariqe se woh,

07:42iski bantar kya hoogi,

07:43kis tariqe se hi hoogai commission,

07:46dousri baat,

07:47eek tog yeh,

07:49hemari,

07:49bilkul hem eek dousre ke,

07:51isch cheej ke saath,

07:52berabar hai,

07:53dousri baat,

07:55joh,

07:56woh police walay hai,

07:58unhau nye,

07:59joh kuch kiya,

08:00dikhou,

08:00eek taraf,

08:01Punjab police dikhai hai,

08:03eek taraf,

08:04woh,

08:04cbii dikhai hai,

08:05woh bhi toh hindustan ke officer hai,

08:07woh bhi bharat ke agency hai,

08:09jis nne,

08:10unko saja di,

08:12aur,

08:13aaj,

08:14chahe woh SSP tha,

08:16woh train ke niche ake,

08:17woh aapne suicide kar gae,

08:19joh ajit singh sandhu dikhay gae hai,

08:21naam unka kuch bhi,

08:22saggu jajan jaja,

08:23bata nini,

08:23kya kuch bhi rakhha hai,

08:25aur,

08:25dousri,

08:26dousri usmeh maharaya galat kya dikhaya hai,

08:28joh,

08:29mire grandfather,

08:31joh sridhar byan singh ji thay,

08:32jab woh 92 february me,

08:36cm bane,

08:37aur unka assassination ho gaya,

08:39hama raya,

08:401995 of October,

08:4231st ko unka secretary eight me,

08:45blast hua,

08:45aur woh shahadat pa gae,

08:46aur khalra sahab ko unkaaya gya hai,

08:516th of September,

08:55woh to October me,

08:56chalye gaya,

08:57hain,

08:58august,

08:59august,

08:59nai nai,

08:59sorry,

09:01august,

09:0231st,

09:02mein yeh,

09:03galat kaya gya,

09:04sridhar byan singh ji,

09:06ki shahadat karwani ho gai,

09:0831st of august,

09:10august me,

09:11woh secretary eight ke sámenne,

09:13blast ho gaya,

09:14aur jho September of sixth,

09:17us three ko,

09:18khalra sahab ko,

09:18uchhaaya gya,

09:20aur October me,

09:21unki,

09:22killing ki gai,

09:23aur,

09:24ager October me,

09:26hui,

09:27to,

09:28yeh,

09:29us me,

09:29dhkha raya hai hai bhi,

09:31byan singh,

09:31joh cm hai,

09:32us time ke,

09:33woh KPS guilds ko,

09:34kya raya hai bhi,

09:34khalra sahab,

09:36bady problem create kar raya hai,

09:37yeh korn hai,

09:38national level pe,

09:39news jari hai,

09:40to,

09:41DGP,

09:42joh KPS guilds,

09:42gil dhkha raya gaya hai,

09:43woh kehate hai,

09:44mein iis se dhek luaun ga,

09:45aurre bhai,

09:46woh to,

09:46thirty first ko,

09:47chale gaya,

09:48aur,

09:48yeh,

09:49chhe,

09:49agle mhiinne ki baat hai,

09:51congress ki,

09:52serkar thi,

09:53congress me,

09:54korn chief minister ta,

09:55us time,

09:55baare mein,

09:57us time,

09:57you have no issues with jaswan singh khalra himself,

10:06but lekin,

10:08lekin aapne diljeet dosanj ko imposter ka hai,

10:11who is misleading Punjab from Los Angeles,

10:14and you have suggested possible khalistani influence,

10:19what exactly prompted you to make these remarks against the actor?

10:25I think two years back,

10:29a picture aai,

10:30jiska naam chamkila,

10:33a singer tha chamkila,

10:35naam lene mei bhi thoda acha nhi lagtta,

10:39usse ganda kooi likh naihi sakta,

10:43usse ganda kooi gha naihi sakta,

10:46uske maare mein picture benaii,

10:48Pranitai,

10:49joh hai,

10:50usmei woh heroine thi,

10:52uska joh husband wife,

10:54joh role tha,

10:56chimkila ka daljeet nai kiya,

10:58wo us time,

10:59joh gaar rahe thay,

11:01unko bhi,

11:02terroristo nai,

11:04stage phe gahate huye unka katal kiya,

11:06kyao ki woh unki marji ka naihi gahare thay,

11:10और wars ko bhi family kooi lene nai aai,

11:12only ke unidentified bodies thii,

11:14uska woha bilkul us picture mei ye naihi dkhaaya gya,

11:18bhi terrorstone nai maara tha,

11:19chimkila mei usko glorify kiya gya,

11:21एk taraf toho woh ganda singer,

11:24áaj jahe usse kuch bhi kare,

11:25us time kooi aapne ghar mei usko sunta naihi tha,

11:29ऐस tariqe se woh gata tha,

11:32तो chimkila naam ke movie,

11:33usmei paise bina liye,

11:34wawa ho gai,

11:35अब wohi aadmi,

11:38usi terrorstone ko glorify kar raha hai,

11:41mera kainne ka mtlog hai,

11:43agar,

11:43méni kaita hoon,

11:45government ke upar,

11:46ismei joh kuch huwa,

11:4880's mein,

11:49woh indra gandhi ji nai,

11:50आaj fulka sahab nai bhi,

11:52eek press conference ki,

11:53woh joh indra gandhi ji nai,

11:55blue star kiya,

11:56joh humare dhruwar sahab ke upar,

11:59usko dhheri kiya,

12:00और उसके बाद rajeev gandhi ji nai,

12:03बड़ा पेड हिलता है,

12:05ये बात कही,

12:06और किसी हिंदू और सिkh ki baat नहीं थी दिली में,

12:09fulka sahab nai aaj kaha hai,

12:11और मैं bhi kaita ho bhi,

12:12उस time,

12:13क्योंकि आज to saja bhi ho gai,

12:15case'o me,

12:15उस time,

12:16जिस सिkhों को टायर जला के,

12:18जलाया गया kongres के राज में,

12:20वो kongresi थे,

12:21वो कोई hindu naihi thay,

12:22कोई musliman naihi thay,

12:24आज ही khalra sahab nai kaha bhi,

12:26मेरे को bachanे wala bhi hindu tha,

12:28मुझे बचाने वाले bhi muslim thay,

12:30तो वो किसी भी,

12:33अपने,

12:34जो,

12:35fulka sahab nai kaha hai,

12:36और,

12:38इसमें,

12:39जो मैं अगली बात करने जा रहा हूँ,

12:40भी bjp ka,

12:42और government का,

12:43इसको रोप लगाया जा रहा है,

12:45भी बंद की ही है,

12:46बिल्कुल इसी,

12:47इस चीज को मैं क्यों ना डनाय करूँ,

12:48जो बात है ही नहीं है,

12:51इसको रोकने का कोई मतलब नहीं बनता,

12:54और,

12:54तो क्या bjp में,

12:56बिटू जी,

12:57क्या bjp में थोड़ा confusion है,

12:59क्योंकि,

13:00जो senior bjp leader है,

13:02एकबाल सेंग लालपूरा,

13:03he has cautioned against escalating the issue,

13:07लेकिन पंजाब bjp president,

13:09केवल सेंग धिलन,

13:10he has taken a different stance,

13:13is there some confusion,

13:14within the party on Satloj,

13:16and how do you respond to this disagreement?

13:19देखो, बिलकुल ये खीख कह रहे हैं,

13:21जो हमारे केवल सेंग धिलन,

13:23he is a president of bjp,

13:25उन्होंने एक लेटर लिखा है,

13:27IB ministry को,

13:28information broadcasting minister को,

13:30बही,

13:31ये यहां पे,

13:32हमारे उपर अरोप लग रहे हैं,

13:35कोश political parties ने,

13:36बही ये picture,

13:38अब Z network है,

13:40मैं जाना नहीं चाहता हूँ,

13:41उसमें जादा,

13:42Z,

13:43जो five है,

13:44उन्होंने ये picture डाली,

13:47और गलजीत ने पहले ही announce किया,

13:49भी जल्दी से जल्दी,

13:50आप इसे upload कर लीजिए,

13:52upload करने के बाद,

13:54ये picture है,

13:54जो हटा दी जाएगी,

13:57उन्होंने खुद,

13:58कहा भी,

13:58ये Monday को picture उता दी जाएगी,

14:00Saturday,

14:01और Saturday,

14:02तो,

14:03ये जीर वालों को सामने आके,

14:05बात करनी चाहिए,

14:07इसमें,

14:07बीजेपी के अब जहां,

14:08लालपुरा साब की बात की,

14:10लालपुरा साब बहुत senior आदमे,

14:12he was SP posted in Amrsa,

14:14जब ये पूरा peak पे था,

14:16और बिंडरावाला जी,

14:17उस time थे,

14:19तो,

14:19एक elderly,

14:21उन्होंने ये कहा है भी,

14:23इस चीज़ को,

14:24उन्होंने भी कहा है भी,

14:2525,000 number है जो,

14:27ये कहां से आया,

14:29आप,

14:30दो देश का human rights commission है,

14:33उसकी website पे जाईए,

14:34और number चेक कीजिए,

14:35कितने हैं,

14:36क्योंकि हर,

14:36जो death हुई है,

14:38जो police,

14:40encounter में जा मारा गया है,

14:41उसे 2,00,

14:42रपिया election,

14:44जो human rights commission है,

14:46उसके दवारा दिया गया है,

14:48और,

14:49उसका number उसके उपर है,

14:50तो 25,000 number कहां से आगया,

14:53objection number one,

14:54उसका आप वहां से उठा सकते हैं,

14:56दूसरी,

14:57जो CM है,

14:59उसमें दखाए गए है,

15:00वो chief minister,

15:01उस time नहीं थे,

15:03उसमें time,

15:04और Congress के,

15:05हरचन सिंग ब्राड साब CM थे,

15:07यहां नरसिमा राओ जी थे,

15:09यह Congress का,

15:10सारा BJP ने इसमें क्या चपाना है,

15:12जी BJP क्यों इसको रोगा,

15:14लेकिन यह भी कहां जा सकता है,

15:16यह creative freedom है,

15:18यह creative freedom के space में आएगा,

15:20जो आप बोल रहे हैं,

15:21कि 25,000,

15:23जो आप numbers,

15:24जुसका सवाल उठा रहे हैं,

15:26उसका जवाब यह सकता है,

15:27कि creative freedom है,

15:28यह movie है,

15:29उस पर facts से इतना जादा क्यों relate किया जाए,

15:34तो फिर इस picture को क्यों चार साल पहले इतना debate था,

15:37censor board ने क्यों पास नहीं किया था,

15:40अगर वो बात पे आएं,

15:42तो यही problems थी ना,

15:44उस time में,

15:45अगर इस चीज़ों को ठीक कर लेते तो कोई problem ही नहीं सी,

15:48ना खालरा साब की तो सचाई है,

15:50और जो पंजाब में यह हुआ,

15:52यह भी सब को,

15:52अगर यह थोड़े से figure जो है,

15:55इस बात में क्या जित थी,

15:57हम number नहीं ठीक करेंगे,

16:01और उस time जो एक्जेक्ट,

16:02जो C.M. था, उसे दिखा देते,

16:04और बिल्कुल जो इसमें,

16:08राजों जो यह दिलावर सिंग है,

16:10human bomb दिखाया गया है कार में आके,

16:12जो बिल्कुल कोई खालरा साब के,

16:14जहां उस case से उसका रिष्टा ही नहीं है,

16:16यह दिखाया गया भी,

16:17वहाँ पर गोली चली और मारे गए,

16:18उसके मन में आगया,

16:20मैं human bomb बनूँ,

16:21यह चीज़ें टोटल गलत दखाई गई है,

16:23अगर थोड़ी ठीक करके दखाते,

16:26तो यह बात भी आज जो उठी है,

16:28क्योंकि यह पीड़ा,

16:29पंजाब के लोगों की है,

16:31हिंदू सिख की पीड़ा नहीं,

16:33आप सिखों की आज,

16:35मैं एक बड़ी बात करना जा रहा हूँ,

16:36मेरी इसमें जा लालपुरा साहब,

16:38जा बीजे पी और कॉंग्रिस की बात नहीं है,

16:41आज हमें ये सिख टेरिस्ट,

16:45इनको हम गलोरिफाई करेंगे,

16:48हम क्यों ना बात अलेक्शन केमिशर गिल साहब की करेंगे,

16:54क्यों ना बात हम अपने मनमून सिंग जी की बात करें,

16:57क्यों ना मंटेक सिंग अलुवालिया की बात करें,

17:00क्यों ना आज हमारे वर्ल्ड बैंक के चीफ हैं बंगा साहब की बात करें,

17:03Why not say that? We will talk about them.

17:07We will show them the listeners, these were the people in Punjab who have got us.

17:11These are the people who have been like Punjab who have got us in Pakistan.

17:19Not all of our narcissism, we will send us in Punjab, that person will send us alone.

17:28Okay, since you have said that you will explore on legal and constitutional remedies to ensure

17:43that historical facts are not misrepresented, what exactly are these remedies? Are you

17:49approaching the courts? What exactly are you going to do?

18:19Identify Body C.

18:21First of all, I want to talk about your channel through this talk.

18:25You are all of them.

18:27You are all of them.

18:28You are all of them.

18:29You are all of them.

18:30You are all of them.

18:32You are all of them.

18:49You are all of them.

19:29इसमें इस पिक्चर की बात नहीं है. पंजाब गुरुओं ने कभी भी ये सखाया है नहीं हमारी बानी में मनुकता

19:38इंसानियत की बात की है. और उसमें ये कहा है एक बहुत बड़े सिंगर ने एक वर्ड कहे थे.

19:45मैं पंजाबी में कहूंगा गोविन्द. दो रंग गोविन्दे. एक होला, एक होली. दोनों रंग गोविन्दे. होला महला होता है. होला

20:01है अनंदपुर सहब जहां कालसा पैदा हुआ.

20:03वहाँ होला मनाया होला महला होता है. होला है अनंदपुर्दा. मत्रादी होली है. दोनों रंग गोविन्दे. ये जो मानपता है,

20:15मनुकता है, ये इसके लिए सब एक है और हमारा प्रियास इन चीजों में नहीं है. कोई गलत समझे, क्योंकि

20:25हम तो सरव एक प्रियास कर रहे

20:27हमारी है. जैसे जंगल में आग लगने से पहले जो आग लग जाती है ना, एक चिडिया अपनी चोंच में

20:33पानी लेके अपना तुपका तुपका डालती है. मैं भी अपनी इसमें अगूती डालनूं. मैं भी अपना फर्ज अदा करनूं. हमने

20:41वो फून देखा है. मेरा सर�

20:55होगी आने वाले दिनों में मैंने पता भी किया खालरा साब के धर्मपतनी. वो अभी बाहर हैं. जब भी वो

21:03आएंगे. मैं उनके पास जाउँगा. उनके पर्रवार के साथ जाओंगा. भी हम लोगों ने चाहे खालरा साब को टेर्स थे.

21:10खालरा साब को तो एक मसिया थै. �

21:14which is the problem that I had here,

21:16I had a problem with my grandfather's father.

21:21And my grandfather,

21:24he was born in 1992 in London, England,

21:29because he was governor and congressman,

21:33and he was governor.

21:35And when I was born in 1992,

21:37my grandfather's father was born in Punjab.

22:11All right.

22:13they have very wrongly

22:14if I will not fight

22:17then tomorrow

22:18the other generations

22:21will be on this

22:22this way

22:23how will it be

22:26here

22:27I will close one

22:29you have to close one

22:33letter

22:34they have to write

22:36they have to write

22:41this time

22:43inquiry committee

22:44to see

22:454 members

22:46how did it go

22:50BJP President

22:52in Punjab

22:53investigation

22:54and the other thing

22:58I will

23:01I will

23:02do

23:32I will

23:33do

23:40I will

23:42do

23:44I will

23:45do

23:58I will

23:59do

24:00I will

24:03do

24:03I will

24:03do

24:03I will

24:04do

24:04I will

24:05do

24:05I will

24:32do

24:33I will

24:33do

24:33I will

24:43do

24:44I will

24:48thank you

24:48son of

24:48former

24:49chief minister

24:49who was assassinated

24:51during the turbulent period

24:52Ramneet Bittu

24:53I really appreciate your time

24:55I understand that this is

24:56very very personal for you

24:58because your family is

25:00actually

25:00you know

25:02understanding how difficult

25:04those periods

25:06that very very tough period

25:08in Punjab was

25:09appreciate your time

25:10thank you for speaking to us

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