The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab on Thursday, 9 July categorically dismissed allegations that the Bhagwant Mann government had signed any file authorising the premature release of convicts in the 1995 abduction and murder of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. The denial came amid a broader political storm triggered by the release — and subsequent removal — of Diljit Dosanjh's film 'Satluj', which revisits the Khalra case.

AAP's Chronology of Events

Presenting a detailed timeline at a press conference in Chandigarh, AAP's media in-charge Baltej Pannu stated that the proposal for premature release of the convicts was first moved during the previous Congress government in Punjab — not under the current administration. He asserted that the Bhagwant Mann government has not signed any such file.

Pannu further clarified that since the Khalra case was investigated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the entire process of premature release falls under the jurisdiction of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). According to him, no proposal is currently pending with either the Punjab government or the Governor's office.

The 'Satluj' Film Controversy

The political row intensified after the film 'Satluj' was released on an OTT platform and pulled down within hours. Pannu alleged that the BJP-led Central government was responsible for having the film removed from the platform within 48 hours of its release. He noted that the film's removal had an unintended effect: it spread rapidly through social media groups and messaging platforms, drawing wider attention to the Khalra case.

'A few days ago, the film Sutlej was released. Within a few hours, it was removed from the OTT platform. Whatever has happened since then has been very interesting to watch,' Pannu said. He added that along with the film, a statement by Paramjit Kaur, the widow of Jaswant Singh Khalra, also began circulating widely across social media and news channels.

Paramjit Kaur's Statement and Akali Dal Under Scrutiny

Pannu cited Paramjit Kaur's account as a significant development. According to him, she stated that in 1996, the Khalra family backed the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) led by Parkash Singh Badal, trusting that an Akali government would sincerely pursue justice and constitute a 'Truth Commission' to hold guilty officers accountable. However, after the SAD formed the government in 1997, several officers allegedly responsible were reportedly rewarded with promotions rather than prosecuted.

Pannu argued that three political parties now stand exposed by the chain of events: the Congress, under whose tenure the incidents occurred; the BJP-led Centre, which allegedly had the film removed; and the Akali Dal, which, despite Khalra's own association with its Human Rights Wing, extended no meaningful support to his family after coming to power.

Background: The Khalra Case

Jaswant Singh Khalra was a prominent human rights activist who documented cases of enforced disappearances and alleged extrajudicial killings in Punjab during the militancy era. He was abducted in 1995 and later murdered. The case, investigated by the CBI, resulted in convictions of Punjab Police personnel and remains one of the most significant human rights cases in post-independence India. The question of premature release of the convicts has periodically resurfaced as a political flashpoint in Punjab.

What Happens Next

With the film's circulation on social media keeping the Khalra case in public discourse, political pressure on all three major parties in Punjab is likely to intensify. The AAP government's clarification that the MHA holds jurisdiction over any premature release decision effectively shifts accountability to the Centre, setting the stage for a fresh round of political confrontation ahead of future electoral cycles in the state.