Amid public screenings of Diljit Dosanjh starrer "Satluj", across Punjab for the past two days, Punjab Aam Aadmi Party President Aman Arora said that the decision to ban the public screenings of the movie lies with the BJP-led Centre, just as the Centre had the power to remove the movie from the OTT platform.

Arora said that it was private individuals/organisations that were screening the movie in villages and cities.

“What power does the state government have to stop these? This movie is being used by different people to gain political advantage. Also, chief minister can decide to ban these screenings. I have not had the opportunity to speak about this to either the CM or my other Cabinet colleagues,” he said.

The movie, highlighting the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has clearly resonated with the people of the state and different political parties.

While a section of the state polity and people say that the movie should not have been banned, there are others who fear that the movie may rip open old wounds.

Arora said that though he did not know the Chief Minister’s opinion on this, his personal opinion was that the more any government tried to suppress the movie, the more it will arouse public interest.

“It could lead to other problems,” he said, adding that Punjab has seen a lot of trouble in the past and all political parties must unite to ensure that sentiments are not fanned.

“So many people had been killed during the dark days of terrorism, targeted both by bullets of militants and the police. It is the collective responsibility of everyone to ensure that history is not repeated,” said the state AAP chief. Taking potshots at the Congress, with regards to the ongoing internal feud in the party, Arora said that he hoped that all was as well in their party as its leaders claimed.

“But if they can’t handle their individual feuds, how do you think they can handle the affairs of the state,” he quipped.