Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh found himself at the centre of an online controversy following a recent post about his upcoming Chandigarh concert. The issue stemmed from the spelling of “Punjab” that he used, which netizens quickly pointed out was the version associated with the region in Pakistan, as opposed to the Indian state. Adding fuel to the fire, Diljit’s post about the Chandigarh concert notably lacked the Indian tricolour emoji, which he had included in all of his previous concert posts.
Social media users were quick to criticise Diljit, questioning why he had omitted the flag emoji in this particular post. Some even speculated about potential motives behind his choices, with conspiracy theories circulating regarding the singer’s intentions. In response to the growing backlash, Diljit took to his X profile (formerly Twitter) on Monday, to address the accusations head-on.
“If the Indian flag is mentioned along with Punjabi in any tweet, then it is a conspiracy. If Punjabi is written as Panjab then it is a conspiracy. Punjab is Punjabi,” he wrote, directly addressing the trolling and clarifying that the use of “Punjab” was not intentional or political.
Diljit also expressed frustration at the repetitive nature of the trolling, calling out those criticising the spelling of the language in English. “Panj Now – 5 Rivers! Well done to those who are conspiring with the spellings of the language in English. In future, I will write in the Punjabi language. But I know you people will not back down. But why should I prove every time that we love India? Please come up with something new,” he added.
ਪੰਜਾਬ Kisi ek Tweet Mai Agar ਪੰਜਾਬ ke Saath Flag Mention Reh Gaya Toh Conspiracy BENGALURU ke Tweet Mai bhi Ek Jagha Reh Gaya Thaa Mention Karna.. Agar ਪੰਜਾਬ Ko PANJAB Likha toh Conspiracy PANJAB Ko Chaye PUNJAB likho.. ਪੰਜਾਬ ਪੰਜਾਬ Hee Rehna Panj Aab – 5 Rivers… pic.twitter.com/a1U7q8DW5j — DILJIT DOSANJH (@diljitdosanjh) December 16, 2024
Adding to the drama, fellow singer Guru Randhawa posted the word “Punjab” with the tricolour emoji on his own X handle, leading some to interpret it as a subtle dig at Diljit. However, Randhawa did not clarify the intention behind his post, leaving fans to speculate.
Diljit’s response came as he continues the final leg of his Dil-Luminati India Tour, with upcoming performances in Mumbai on December 19 and a grand finale in Guwahati on December 29. Despite the online controversy, he remains focused on his tour and his music, showing that he is undeterred by the social media drama.