SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (JKPDP) spokesperson Mohit Bhan has strongly criticised Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh for his recent remarks about Kashmir. Bhan reacted to Dosanjh’s statement, made during his concert in Mumbai as part of his Dil-Luminati Tour, which claimed that Kashmir is “heaven on earth” due to the control of the Army.
Bhan countered, saying, “Kashmir isn’t ‘Heaven on Earth’ because of the Army’s control, @diljitdosanjh. It’s heaven because of the people, our warmth & hospitality that we offered to you and everyone else, and our centuries-old culture of bonhomie. Don’t erase the very essence of what makes Kashmir extraordinary. It’s resilient and generous people.”
Dosanjh’s comments were made during a performance in Mumbai, where he shared his experience of visiting Kashmir just before the concert. Describing his trip as “remarkable,” the singer asked the crowd, “Have you been to Kashmir?” When the audience cheered, he continued, “Please, go and visit Kashmir. It is truly heaven on earth. I have witnessed it myself that the beauty of the place cannot be described in words.” However, it was his reference to the Indian Army’s role in maintaining peace in Kashmir that sparked controversy.
His remarks triggered a backlash on social media, with several users criticizing him for promoting the militarised control of the region. One user, Kabir, cited the Roman historian, Tacitus, saying, “They make a desolation and call it peace,”.
Despite the criticism, Dosanjh, a cultural icon, shared a series of photos on Instagram captioned, “Alvida Kashmir, tonight Mumbai Dil-Luminati Tour Year 24.” His ongoing Dil-Luminati Tour has taken him across India, as well as cities in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
This is not the first time Dosanjh has faced controversy. His songs, which have included themes of alcohol and violence, led to protests in India. In Hyderabad, the Telangana government banned his songs referencing alcohol ahead of his concert, and in Indore, Bajrang Dal activists demanded a ban on the sale of alcohol and non-vegetarian food during his performance.
