Singer Diljit Dosanjh directly addressed the controversy surrounding his viral 'I’m an artist, bro' comment during his Aura India Tour concert at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Speaking to the audience, the singer-actor clarified his stance regarding his initial decision to stay away from the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) led student protest.
He emphasised that his apolitical stance should not be mistaken for a lack of resilience or courage.Reflecting on his earlier statement where he had noted that he was an artiste rather than a politician, Diljit asserted that no one understands standing up for a cause better than a Punjabi. Addressing the roaring crowd, he stated, "Punjabion ko naa sikhaao kaise ladayiaan ladi jaati hain (Do not teach Punjabis how to fight battles)," before reiterating his goodwill toward everyone and concluding with, "I love you all."The singer made a statement, while ending his live concert as the stadium had a laser display with captions – "Main Hoon Punjab (I am Punjab)" and "I'm an artist."When Diljit had initially uttered "I'm an artist, bro" during the CJP student protest controversy, the line was widely interpreted as an attempt to distance himself from a politically sensitive issue.
He faced criticism on social media from users who argued that a public figure of his stature carried a responsibility to speak up. However, the singer later addressed the underlying themes through his music video titled Devil.In the video, Diljit stands at the helm of a massive crowd holding placards reading "Save Our Future" and "Our Future, Our Fight", depicting a protest-driven visual narrative that climaxes in clashes with police before a young girl offers a white rose to an officer in a symbolic gesture of peace.The visual sequence in Devil also showcased the presence of members from the Sikh community among the demonstrators.
This mirrored the real-world solidarity seen during the Jantar Mantar student protests earlier this year, where Sikh community members rallied behind students by providing meals, shelter, and medical supplies.Diljit had initially declined to comment on the CJP protest during an Instagram Live session, explaining that he was unaware of the developments due to his busy Aura Tour schedule and reiterating his intention to stay away from politics. However, following the initial backlash, he issued a statement expressing solidarity with the students.Pointing to the police action during the Jantar Mantar stir, he emphasised that what transpired was wrong and urged authorities to address their demands, adding, "The voice of the people is the voice of God." The singer also referenced the severe backlash and legal hurdles he faced after supporting the earlier farmers' protest, highlighting how he was previously labelled "anti-national."- Ends