Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s decision to distance himself from the ongoing Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has drawn a sharp response from the organisation’s spokesperson, Surav Das. After Diljit said he was “an artiste, not a politician” and preferred to stay away from political movements, Das expressed disappointment, saying he had expected more support from someone who had previously spoken on public issues.
The controversy began during an Instagram Live session when a fan asked Diljit about the CJP-led protest. The actor-singer replied that he did not want to be associated with political demonstrations, saying, “Keep me away from all this. I’m an artiste, not a politician.” He added that every issue has multiple sides and quoted a verse from the Guru Granth Sahib, emphasising that everyone in the world faces suffering and that spiritual faith brings peace.
Diljit’s remarks quickly went viral, prompting mixed reactions online. While many fans praised him for maintaining a neutral stance, others questioned why he chose not to comment despite having supported the farmers’ protest in 2020.
Responding to Diljit’s comments, CJP spokesperson Surav Das said he was “upset” with the singer’s position. According to Das, the protest is not about promoting a political party but about demanding accountability over alleged examination irregularities and issues affecting students and young job aspirants. He said the movement welcomes support from citizens across professions and was disappointed that Diljit chose to distance himself from it.
Das also remarked that the protest should not be viewed as a fan club or celebrity-driven campaign. He suggested that public figures with a large following have the ability to amplify issues that affect ordinary people, even if they do not actively participate in demonstrations. At the same time, he clarified that the organisation was not asking Diljit to join politics but merely hoped he would acknowledge the concerns being raised by protesters.
The Cockroach Janata Party has been staging a sit-in protest at Jantar Mantar since June 20, demanding action over alleged examination irregularities and seeking the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The movement has attracted attention in recent days after climate activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the protest and began an indefinite hunger strike in solidarity with the demonstrators.
Diljit, however, has consistently maintained that politics is not his domain. Earlier this year, he also dismissed speculation about entering politics, stating that he is happy focusing on music and films. During the Instagram Live, he reiterated that he prefers entertaining people rather than commenting on political matters.
Professionally, Diljit has had a successful year with the release of Main Vaapas Aaunga and is continuing his international concert tour. Even as he remains focused on his career, his latest comments have once again placed him at the centre of a wider discussion about the role of celebrities in public discourse.