FROM PUBLIC CRITICISM TO A PERSONAL APOLOGY: ABHIJEET DIPKE SEEKS TO END ROW WITH DILJIT DOSANJH

November 1, 2026

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke has publicly apologised to Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh following a controversy over the singer’s decision to distance himself from student protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar earlier this year. Dipke’s conciliatory message came after Dosanjh addressed his critics during a concert at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Friday, October 30.

The disagreement began in June, when Dosanjh was asked during an Instagram Live session about joining protests concerning alleged examination irregularities and the NEET question-paper leak. Responding to the question, the singer said he was an artist rather than a politician and wanted to remain away from protests and political activities. His remarks attracted criticism, including from Dipke, who questioned the responsibility of prominent artists to speak about issues affecting students and society.

The controversy resurfaced during Dosanjh’s Delhi concert, where he reiterated that he was an artist and said that people should not teach Punjabis how to fight their battles. He also referred to criticism surrounding his film Satluj, based on the life of human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, stating that his team had struggled for years to bring the project to audiences.

Responding through an emotional Instagram post, Dipke acknowledged that he had been hurt by Dosanjh’s June remarks but said his admiration for the singer had never diminished. He explained that his disappointment arose from the respect he had always held for Dosanjh and his expectation that the singer would speak up for public causes.

Dipke also recalled attending Dosanjh’s concert in Chicago in May and praised his artistic achievements, authenticity and contribution to taking Indian music onto the international stage while remaining connected to his Punjabi roots. He emphasised that a disagreement or misunderstanding would not change his respect for the singer, concluding his message with an appeal to be forgiven and treated as a younger brother.

The episode has brought renewed attention to the wider debate over whether artists and public figures should take positions on political and social issues or maintain professional distance from public protests. While Dipke’s apology signals an attempt to resolve the personal disagreement, the underlying discussion about artistic independence, public responsibility and freedom of expression continues.