‘Don’t teach Punjabis how to fight’: Diljit Dosanjh slams critics, Abhijeet Dipke responds with ‘Mitti Pao’
New Delhi: Punjabi singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh addressed the controversy surrounding his ‘I’m an artist, bro’ remark during his concert at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday. While performing as part of his Aura India Tour, the singer briefly paused his musical set to respond to the criticism he faced over his earlier comments on the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led student protest.
Addressing the crowd, Diljit defended his position and said Punjabis did not need to be taught how to fight for a cause. “Punjabion ko naa sikhaao kaise ladayiaan ladi jaati hain (Do not teach Punjabis how to fight battles),” he said.
The singer also spoke about his preference for staying away from political matters, saying he wanted to remain quiet and spread love. The concert ended with a laser display featuring the messages ‘Main Hoon Punjab’ (I am Punjab) and ‘I’m an artist’.
Diljit Dosanjh Hits Back at CJP Over His “I Am an Artist” Remark, Says Punjabis Know How to Fight Their Battles https://t.co/mJDWQZN7Ph
— Grey Insights (@GI_Bharat) October 30, 2026
Abhijeet Dipke responds to Diljit’s remarks
Following the concert, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke shared a message for the singer on social media, expressing his continued admiration for him despite their earlier disagreement.
Dipke admitted that Diljit’s comments during the June protest had hurt him but said he had never lost respect for the singer. He also recalled attending his Chicago concert in May, adding that he admired the way Diljit had taken Punjabi music to a global audience while staying connected to his roots.
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“Paaji, back in June, when we were protesting, I was a little hurt by your comment. Not because I had anything against you personally but because I have always seen you as someone who speaks up for the cause, just like you said yourself,” Dipke wrote.
He ended his message by asking Diljit to put the disagreement behind them. “Baaki paaji, chhota bhai samajh ke mitti pao,” he added, urging the singer to consider him a younger brother and let the matter rest.
Why Diljit faced criticism over his ‘I’m an artist’ remark
The controversy dates back to June, when Diljit was asked during an Instagram Live session whether he would support the CJP-led student protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
The singer had responded by distancing himself from the political issue, saying, “Keep me away from all this. Bro, I’m an artist. I’m no politician, I don’t know what you think I am.”
His response drew criticism from some social media users who expected him to speak up for the protesting students, particularly given his earlier support for the 2020 farmers’ agitation.
However, Diljit later expressed solidarity with the students and criticised the police action during the protest. He said what had happened was wrong and urged the authorities to address their demands, adding, “The voice of the people is the voice of God.”