Dipke Says He Was Hurt by Diljit Dosanjh’s Comments but Still Remains an Admirer

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), said on Saturday that Diljit Dosanjh’s decision to distance himself from a student protest hurt him, but his admiration for the Punjabi singer remains unchanged. Dipke’s remarks came hours after Dosanjh defended himself against criticism during a concert in Delhi.

During the concert at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Dosanjh repeated his “I’m an artist, bro” line, a comment that had drawn criticism from several people, including Dipke, in July. He also addressed mockery of his film *Satluj*.

In a statement posted on Instagram, Dipke explained that his disappointment stemmed from the respect he had always held for Dosanjh and the expectation that the singer would speak up for causes affecting people. He wrote: “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’ve always seen you as someone who speaks up for the cause, just like you said yourself.”

Dipke added that he remains an admirer: “If anything, I’ve always been an admirer of yours, and that hasn’t changed. I still listen to your music. In fact, I came to your concert in Chicago this May, just before returning to India, not just for your music, but because I’ve always had immense respect for the person you are.”

He praised Dosanjh for his courage, authenticity and global success, noting that the singer’s ability to stay connected to his roots earned Dipke’s respect.

Dosanjh responded to Dipke’s criticism during the concert, saying he had chosen to remain silent and urging people not to question how Punjabis fought their battles. He reiterated his earlier statement, “I love everyone because I’m an artist, bro.”

The incident highlights the tension between political leaders and popular artists over social and political commentary. The public can verify the statements by reviewing the Instagram post from Dipke and the live footage of Dosanjh’s concert.