Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is criticized for referring to Diljit Dosanjh as a “Punjabi singer”

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau courted controversy on Monday when he referred to Diljit Dosanjh as a “Punjabi singer” in a social media post, disregarding Dosanjh’s Indian nationality. The remark drew sharp criticism, particularly from BJP minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who accused Trudeau of playing with words to downplay Dosanjh’s broader identity.Reply from BJP Chairman
Manjinder Singh Sirsa criticised Trudeau’s comment, stating: “Let me get this right, Mr Prime Minister – a man from India can make history and fill stadiums. Your gesture of praising a fantastic artist like @diljitdosanjh has been completely overshadowed by your deliberate malice through puns.”

Trudeau praises diversity
Trudeau visited Dosanjh ahead of his monumental concert at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, where Dosanjh made headlines as the first Punjabi artist to perform in major Canadian stadiums. Trudeau highlighted Canada’s diversity, saying, “Canada is a great country – one where a man from Punjab can make history and fill stadiums. Diversity is not just our strength. It’s a superpower.”
Dosanjh’s milestone concert
Diljit Dosanjh, known for hits such as “Lover”, “Proper Patola”, “GOAT” and “Born to Shine”, launched his “Dil Luminati Tour” and reached a significant milestone by headlining at BC Place in Vancouver and Rogers Centre in Toronto. These sold-out performances underlined Dosanjh’s popularity and cultural influence.

Social media tracking
Dosanjh shared moments of his meeting with Trudeau on Instagram, where the Canadian prime minister was greeted with shouts of “Justin” and Dosanjh’s signature phrase, “Punjabi Aa gaye oye.” The video, viewed by Dosanjh’s 21.7 million followers, captures the camaraderie and excitement surrounding the event.

Fan celebration
After the concert, Dosanjh shared pictures and videos capturing the enthusiastic reaction of his fans, who cheered and danced during his rousing performance. Expressing his gratitude, Dosanjh posted, “Sold out Rogers Stadium Dil-Luminati Tour in Toronto for the 24th year. We did it, people.”Persistent criticism
Sirsa further criticised Trudeau’s remarks and stressed, “Diljit Dosanjh’s concert was good… The picture posted by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Diljit made all of us very proud… Later, when he expressed his feelings for Diljit Dosanjh, he did not even think that it was right to take the name of India. A Prime Minister should have done this as the office of Prime Minister carries a very great dignity. He should have maintained that dignity and tweeted accordingly.”

Dosanjh’s global reach
In 2024, Dosanjh’s international presence expanded with notable collaborations and performances, including sharing a stage with Ed Sheeran and an appearance on Jimmy Fallon’s show. His interactions with global figures further cement his status as a cultural ambassador.

Addressing his audience during the concert, Dosanjh reaffirmed his roots, stating, “Well, Punjab is where we all grew up and today we grew up in Punjab. Kyuki, you are the Punjab in your area. Isn’t that great in Punjab, isn’t it? Kalle-kalle, the Punjabi student, is a real guy who has been in the business for a long time and that is particularly pleasing. That is Mai Hu Punjab. It is nice to be in Punjab, there is no gang in Punjab.”

Dosanjh’s versatility goes beyond music. His Punjabi film Jatt & Juliet 3, starring Neeru Bajwa, is currently a box office hit. His dual career as a musician and actor continues to gain recognition and increase his popularity worldwide.

(With contributions from TOI)

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