By Ayesha Khan 
Auckland, November 10: Something about Diljit Dosanjh’s luck lately the bigger his shows get, the more noise follows him. The singer’s world tour, AURA, was supposed to be a clean run through Australia and New Zealand. Instead, his next stop in Auckland has turned tense after yet another round of threats from pro-Khalistan groups.
The warnings this time came from the banned outfit Sikhs for Justice, run by US-based activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun. Same script as before, angry videos online, talk of “disruption”, the usual chest-beating. But the reason behind it is oddly small. A moment on television.
On Kaun Banega Crorepati 17, Diljit bowed to Amitabh Bachchan, the host. A few seconds of respect that, in India, barely registers as anything. For the separatist fringe, though, it was enough. Pannun accused Diljit of insulting the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, a tragedy still raw in parts of the diaspora. That clip became the match.
From Perth To Auckland
At his Perth show a few weeks ago, a handful of people shouted pro-Khalistan slogans mid-set. Security handled it, the concert continued, and Diljit barely flinched. But the moment travelled online, clipped and reposted with claims that he was being “warned.” Now the same voices are threatening to turn up in Auckland.
Reports from India Today and Moneycontrol confirm the threats, but there’s no indication of police action in New Zealand. The organisers haven’t said a word publicly. The show remains on schedule.
The Weight Of It
For Diljit, this isn’t new. He’s made a career out of walking that thin line, proud of his roots, careful not to let anyone box him in. He sings about home, about identity, without preaching politics. Yet somehow he’s become a symbol people want to claim or condemn.
To understand why, you have to see what 1984 means to Sikhs abroad. It isn’t just history. It’s a wound passed down. When someone as visible as Diljit touches Bachchan’s feet, a man accused by some of siding with the establishment back then, it reopens that memory. Fair or not, it still hurts.
At the same time, many fans see the backlash as forced outrage. They just want to see a performer they love, not another argument over who stood where four decades ago.
Beyond The Music
The Sikhs for Justice have made disruption their currency. They don’t hold rallies so much as hijack events that guarantee attention, cricket matches, film releases, and now concerts. Every headline keeps them relevant. And that’s what this is really about: visibility.
No official statement yet from Auckland authorities. Security plans haven’t been shared, but extra checks are expected. People around the tour say Diljit isn’t cancelling anything. He’ll perform, same as always.
A Quiet Response
If you scroll through his social media, you wouldn’t know anything’s wrong. Just clips of rehearsals, smiling fans, food posts. He’s learned silence works better than statements. Once you start defending yourself, you feed the very noise trying to drown you.
Still, you can feel the weight. It’s not easy being the face of Punjabi pride and constantly dodging political fire from all sides. Every gesture becomes a test of loyalty. Every song, a referendum.
The Real Story
For now, all anyone can do is wait. If the Auckland show goes smoothly, it’ll fade by the weekend. If there’s even a small disruption, the headlines will stretch for weeks. Either way, the issue’s bigger than one artist. It’s about how far identity politics travels and how hard it hits when it lands on a stage meant for music.
A single respectful gesture, a bow on television, now echoing halfway across the world. That’s how fragile the balance is. And that’s where Diljit finds himself caught between applause and accusation, singing through the noise because that’s the only thing left to do.
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- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
- Ayesha Khanhttps://hindustanherald.in/author/ayesha/
