Why Diljit Dosanjh says he will ‘never’ enter politics after becoming US citizen

Diljit Dosanjh has reportedly been a United States citizen since 2022 and has been travelling on a US passport since September that year, according to a report by The Indian Express.

The report claimed that the Punjabi singer-actor is no longer an Indian citizen and has instead been using an e-visa to travel to India since September 2022. Sources quoted by the newspaper said this also suggests that Dosanjh does not currently hold an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card.

According to the report, Dosanjh’s last Indian passport was issued in Mumbai in 2018, while an earlier passport had reportedly been issued in Zambia. The report further stated that while obtaining American citizenship, he listed a five-bedroom bungalow in California as his residential address.

It also claimed that his wife, Sandeep Kaur, is a US citizen.

The revelations surfaced amid growing speculation about Dosanjh potentially entering politics in Punjab after a civil society organisation publicly appealed to him to take up a leadership role in the state.

As per news agency PTI, a group called Jaago Punjab Manch — comprising retired bureaucrats, Army personnel and professionals — urged Dosanjh to join politics, describing him as the kind of leader needed in a “cash-strapped, drug-affected” Punjab.

However, Dosanjh quickly dismissed the idea.

Sharing a report on X, he wrote: “Kadey v Nhi… Mera Kam Entertainment Karna. Am Very Happy in My Field. Thank You So Much.”

Later, Bhagwant Mann reacted to the speculation by alleging that the BJP was attempting to pressure Dosanjh into joining politics.

Mann claimed that after the electoral rise of actor-politician C Joseph Vijay in Tamil Nadu, political parties had increasingly started viewing celebrities as potential mass leaders.

The Punjab Chief Minister also pointed to Dosanjh’s social media post, saying the singer had already made it clear that he wanted to remain focused on entertainment.

Indian citizenship required for politics

The Indian Express report noted that even if Dosanjh changes his mind in the future, he would first need to regain Indian citizenship before formally entering Indian politics.

Referring to Section 6 of the Indian Citizenship Act, the report stated that foreign nationals seeking Indian citizenship must satisfy residency requirements, including a total stay of 12 years in India before applying.

Applicants are also required to maintain continuous residence during the immediately preceding 12 months and live in India for at least 11 out of the previous 14 years.

Khalistan controversy and concert disruptions

The issue has also emerged amid controversies surrounding Dosanjh’s international concerts.

According to the report, Khalistan separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun allegedly threatened Dosanjh after the singer objected to pro-Khalistan flag-waving during concerts in Vancouver and Calgary.

PTI had earlier reported that Dosanjh confronted protesters during a concert in Canada, asking people waving flags not to create disturbances during the event.

Another report claimed that during a performance in Calgary, Dosanjh paused the concert and requested individuals carrying pro-Khalistan flags to move elsewhere, saying the venue should be used only for entertainment purposes.

Dosanjh later described attempts to disrupt his concerts as a “fake narrative” and said he would not allow his fans to be harassed.