May 19, 2025: Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has found himself at the center of a major controversy after releasing a video titled “The Sikh Warrior Who Terrified the Mughals”, which the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have strongly condemned for allegedly misrepresenting Sikh history and violating religious norms.
The 24-minute video, uploaded on Rathee’s channel on Sunday, explores the life and legacy of Banda Singh Bahadur. However, both the SGPC and SAD have taken issue with the portrayal, claiming it includes AI-generated imagery of Guru Sahiban, which goes against the Sikh rehat maryada (code of conduct), and fails to show due respect when mentioning the Gurus’ names.
SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal criticized the video for using “disrespectful language” and called for its immediate removal. He urged content creators to exercise caution and sensitivity while addressing Sikh history. “Respect for religious traditions and accurate historical representation are non-negotiable,” he posted on X.
SGPC General Secretary Gurcharan Singh Grewal also objected to the depiction of Banda Singh Bahadur as a “Robin Hood-like figure,” calling it both inaccurate and inappropriate. “The Sikh community does not require AI-generated content to understand or preserve their history,” Grewal stated, accusing the video of distorting events such as the martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
In response to the growing backlash, Rathee released a follow-up video addressing the concerns raised.
However, Sikh leaders continue to call on the government to take appropriate action, demanding greater accountability from digital content creators engaging with sensitive religious topics.