YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has removed an AI-generated video titled ‘The Sikh Warrior Who Terrified the Mughals’ following strong objections from Sikh organizations including the Akal Takht, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). The video was criticized for depicting Sikh gurus in human form, which is considered inappropriate according to Sikh principles.
In an Instagram post, Rathee explained that he decided to remove the video as it conflicted with the beliefs of some viewers. “I do not want this to become a political or religious controversy, because the video was simply an effort to showcase the stories of our Indian heroes in a new educational format,” he added.
The SGPC president, Harjinder Singh Dhami, stated that such portrayals violate Sikh principles and traditions, warning of legal action if the video wasn’t removed. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal also criticized the video, saying it violated Sikh ‘rehat maryada’ and hurt the sentiments of the community.
The Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell, calling for action against Rathee and a review of his YouTube channel. The committee expressed concerns over the potential spread of misinformation through his channel, which has over 10 million subscribers.
