Cops keep track of Punjabi songs

Strap: Dossier catalogues singles released during farmer’s protests

Advertisement

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 7

After having booked singer Shree Brar for allegedly singing a provocative song, the Punjab Police are now studying the content of more than 20 other songs to find if these can incite violence.

A police special dossier has catalogued almost all songs sung since the farmer protests began in September last year.

“The songs in favour of farmers standing up to the government over central farm laws are a reflection of people’s sentiment. There is nothing illegal or provocative about these songs. However, in the garb of protests, many singers in Punjab and abroad have either penned highly provocative lyrics or their videos contain objectionable scenes. These paint a distorted picture of the ground reality,” said a senior police official.

He said the police were merely keeping an eye on the content of songs and cataloguing did not necessarily mean the singers would be booked.

“Most singers have released songs on the popular sentiment of the farmers’ protests. But organisations such as banned terror agency Sikhs For Justice was trying to use the platform to incite violence or seek support for Khalsitan movement. That is against the law,” said a senior police official.

The dossier besides naming several Punjabi singers also mentions a Pakistan singer for a violence-inciting song. It mentions views against each song and records the kind of comments made on the content.

Ninder Ghugianvi, an author of several books on Punjabi folk songs and a member of a committee on monitoring violence and obscene songs, said it was unfortunate many singers were exploiting people’s sentiment over the farmers’ protests by promoting gun culture, gangsterism, making fun of police or supporting Khalistan movement.

“Legal action against them is justified. However, songs in praise or support of the ongoing farmer’s struggle should not be objected to. Punjabi songs have always talked of valour and sacrifice. These have promoted peace and brotherhood while advocating standing up for one’s rights and justice,” he said.

Patiala SSP Vikramjit Duggal, who had booked singer Shree Brar, said action was taken against the singer as he had shown and encouraged jail break in a music video.

Box

Attempt to incite violence

* Banned outfits such as Sikhs For Justice are trying to use the platform to incite violence, which is against the law

* Police are preparing a special dossier cataloguing songs sung since farmer protests began in Sept, says a cop

* They are merely keeping an eye on the content and cataloguing doesn’t mean singers will be booked