Diljit Dosanjh, along with many other prominent Punjabi singers, has been vociferously tweeting in support of the ongoing so-called “farmers’ protest” in Delhi. While the protesting “farmers” have blocked Indian capital New Delhi’s borders, a large section of Punjabi singers have come out in their support. Many of them have also released songs supporting these protests, calling for the farmers to unite and raise voice against the new farm laws. However, rather than speaking about the real issues, most of these songs attempt to instigate the farmers by showing false fear of losing their land. They glorify weapons and violence (as usual) in these songs, in a manner that looks like an attempt to incite the protesters to become violent.
This post contemplates the current state of the Punjabi Music Industry, which has become infamous for promoting and glorifying drugs, violence and gun culture, and the possibility of a nexus between the Punjabi Music Industry and anti-India forces, including Khalistani-separatists and ISI, in light of the anti-India stand taken by some prominent singers.
Punjabi music….matlab drugs, violence aur sexism wala scene hai?
In 2019, the Punjab and Haryana High Court noted that glorification of alcohol, drugs and violence in songs affects children and has given rise to gangster culture in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had also expressed concerns over the issue.
In February of 2020, Punjab Police registered a case against singers Mankirt Aulakh and Sidhu Moosewala under sections 294 (sings, recites, or utters any obscene song), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In May, Sidhu was booked under the Disaster Management Act. Sidhu was booked in another case under various sections of the IPC, including 188 (disobedience to order) and 294 (obscene acts and songs) and 504 (provocation to break public peace) for his song titled “Sanju”. According to Punjab Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) and Director Punjab Bureau of Investigations, Arpit Shukla, Sidhu glorifies possession and use of illegal weapons and boasts about various FIRs registered against him and depicts this criminal behaviour as a sign of a “real man”. The ADGP further commented that the song is intended to ridicule, mock and undermine the police and the judiciary. Such instances show the incorrigible criminal mindset of these singers and their inveterate tendency to glorify violence.
Amber Dhaliwal, former wife of singer Dilpreet Dhillon, had accused the singer of domestic violence and cheating during their two years of marriage. There are plenty of cases of violence, drug abuse and feuds among these singers. Every second day, they fight on social media, spread hate and show-off weapons and engage in firings.
Thus, it would not be off the mark to say that their anti-social, violent and misogynist attitude is not restricted to their songs but prevalent in their real-life too.
A research was conducted by a team of Indian Institute of Management (IIM)- Ahmedabad, led by Professor Dheeraj Sharma. The researchers concluded that youngsters who listen to such songs have a negative attitude towards women and a high propensity to engage in drug use and violence. Professor Dheeraj observed that the lyrics are so filthy and obscene that they cannot even be called Art. According to Professor Dheeraj, it is a well-established fact that music profoundly influences teenagers’ drug abuse behaviour.
Even after strict warnings from the authorities, including the Court and Chief Minister, nothing has changed. This raises the question as to why these singers are so adamant about propagating anti-social behaviour? We will talk about a plausible answer to the question later in this post.
The Khalistani links of the Industry
The Punjabi singer-actor Diljit got into a verbal spat with actress Kangana Ranaut over the protests. The actress dug out tweets of Congress leader and Member of Parliament from Ludhiana, Ravneet Singh Bittu. The leader had accused singers Diljit Dosanjh and Jazzy B of supporting pro-Khalistan separatist organisation “Sikhs For Justice” (SFJ). The leader had requested the Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, to order FIRs against the singers. While Diljit became hit with the left-liberal lobby after his spat with Kangana, people from the other side of the political spectrum have called out his troublesome history, which includes supporting Khalistani-separatists in various instances.
Diljit landed in another controversy in June when he went live on his official Facebook page to pay tribute to “martyrs” of 1984 Operation Bluestar. He sang a song from his movie “Punjab 1984”. However, the lyrics of the song incites the youth to pick up guns and become terrorists. In 2017, Diljit came in support of a British national Jagtar Singh Johal, who is facing murder charges for his involvement in the killings of various Hindu leaders in Punjab. Diljit tweeted in favour of the Jagtar and used the hashtag “#freejagginow”. It is startling to see how a prominent celebrity like Diljit can ask to release a criminal who is facing charges of targeted killings and is facing investigations by various agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Diljit also faced strong objections from the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE) for his scheduled performance in a show promoted by a Pakistani national Rehan Siddiqi, who has close links with the Pakistani Army, ISI and Imran Khan. Diljit had to cancel his performance owing to strong protests by FWICE.
Singer Jaswinder Singh Bains, popularly known as Jazzy B, glorifies Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in his song “Putt Sardara De”. He has released a song on similar lines earlier in 2017 also. He has also supported the demand for Khalistan in an interview. Female singer Hard Kaur also openly supports Khalistani-separatist demands. Allegedly, she also receives support from Pakistan. Kaur B, another Punjabi female singer, had made tweets hailing Khalistani terrorist Bhindranwale. On 6th December, she tweeted a distorted map of India. The same image of the distorted map was also shared by singers Neeru Bajwa and Caralisa Monteiro.
The close links of Punjabi singers with Khalistani separatists explains their anti-India behaviour, a few instances of which have been discussed in the above paragraphs.
Pakistan and ISI behind the lewd lyrics of Punjabi Songs?
Pakistan and its ISI’s active support and funding to the Khalistani-separatist outfits to disturb India’s peace and internal security is not hidden from anyone. For example, this news article exposes the Pakistan link of Sikhs For Justice (SFJ), the US-based pro-Khalistan organisation. This article shows how eager the Pakistani Army and ISI are to revive insurgency in Punjab.
To answer the question posed earlier, i.e., “Why does the Punjabi Music Industry promote drugs and violence?” we should look at who gains from the propagation of drugs and violence. Most illegal drugs and weapons are smuggled from Pakistan over the border and through Nepal and other routes. Thus, with an increased demand for illegal drugs and weapons in Punjab (or even whole India), Pakistan reaps two benefits- money (for supplying these illegal weapons and drugs) and the social instability in India due to increased violence and drug abuse. Both of these help it further its objectives of corrupting the minds of Indian youth (the future of the country), spreading cross-border terrorism, increasing secessionist demands and dividing India.
Conclusion
Thus a possibility of Pakistani-Khalistani nexus operating behind the veil of the “Punjabi Music Industry” cannot be ruled out. There is an immideate need to investigate the possible connections of the industry with these anti-India forces. Also, there’s a pressing need to stop the depiction of violence and vulgarity in songs, which ruins the youth’s minds and increases violence and crime in society.
Disclaimer-
The post is not intended to defame any person, group of persons or any organization. The views presented in the post are personal and presented in good faith meant for public good. The observations made in the post are specifically made with respect to the popular Punjabi music which promotes drugs, violence and misogyny. The author does not intend to undermine the good artists in the industry.