This story is from April 3, 2018

Old raag in a new sur?

Punjab govt sets up committee to ‘eradicate vulgarity from Punjabi songs’
Old raag in a new sur?
A series of articles published in Etimes on the issue since the last one year. Artcile titled’DONALI + JATT= FATALITY OF PUNJABI MUSIC’ Dated February 20, 2017. (Grab from Diljit Dosanjh’s earlier song, Jatt Fire Karda)

So, what's 'New' about Navjot Singh Sidhu's Punjab Sabhyacharak Commission? Nothing, if you ask us. Since taking over charge as the Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister last year, Sidhu has at different times been announcing policies to address Punjabi songs romanticising vulgarity and violence. In June 2017, Sidhu announced a new ‘culture policy’ to check obscenity in Punjabi music and videos and to, "raise a parallel force to combat filthy songs and movies," as then suggested by politician and actor Gurpreet Ghuggi.
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SIDHU
Dated: April 20, 2017
Earlier, Sidhu, along with his counsel of artists from Punjab, suggested a "Gunda Act to curb piracy in Punjabi music," which is another raw nerve in Punjabi industry. The then chairperson of Punjab Arts Council, Satinder Satti had opined that the lack of a cultural policy is the leading cause of demeaning lyrics and piracy in Punjabi music. Sidhu had also lamented the degradation of Punjab's traditions in music. To counter this, he had devised a plan to save Punjabi culture while engaging the youth through digital platforms. In the recently formulated Punjab Sabhyacharak Commission, Sidhu also states that rather than registering FIRs right away on receiving complaints, the commission would first start with counselling. This move has already been announced by Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora, in February this year, while directing district SSPs to meet singers, and appeal to them to avoid objectionable lyrics. Following this, a budding singer Rocky Bhatti, became the first casualty of polices’ new tirade. On Valentine's Day this year, Bhatti was booked on orders of Sangrur SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu, on charges of defacing public property and a poster of his new song showing "violent content," which was taken down from near a college in Sangrur.
donali2
Dated: February 20, 2017

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About the Author
Jaspreet Nijher

Jaspreet Nijher, principal correspondent, has been working as a features journalist at The Times of India, Chandigarh, for the past seven years. Her interests range from interacting with people from diverse backgrounds to listening to soft English rock and classical, pop music, reading books on spirituality, philosophy, astrology and fashion. Her hobbies include writing and driving.

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