#GoodNews: Punjab Cops Appeal Singers to Avoid Glorifying Drugs

Themes of liquor, drugs and violence in popular songs may often have an adverse effect on the youth.

In an unusual move, Punjab police has sought help from Punjabi singers to take control of the liquor and drug-related violence among the state’s youths.

The groovy, foot tapping Punjabi numbers that keep emerging as chart-busters have caught the attention of the Punjab Police as liquor, drugs and violence often feature in the lyrics.

Hit Punjabi rappers and singers such as Raftar and Yo Yo Honey Singh have repeatedly used themes of drinking and sexism.

Worried that songs glorifying liquor and violence may have an adverse effect on the impressionable minds of youngsters, men in khaki are now knocking at crooners' doors asking them to sing a different tune.

As part of a campaign to save youth from moving towards illegal activities, Punjab Director General of Police Suresh Arora has directed all district SSPs to meet singers living in their areas and appeal about avoiding singing objectionable lyrics, an official said.

We are telling singers that they should understand their social responsibility. As liquor, arms and ammunition are glorified in songs these days, many people, especially the youth, tend to follow them and indulge in criminal activities.

Opinderjit Singh Ghuman, Batala SSP

We are asking them not to glamourise liquor, weapons or gangsters in their songs or videos, he added.

SSP Ghuman met Punjabi singer Ranjit Bawa in Batala and sought his support to ensure that songs replete with references to weapons and drugs are not churned out. The meeting appeared to have a positive result.

Bawa, on his Facebook page, praised the initiative of Punjab Police and hoped that offensive lyrics do not find place in Punjabi songs in future. He wrote, “It is going to be a very good initiative, we hope that Punjabi music will be good in the coming time.”

Another noted Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi of Dil le gayee Kudi Gujarat di fame also appreciated the initiative.

"I have been raising voice against objectionable lyrics for the last 10 years. Such effort should have been made earlier to save our youth," Jassi said.

(With inputs from PTI.)