Mr Mann warned singers who allegedly promote gun culture
The Punjab government has announced strict new measures in a bid to clamp down on the state’s gun culture.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann issued new instructions regarding gun ownership and display, including banning the public display of weapons both online and offline.
Songs glorifying weapons or violence will also be banned.
According to the instructions, all arms licenses issued so far will be thoroughly reviewed within the next three months.
No license shall be granted unless the District Collector is personally satisfied that extraordinary grounds exist for doing so.
Hasty or reckless use of weapons or celebratory firing will become a punishable offence and cases will be registered against violators.
Random checks will take place in different areas in a bid to stem illegal possession and the glorification of guns.
A police case will also be registered and strict action taken against those indulging in hate speech against any community.
In May 2022, Mr Mann warned singers who allegedly promote gun culture through their songs.
He disapproved of propping up such a trend and said those found involved will be dealt with sternly.
He had condemned the “trend of gun culture and gangsterism being promoted by some Punjabi singers” and urged them “to desist from fanning violence, hatred and animosity in the society through their songs”.
Mr Mann also urged such singers to follow the ethos of Punjab and Punjabi culture, therefore, strengthening the bonds of brotherhood, peace and harmony “instead of fuelling anti-social activities through such songs”.
Early in 2022, former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had backed the arrest of Shree Brar, a Punjabi singer who was accused of promoting gun culture and glorifying violence in a song.
Previously, Sidhu Moose Wala and Mankirt Aulakh had cases registered against them after a music video went viral and allegedly promoted gun culture.
Some of the song lyrics included “I will knife them one by one” and “the guy whom you love is already booked for murder”.
Amarinder Singh expressed concern over violence in the song.
He stated that singers like Sidhu Moose Wala and Mankirt Aulakh encourage the younger generation to follow a life of crime and violence.
A case was registered but it was later withdrawn after the singers successfully took anticipatory bail from the court.
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