Expressing solidarity with farmers protesting against the new central farm laws, Punjabi singer-actor Harbhajan Mann on Friday announced that he will not accept the Punjab Government’s ‘Shiromani Punjabi’ Award, announced a day before. Notably, Punjab Languages Department had on Thursday selected Mann for the award, while announcing Sahitya Ratna and Shromani Awards for 18 different categories of literature and art.
“Though I'm grateful to be selected, I humbly cannot accept the Shiromni Gayak award from the Department of Language. People's love is the biggest award of my career, & all attention & efforts right now from us all must be dedicated to the peaceful farmers' protest (sic),” Mann said on Twitter.Mann, along with many Punjabi singers and artists, has been supporting the farmers' agitation for the last several months. The singer-actor had also attended the farmers protest at the Delhi borders.
“You had to be there to experience their energy, fervour & optimism. Amidst adversity, they smile & share moments of happiness. Proud of the peaceful & resilient protesters from far & wide (sic),” Mann said in another tweet.
Mann had come out with a new song ‘Murrde ni laye bina haq, Dilliye" (Delhi, we aren't turning back without getting our rights) on Wednesday, and the video of the song shows how farmers braved water cannons and broke police barriers en route to Delhi border points. About a month back, Mann had released another song “Anndataa, Khet Saadi Maa, Khet Saadi pagg” (fields are our mother, fields are our pride).