To curb the use of video or audio clips glorifying drugs and gun culture in buses plying across the State, Punjab Transport Department carried out a five-day special drive challaning 212 buses.
“The special drive was launched from February 7 to 11, 2020, on the directive of the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, during which all the Regional Transport Authorities (RTAs) held meetings with transporters, sensitizing them about the ill-effects of playing obscene or vulgar songs on the psyche of youngsters,” said a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office on Tuesday.
The spokesperson said that all the stakeholders were sensitized that such things encourage youngsters to go astray and succumb to the growing violence and gun culture being propagated through such filthy songs.
The teams also emphasized the need to educate the drivers and conductors to refrain from such unhealthy practices, which blatantly pollute our glorious culture.
During the drive, in all 509 buses were checked, of which 212 were found violating such norms and challaned.
The spokesperson further disclosed that such campaigns would be vigorously carried out frequently in future also and special instructions had already been issued to the Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) and RTAs’ secretary to address this issue on top priority during their routine checking.
They had also been asked to send monthly reports in this regard, added the spokesperson.
It may be recalled that Captain Amarinder Singh had expressed deep concern over the growing trend of propagating violence and gun culture in Punjabi songs.
Reiterating his Government’s firm commitment, the Chief Minister has directed the Transport Department to further intensify its efforts against playing obscene or vulgar songs in buses, as these are not only detrimental to our rich culture but also cause a distraction to the driver, resulting in unsafe driving and endangering the lives of people.
Notably, the Punjab Police has recently booked Punjabi singers Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu (Sidhu Moose Wala) and Mankirat Aulakh for propagating violence through a video clip uploaded on social media.
Likewise, showing zero-tolerance against films instigating youngsters to take up arms and disturb peace and harmony, Capt Amarinder also ordered a ban on the screening of movie ‘Shooter’ which is based on the life of the notorious gangster Sukha Kahlwan.
Subsequently, the Punjab Police also registered a case against producer or promoter KV Singh Dhillon and others for allegedly promoting violence, heinous crimes, gangsterism, drugs extortion, threats, and criminal intimidation.