Ahmedabad (Gurpreet Singh): Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming concert in Ahmedabad has come under scrutiny after the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) approached the city police seeking restrictions on certain aspects of the live performance. The November 21 event is scheduled to take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium, with concerns centred on the impact of the show on children attending it.
The intervention follows a representation submitted by Chandigarh-based professor Dr. Panditrao Dharenavar. Acting on the concerns raised, the DCPU has written to the Ahmedabad Police Commissioner, pointing out that children above the age of five are allowed entry to the concert.
The unit has argued that the combination of song lyrics, powerful sound systems and intense lighting could affect young audiences. It has asked the police to consider safeguards before the event takes place.
One of the key demands concerns songs that refer to alcohol, drugs, intoxicants and weapons. The letter names tracks including Patiala Peg, 5 Tara Theke, Jeb Vichon Feem Labbiya and Jatt Uthe Fire Karda Jithe Pabandi Hathiyaran Di. The DCPU has called for such songs to be excluded from the performance, maintaining that changing some lyrics during a live show would not necessarily address the underlying concerns.
Objections extend to sound effects and stage presentation
The letter has also flagged the potential risks associated with concert sound levels exceeding 120 decibels and rapidly flashing lights. It has sought measures to protect children from intense audio and visual effects and recommended that young attendees should not be invited onto the stage.
Another issue raised is the use of cartridge belts or imitation bullet bandoliers as part of stage clothing. The unit has objected to this style of presentation, arguing that it could normalise gun culture and violence among impressionable viewers.
To support its requests, the DCPU has referred to a Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment dated July 22, 2019, in CWP/27011/2016, which issued directions concerning songs promoting substance abuse and violence. The letter has also cited the Centre’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, an initiative led by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to combat drug abuse.
The police have been asked to consider these concerns while deciding the safeguards for the Ahmedabad concert. The controversy comes after Dosanjh’s recent performances in Delhi and Bhopal, placing the content and presentation of his live shows under renewed attention.
