Folk melody sparks trouble: Uttarahand singer booked for ‘joblessness, liquor, prostitution song against Pushkar Dhami govt’; netizens slam FIR

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 Uttarahand singer booked for ‘joblessness, liquor, prostitution song against Pushkar Dhami govt’; netizens slam FIR

DEHRADUN: Garhwali folk singer Pawan Semwal is facing charges of "promoting enmity and insulting the modesty of women" over a song that was purportedly targeting the Uttarakhand govt led by CM Pushkar Singh Dhami on issues of rising unemployment and crimes against women.Dehradun resident Manju Lal filed a complaint on Saturday, alleging that a line in the song -- which links rise in the number of liquor shops to prostitution -- was offensive to all women in Uttarakhand. A case was filed later that night at Patel Nagar police station, and Semwal, who was in Delhi, was summoned for questioning on Sunday. Inspector Chandrabhan Singh Adhikari, SHO of Patel Nagar, said the case was filed under BNS sections 196 (promoting enmity between groups), 353 (statements conducive to public mischief), and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of women).

"After questioning, he was served notice under BNSS section 35, under which he must present himself before police when summoned during the probe. He was also warned not to repeat such acts," Adhikari said.The song, titled 'Tin Bhi Ni Thami' in Garhwali, loosely translated as 'Can't handle it for a bit', had first been uploaded three days ago, and then taken down. It was re-uploaded on Saturday and deleted again after the police action.

Despite attempts by TOI, both Semwal and complainant Lal could not be reached. However, in a video posted on social media while en route to Dehradun, Semwal said there had been "immense pressure on him from the police to delete the song" when it was first uploaded.The case has also triggered a political row in Uttarakhand. State Congress president Karan Mahara accused the BJP govt of silencing dissent through such actions. "The song highlights things which the govt does not want to hear," he said.In response, BJP state spokesperson Manveer Singh Chauhan said, "Due to holistic development under this govt, Congress has got no issues to raise. These songs are part of its agenda of mudslinging."

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