Mumbai: Punjabi rapper Diljit Dosanjh’s ‘Dil-Luminati’ concerts have been making headlines for bans and restrictions imposed on the events across cities.
The recent controversy was around Diljit’s Indore concert, where Bajrang Dal activists protested over serving meat and alcohol during the event.
Hitting back at the protestors, Diljit recited a verse by legendary Rahat Indori Saheb during his concert, ‘Kisi Ke Baap Ka Hindustaan Thodi Hai.’
Yash Bachani of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) set the record straight.
“Bajrang Dal got information about a concert happening in the city where there would be open liquor, and meat would be served. We have come here to inspect the same… We are also alert about any Love Jihad incident happening here. We oppose the open liquor and serving of meat to protect the culture in the city. Bajrang Dal can come out on the streets to protest against the concert tomorrow,” he said.
Apparently, these protests were backed by local BJP MLAs Usha Thakur and Golu Shukla.
During his concert on Sunday, Diljit recited, “Agar Khilaf Hai Hone Do Jaan Thodi Hai, Yeh Sab Dhuaan Hai Koi Aasmaan Thodi Hai, Sab Ka Khoon Hai Shaamil Yahan Ki Mitti Mein, Kisi Ke Baap Ka Hindustaan Thodi Hai.”
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After the protests subsided, the concert goers confirmed that no alcohol or meat was served at the venue.
“There was no non-veg, no alcohol at Diljit’s Indore concert,” said one spectator.
Earlier, the state excise department had cancelled permit to serve alcohol at Diljit’s concert in Pune.
In Hyderabad, the Telangana government had banned Diljit from singing songs promoting alcohol and drugs.
Addressing the censorship issue during his concerts, Diljit had said, “I am not defending my songs or myself. Main sirf itna chahta hoon ke agar aap censorship lagana chahte ho gaano pe toh woh censorship Bhartiya cinema pe bhi hona chahiye. Right? Bhartiya cinema mein toh jitni badi gun utna bada hero. Kaunsa bada actor hai jisen sharab ka gaana ya scene nahi kiya? Hai koi? Yaad araha hai? Mere ko toh koi yaad nahi araha. Toh agar aapne censorship lagana hai toh please sab pe lagao (I just want that if you want to censor songs, then the censorship should be applied to Indian cinema too. In Indian films, the bigger the gun, the bigger the hero. Which big actor has not done a song on alcohol or a similar scene? Is there anyone? I can’t remember. So if you want to apply censorship, then do it on everyone).”
