‘Badmashi’ under scrutiny: Haryana Police removes 67 Haryanvi songs from streaming platforms

The Haryana Police has taken down 67 Haryanvi songs from YouTube, JioSaavn, Amazon Music, Spotify, and Gaana that “glorify gang culture, firearms, intimidation, murder, and hostility towards the justice system, thereby posing a serious threat to public order and social harmony”.

A Special Task Force acting under the Director General of Police, Haryana, identified the songs as part of their “sustained action” against digital content allegedly promoting gangsterism and criminal activities. The streaming platforms were issued notices under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, and Rule 3(1)(d) of the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021.

The “impugned content” published by famous Haryanvi artists such as Masoom Sharma, Raj Marwar, Rahul Puthi, and Dhanda Nyoliwala, besides 16 other artists,  “glorifies organised crimes and gangsters, normalises the use of illegal firearms, encourages violence against individuals, institutions, and law enforcement, and influences impressionable youth towards criminal behaviour”.

The Haryana Police has quoted lyrics and their English translations in their press release issued earlier this week to make their case. 

For example, they cited lyrics to Rahul Puthi's ‘Court Mein Goli’: “Bhari court mein marenge goli meri jaan, mukhya judge ke bhi aayenge paseene dekhiyai,” which translates to: “I will shoot in the packed courtroom, my love, and even the chief judge will sweat upon witnessing it.”

They also cited Masoom Sharma's song ‘Tuition Badmashi Ka’ – because apparently badmashi (rowdyism) needs tuition too – which boasts: “Re chhoda toh mere murder case, aur chalis case faraari ke, Ho tere yaar ne paade filter, mehkme sarkaari ke,” which translates to: “Oh, I've murder cases and 40 cases of being a fugitive, and your friend has exhausted government departments.” 

The press release also cited lyrics from three other songs. Masoom Sharma has the highest number of songs taken down with 19, followed by Narender Bhagana and Amit Saini Rohtakiya at 6, and Rahul Puthi at 5, among others. 

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