Cultural policy to focus on piracy, lewd lyrics, says Sidhu
CHANDIGARH: Punjab tourism and cultural affairs minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday promised to formulate a policy to curb use of ‘lewd’ lyrics in Punjabi songs by “fighting it as a movement” and give direction to all activities in the field of art and culture.
Sidhu held a meeting with noted Punjabi singers, writers and artistes to seek their inputs for preserving the state’s culture and heritage, to connect youth and promote tourism. The minister said all suggestions and views would be looked into and another meeting would be held in 15 days where each and every suggestion would be minutely and openly debated.
“After deliberations are over, Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh will preside over a meeting to finalise the cultural policy,” he said.
He also floated a proposal for setting up a film city on 100 acres to promote both culture and tourism in Punjab.
Poet Surjit Patar, folk singer Pammi Bai, theatre artistes Neena Tiwana, Gurcharan Singh Channi, Gurpreet Ghuggi and Sunita Dheer, singers Jasbir Jassi and Satinder Sartaj and filmmaker Manmohan Singh attended the meeting. Secretary, tourism and cultural affairs Hussan Lal was also present.
On the issues of piracy and vulgarity raised by the artists, Sidhu said strong steps would be initiated through a cultural movement to put an end to vulgarity and constitution of an anti-piracy act (goonda act) would also be his top priority.
He said over 1 lakh devotees visit the Golden Temple in Amritsar on daily basis and there is a need to set up a circuit to bolster religious tourism where all the religious places and memorials would be connected and top class arrangements would be made for the devotees.