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New Delhi: The Haryana Police's crackdown on 67 songs that they believe glorified gang lifestyle, weapons, and violence has sparked a debate, with questions being raised about similar Punjabi tracks being churned out unchecked.
Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) Ajay Singhal has reportedly said 67 songs have been removed from digital platforms and the action is part of a wider campaign, and further crackdown will continue.
Official sources said some songs sung by Haryanvi rappers are among the 67 songs, which were pulled down during the past almost one year. These tracks had been uploaded on YouTube, Spotify, and other music platforms.
In February 2025, the Haryana Police carried out action against songs allegedly promoting gun culture, glorifying violence, and inciting hatred. Investigators found that these songs swayed young people, glamorised gangsters, and showcased a distorted image of wealth tied to crime, potentially steering youth towards criminal behaviour.
Singhal termed the action as “a crucial step taken in the interest of society and the younger generation”. He said the move was aimed at “not merely to stop crime, but to save young people from stepping into the world of crime”. The DGP also stressed that such songs project criminals as role models and showcase a glamorous lifestyle that is far from truth. The top cop underlined that no platform would be allowed to host content that promoted crime culture.
In March 2025 alone, over 10 songs were taken down from various social media platforms, with few of them sung by popular Haryanvi singer Masoom Sharma.
Reacting to the recent crackdown on 67 Haryanavi songs, Sharma cited Punjabi tracks like 'Chak Lo Revolver' which were popular in the past. The singer said: "We used to listen to those same Punjabi songs...15-20 years back."
"It's okay if the campaign has been started from Haryanavi songs but similar action should be taken against Punjabi and other tracks. If you crack down only on Haryanavi songs, people will start listening to Punjabi songs more. The action should be fair," Sharma pointed out.
The singer also defended the region’s music industry. Sharma reportedly said: “The real solution is that if something is problematic, there should be proper laws and policies made and implemented across the country. I would even welcome laws against obscenity. Similarly, apps that mislead and corrupt youth, like gambling apps that are rampant these days, should also be banned. There are many issues that need attention, and targeting individual artists alone does not solve the problem...”
He pointed out the day the film industry here grows and accomplishes high standards, the music and cinema of Haryana will have a strong presence nationwide, just like Bollywood.
Following the crackdown, Punjabi songs have received renewed attention. Punjabi songs with lyrics referencing guns, gangsters, and bravado continue to thrive with hardly any regulatory intervention.
A debate is raging over targeting Haryanvi songs and leaving out similar Punjabi tracks. Critics feel that singling out Haryanavi songs risks merely shifting listeners from one language to another.
Many in the music industry feel that the crackdown should apply to all music that glorifies violence and gang culture — irrespective of region or language. Responsible content creation, enhanced audience awareness, and equal enforcement will go a long way in ensuring that songs do not normalise crime and make a negative impact on the youth.
