SYL song removed from YouTube

For quite some time now, discussions in India’s public sphere were encircled by anti-India voices. Whether in form of songs or mere views, the youth was swept with the new fascination of betraying our own land. Nevertheless, the authorities have now fastened their belts to react against the anti-India proclamation.

Following a complaint from the Union government, YouTube, the online video-sharing platform has removed the new song of the deceased Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, also popular as “Sidhu Moose Wala” from India. However, the “SYL” song is still available in other countries.

Why is “SYL” song controversial?

The song was under the ambit of controversies as multiple issues were encircling including as its name suggests, its relevance with the under-construction Sutlej- Yamuna Link (SYL) canal that has been at the center of a prolonged dispute between Punjab and Haryana. The SYL song also includes undivided Punjab, 1984 riots, Sikh prisoners, and the flag hoisting at the Red Fort during the farmer’s agitation.

The song initiates with these lines: “Give us our social history and our families back. Return Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Haryana to us. As long as you do not give us self-government and authority. We will not even give you a drop of water.”

SYL Song glorified Bhindranwale

Through the song, Moose Wala proclaims the release of Sikh prisoners who are probably the people arrested during the farm laws agitation against the three farm laws, which were later repealed. The SYL song also includes the reference to Nishan Sahib, the Sikh triangular flag which was hoisted by the protesting farmers at the Red Fort last year.

Apart from this, the SYL song also features some controversial personalities like Balwinder Singh Jatana who is a member of a pro-Khalistan group Babbar Khalsa. Visuals of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, Balwant Singh Rajoana, and Jagtar Singh Hawara were also a part of the music video.

The SYL song challenged India’s sovereignty

The SYL song was released on 23 June and soon it received 2.7 crore views in less than three days. and got 33 Lakh likes. This clearly demarcates the craze that the song held with itself. The Khalistani supporter singer had an expertise of grabbing eyeballs, and after his killing the number of sympathy views are also adding up.

A YouTube spokesperson while clarifying the stance of removing the SYL song said, “We have clear policies for removal requests from governments around the world. We review government removal requests when notified through the correct legal processes, and also review content for violations of our Community Guidelines. And, where appropriate, we restrict or remove the content in keeping with local laws and our Terms of Service after a thorough review. All of these requests are tracked and included in our Transparency Report.”

Was this the first time Moose Wala was in controversy?

No, it’s not the first time that Sidhu Moose Wala is under controversy for his songs. He has often been in quarrels that clearly promoted the gun and violence culture, repeatedly. The song lyrics by Sidhu Moose Wala were always a sensation among the youth of Punjab which eventually resulted in the rampage of gun and violence culture in the five river state. Unfortunately, the culture ate him up as well.

The recurrent pronouncement of Khalistan by Sidhu Moose Wala was not a hidden pulp but rather a self-proclaimed notion that became a suffix to his identity. This is evident with another song of Moose Wala titled “Punjab (Motherland)” which overtly hailed Khalistani leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his aides. The song starts with Bharpoor Singh Balbir’s speech in which he is narrating the need for political power for the Sikh community.

All these instances clearly demarcate the Khalistani propaganda that has been on a rise for quite a long time now. And finally, the Indian authorities are taking them head on.