Congress MP and Punjab President Amrinder Singh Raja Warring has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ban the upcoming web series ‘Lawrence of Punjab.’
The series is said to be based on jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and is slated to release on OTT platform ZEE5 on April 27. The matter has already attracted attention, the Punjab Police has also written to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to block public access to the series.
In his letter, Warring expressed “urgent concerns” about the project, saying such content should not glorify a person accused of several serious crimes, including the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewal. The letter also added that the show could “glorify” crime and wrongly associate Punjabi identity with “gangster culture”.
“The film/series aims to glorify someone who was involved in so many heinous crimes, including the brutal murder of Punjabi’s most popular singer Sidhu Moosewal,” part of the letter read.
Warring further warned that the glorification of gangsters could have a harmful effect on young viewers. He said such shows can attract youth to crime instead of deterring it.
He wrote, “Also, glorifying crime and gangster culture can leave a dangerous and disastrous impact on impressionable young minds who might be attracted to crime. Instead of discouraging crime and gangster culture, which we should all strive for, the web series glorifies them. Punjab needs no introduction.”
Terming it an insult to Punjab and its values, he sought the Prime Minister’s personal intervention in the matter. He wrote, “Equating Punjab with a criminal and gangster like Lawrence Bishnoi is an insult to Punjab, Punjabis and Punjabi people. We need to nip the evil in the bud and request you to ban the serial.”
Earlier in the day, the Punjab Police had formally requested the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to block access to the series. The center has not yet responded to the request. (OR)
