Punjab: Navjot Singh Sidhu vows to curb piracy in music and film industry

Punjab Tourism and Culture Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday said his government was committed to curb film and music piracy which has broken the backbone of the industry.

While speaking to media, Sidhu said the state government is drafting its culture and tourism policy which will cover the issues related to the tourism and film industry.

"The biggest problem which the music and film industry is facing today is piracy. We had invited imminent singers, film producers and artists to discuss issues concerning them. We have received a number of suggestions including the problem of piracy. The suggestions from the concerned music and film industry will be kept in mind before drafting the new policy," Sidhu said after chairing a meeting with music and film industry people, which lasted for nearly five hours.

The minister assured the artists, film producers and eminent Punjabi writers that the state government will consider the request to establish its own filmcity besides an academy to give a boost to the industry that faced heavy losses during the past decade due to piracy and other reasons.

"I cannot give a time frame but while drafting the new cultural and tourism policy, I will discuss these issues with the chief minister. The demands are very genuine and indispensable to safeguard the interests of artists and producers based in Punjab," Sidhu said.

Sidhu, however, refused to comment on issues other than his department. The comedian-turned-politician was embarrassed recently after a Chandigarh-based lawyer termed his jokes and television stint as a 'propriety issue' by sending a letter to Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh asking him to rein in Sidhu as he was crossing a 'limit' by cracking lewd jokes on a television show.

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