New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh police has sent a notice to popular Bhojpuri folk singer Neha Singh Rathore for a satirical song on the administration’s eviction drive in Kanpur. Specifically, her song referred to the fire in which 44-year-old Pramila Dixit and her 19-year-old daughter Neha were killed earlier this month.The song, which Rathore has called ‘Season 2’ of her popular satirical hit ‘UP mein ka ba‘, hold the administration responsible for the deaths.यू पी में का बा..!Season 2#nehasinghrathore #kanpur #KANPUR_DEHAT #up #UPCM #Government #democracy #death pic.twitter.com/Onhv0Lhw12— Neha Singh Rathore (@nehafolksinger) February 16, 2023On Tuesday night, Rathore posted a video of the UP police at her doorstep with a notice about the song, claiming that it had “created a situation of disharmony and tension”.‘यू पी में का बा!’ पर पुलिस का नोटिस..!#Nehasinghrathore #up @Uppolice @myogiadityanath @myogioffice #democracy pic.twitter.com/szZUsqvRCu— Neha Singh Rathore (@nehafolksinger) February 21, 2023“This song has created enmity and tension in society, and you are legally bound to make your stand clear on the issue. So, you are required to file your reply within three days of receiving the notice,” the UP police’s notice says.“If your reply is not found satisfactory, a case will be registered…and proper legal investigation will be carried out,” it continues.The notice sent to Rathore by the Uttar Pradesh police.“I don’t know why the UP police thinks my song is creating enmity or tension,” Rathore told The Wire. “I have been told that if I don’t respond within three days, there will be legal action against me. I am talking to my lawyers about how to respond.”“I want people to listen to the song themselves and decide if they think this notice against me is correct or warranted,” she said. Rathore added that she will not be removing the song from online platforms.Rathore’s most famous satirical song, the original ‘UP mein ka ba’, took on the Adityanath government before the assembly elections in the state. Her other songs criticise and make fun of a range of politicians. She has 146,100 followers on Twitter and 867,000 subscribers on YouTube.Several politicians criticised the police action against Rathore.“These are tactics of intimidation. However, when the government employs such tactics, we citizens must unite to protect civil rights,” Congress leader Salman Anees Soz said, offering Rathore help from lawyers in the party if she needed it.“Is the BJP so scared of the voice of a folk singer? Embarrassing. This is very shameful,” Aam Aadmi Party leader and Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia tweeted.अपने लोकगीतों के ज़रिए सत्ता से बेबाक़ सवाल पूछने वाली लोकप्रिय गायिका @nehafolksinger ने जब गाया कि “यूपी में का बा?” तो बीजेपी सरकार ने उनके घर पुलिस के हाथों नोटिस भिजवा दिया…एक लोकगायिका की आवाज़ से इतना डर गई बीजेपी?शर्मनाक. बेहद शर्मनाक है ये. https://t.co/CVWKzwSDxz— Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) February 22, 2023Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav changed around the words of Rathore’s song to criticise the Adityanath government.यूपी में का बायूपी में झुठ्ठे केसों की बहार बायूपी में गरीब-किसान बेहाल बायूपी में पिछड़े-दलितों पर प्रहार बायूपी में कारोबार का बंटाधार बायूपी में भ्रष्टाचार ही भ्रष्टाचार बायूपी में बिन काम के बस प्रचार बायूपी में अगले चुनाव का इंतज़ार बायूपी में अगली बार भाजपा बाहर बा— Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) February 22, 2023
