Noted Punjabi singer and actor Harbhajan Mann on 4th December declined to accept the Shiromani Singer award of the Punjab government, to show solidarity with the striking farmers on the Delhi border. “I have decided not to receive the Shiromani Singer award,” he said. “The destination I have reached today is thanks to farmers, my mother tongue, Punjabi, and all Punjabis. From being born into a farmer’s family right till today, every breath of my life is a debt of the farmers’ community, and I am greatly indebted to farmers. My singing was also loved by farmers, which made me win this award. Farmers are on the roads and are crying, asking for justice from those who have snatched their rights. Their future is bleak, so it won’t be appropriate to receive the award at this juncture.”
The Shiromani awards were announced on 3rd December by the Punjab government. Mnn tweeted: “Though I’m grateful to be selected, I humbly cannot accept the Shiromani Gayak award from the Department of Language. People’s love is the biggest award of my career, and all attention and efforts right now from us all must be dedicated to the peaceful farmers’ protest #farmerprotest.”