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BJP lawmaker 'copies' ISPR's Pakistan Zindabad song, prompting reactions on Twitter

BJP lawmaker 'copies' ISPR's Pakistan Zindabad song, prompting reactions on Twitter

"Glad that you copied. But copy to speak the truth as well," Major General Asif Ghafoor remarks on Raja Singh's video.
Updated 14 Apr, 2019

A lawmaker from India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released a song unmistakably similar to the patriotic anthem produced by the Pakistani military's media wing for March 23, prompting reactions from Twitterati on this side of the border.

Raja Singh, a member of the Legislative Assembly in the southern Indian state of Telangana, in a tweet on Friday announced that he would release a "new song" on April 14 on the occasion of Rama Navami, a spring Hindu festival, as a tribute to the Indian army.

The tweet was accompanied by a video of the BJP lawmaker recording the song at a studio, with its tune and lyrics almost identical to that of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) song released ahead of Pakistan Day and sung by Sahir Ali Bagga. The lyrics of the Indian song, however, have been altered from 'Pakistan Zindabad' to 'Hindustan Zindabad'.

Commenting on Singh's video on Twitter from his personal account, Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the director general of ISPR, on Sunday said: "Glad that you copied. But copy to speak the truth as well."

The "speak the truth" is in reference to Pakistan's continued rejection of the Indian narrative that the Indian Air Force had downed a Pakistani F-16 fighter jet during a dogfight in February. Islamabad's account of the escalation has been supported by international media reports, with US-based Foreign Policy magazine citing unnamed US defence officials to contradict the Indian claim.

Following the Foreign Policy revelation, Prime Minister Imran Khan had also rebuked the Indian leadership over its claim of shooting down an F-16.

“The truth always prevails and is always the best policy,” the premier had tweeted.

Also reacting to the video, senior journalist Hamid Mir said the BJP lawmaker's song was "not [a] copy but theft" and termed Singh's rendition as "unimpressive".

Anchorperson Fe'reeha Idrees wondered why the BJP lawmaker could not come up with "something more original" despite the presence of a huge music industry in India.

Singh is not new to controversies. The BJP lawmaker was previously booked by police in several cases including for delivering hate speech and assaulting an on-duty police constable.

He has also made headlines last year for declaring that he would shoot Bangladeshis living illegally in India's Assam state if they did not leave. He also appreciated Dalits being beaten by vigilantes in Gujarat in a publicly shared video.

Comments

Morning Star Apr 14, 2019 06:34pm
Not surprised. Indians copy everyone. They don’t have originality
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M. Saeed Apr 14, 2019 06:35pm
Copies are copies and cannot equal the original. Copies of masterpiece paintings are everywhere in abundance but nobody cares to take even a second look.
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TRUTH Apr 14, 2019 06:40pm
Nice parody.
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Khalid_Toronto Apr 14, 2019 06:54pm
Somehow Indians will turn this guy into a hero. Abhinandan version 2.0
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Sanjay Kar Apr 14, 2019 07:28pm
First instance of Indian obsession with Pakistan.
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Ali Apr 14, 2019 07:37pm
Wow... What a beautiful voice :D
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Anti-Corruption_Pakistani Apr 14, 2019 07:46pm
Original diamond cannot be copied, as its values gains more appreciation with time. Copies always known as fake - this is exactly what Indian BJP supporter has done.
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AK Apr 14, 2019 07:54pm
Modi ji is going to win the elections.
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VIQUAR SYED Apr 14, 2019 07:58pm
They are followers.
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SachBol Apr 14, 2019 08:05pm
This is shameful act on behalf of BJP member, copying the song and lyrics almost same as original. But, ISPR or government entity should not get involved in petty issues.
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Zulfiqar Apr 14, 2019 08:08pm
That’s really funny. This guy actually thought he would get away with it by posting it on Twitter. What a genius!
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bhaRAT© Apr 14, 2019 08:10pm
"Glad that you copied. But copy to speak the truth as well." Well said ISPR. Even Bollywood copies everything from Hollywood, so they have a habit of doing so.
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bhaRAT© Apr 14, 2019 08:14pm
@AK This news is not about Mr Ji. Its about copying a song!
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Rahul Apr 14, 2019 08:21pm
I don't see any resemblance at all, a feeble attempt to malign BJP the party to form the next government.
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Raheel Apr 14, 2019 08:21pm
@AK who cares
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Isac Apr 14, 2019 08:46pm
Well done Pakistanis! it shows that you have imagination and creativity.
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Zeeshandxb Apr 14, 2019 08:56pm
Just thinking loud...bushra ansari released a song for peace and then we get this? I think India has to choose their leader wisely this time.
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Shahid Apr 14, 2019 08:58pm
Would have liked if the Pakistani version was also in the article, so that one could compare the two.
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Hari Apr 14, 2019 09:07pm
Just laugh and move on. Is it a big deal? You copy not One but two song from Bollywood,
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Bipul Apr 14, 2019 09:09pm
It’s called parody.
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Rajat Kumar Apr 14, 2019 09:10pm
This was actually a well laid trap set by bjp to catch the sympathizers from an adversary nation. It is very much evident from the singers voice and style of singing.
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Jimmy Apr 14, 2019 09:23pm
@Bipul. Why do parody using your country's name.
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Sahmad Apr 14, 2019 09:29pm
@Rajat Kumar take it easy. No need to justify a foolish action by some unknown. Now don’t tell me that it is plot for a new bollywood movie :)
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ABC Apr 14, 2019 09:34pm
With the way this guy is struggling to sing it will not be popular anyways.
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Sid Apr 14, 2019 09:35pm
@Rahul oh dear o dear - if you can’t notice the resemblance then I pity you. However I am guessing you are just being ignorant like when it comes to the balakot fiasco..
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ABC Apr 14, 2019 09:37pm
@AK so what has that got to do with this so called song
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ABC Apr 14, 2019 09:39pm
@Rahul lot of resemblance
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Jehengir khan Apr 14, 2019 09:41pm
Sue him for copyright violation.....at least they should give royalty .....
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ABC Apr 14, 2019 09:41pm
@Hari and u copy from Hollywood
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samik ganguly Apr 14, 2019 09:44pm
nowhere near similar.
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Reader Apr 14, 2019 09:49pm
Imitation is a form of flattery. After all Hindustan and Pakistan are two sides of the same coin.
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Raptor Apr 14, 2019 10:02pm
There was not even an attempt to change the song by BJP lawmaker apart from changing the names of countries in the song. Listen to the original song by ISPR first and then listen to BJP lawmakers one's. It is sad to see the Indian folks defending that lawmaker action on Twitter. Some even claiming that it is a conspiracy against BJP so that they would lose election.
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Taj Jamshaid Apr 14, 2019 10:04pm
Pakistan zindabad..... At least they (Indians) acknowledge that Pakistan's ISPR is the best... and Pakistani nation is always on the top. Love Pakistan.
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asif kidwai Apr 14, 2019 10:14pm
so true, Indians are good at copying other original work, in the real world it is called piracy or copyright violation.
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Insaaf hoga zaroor hoga Apr 14, 2019 10:55pm
Round of applause for this guy, representing the best that BJP can offer.
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Love thy neighbour Apr 14, 2019 11:09pm
Wow, better than the original :-)
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Asim Apr 14, 2019 11:16pm
@Shahid there is a youtube link for the original Pakistani work
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Raja Farhat Abbas Apr 14, 2019 11:19pm
What a joke.!
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Vg Apr 14, 2019 11:41pm
Nothing new they are singing same song since many years.
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Truttth Apr 14, 2019 11:45pm
@Hari two songs? I can count 200 songs u have copied from Pakistan. Pritam and anu are two biggest copy cats.
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Bahar Ali Apr 14, 2019 11:55pm
Why not singer Sahar sue that guy for copy right and patent rights?.. as according to Int'l Law its a crime ..
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Must learn Apr 15, 2019 12:07am
@Hari it’s ok
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Must learn Apr 15, 2019 12:08am
@Sanjay Kar it’s fine
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Ali Apr 15, 2019 12:20am
@Bipul aPakistan has not copied songs from Bollywooed
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Sheraz Apr 15, 2019 12:46am
Horrible Singer!
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Sabir Pakistani Apr 15, 2019 01:04am
Dil dil pakistan was also copied by India. They probably also copied our national anthem
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Andrew Apr 15, 2019 03:36am
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...
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M.Emad Apr 15, 2019 04:34am
Proves Indians lack innovation. Will thousands of software developers, engineers , musicians, artists and physicians they have yet to innovate anything significant.
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Ahsan Ansari Apr 15, 2019 05:18am
Why his voice sounds so empty?
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Aziz Apr 15, 2019 06:07am
No doubt , good copy !
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Iqbal Khan Apr 15, 2019 06:30am
@Rahul Yes you are so right, he was simply trying to sing " Vanday Matram "
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Ahmed Apr 15, 2019 07:06am
Poor copy. Keep trying.
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N abidai Apr 15, 2019 07:10am
The Indians copy from Pakistani music and songs,plus from other countries,. Copy rights laws are needed! Indians have to learn to respect other artists works!,Sad ,this should be put on international forum!,
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Aa Apr 15, 2019 07:17am
@Zeeshandxb, ditto.
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majid Apr 15, 2019 08:04am
Indians lack originality.
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Reader Apr 15, 2019 08:44am
They both have copied A.R.Rahman style of singing.
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Reality Bites Apr 15, 2019 08:53am
HAHAHAHA coycats
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Freeza aftab Apr 15, 2019 08:59am
Not surprised indian copy the song.big country.but small heart.....originailty is originailty
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Zainab Apr 15, 2019 10:00am
Not even bothered to get so much attention
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Wali Apr 15, 2019 10:32am
Original is much better
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Zulfiqat Apr 15, 2019 11:38am
@samik ganguly maybe time for an ear checkup
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Zulfiqat Apr 15, 2019 11:39am
@Rahul maybe time for a hearing check up for you.
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kp Apr 15, 2019 12:13pm
Well if its song, its nice, Love to all hate to none
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Ahmed Apr 15, 2019 12:42pm
Someone else's tune captured and copied brazenly, no sign of remorse or guilt. A singularly deplorable act.
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Sameer Apr 15, 2019 01:02pm
And that is why they ask our artists over. Because they can't sing even if their life depended on it.
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AZAM AKBAR Apr 16, 2019 06:00pm
@Sid Mr. Sid, I think he knows that this is plagiarism but doesn't want to accept.
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