BJP Reel Over Mumbai-Pune Missing Link Used 'Banned' Pakistani Song 'Safar'; Netizens Call It Out

The Bharatiya Janata Party's official X (formerly Twitter) account posted a promotional video on Friday, August 21, highlighting the Mumbai–Pune Missing Link project, an infrastructure initiative described as India’s next major connectivity marvel. The reel, which has drawn significant views, features background music from the "banned" Pakistani song "Safar" by the band Bayaan featuring Sherazam. Users quickly identified the track and shared the post with critical comments questioning the choice of music.

The Viral Video and Pakistani Song Identification

Posted by @BJP4India on August 21, the short video carries the caption "POV: You’re witnessing India’s next infrastructure marvel" and focuses on the Mumbai–Pune Missing Link bridge and related works. Within hours, several users noted that the soundtrack is "Safar", a 2024 release by the Lahore-based alternative rock band Bayaan. ‘Vande Mataram’ Row: BJP Condemns Congress CWC Decision, Plans Nationwide Campaign on Full Song.

BJP's Reel With Pakistani Song Goes Viral

POV: You’re witnessing India’s next infrastructure marvel. 🇮🇳

𝐅𝐭. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐢–𝐏𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤 🌉 pic.twitter.com/iTnV3x9vhh

— BJP (@BJP4India) August 21, 2026

Netizens Call Out BJP Over Use of Pakistani Song 'Safar'

And using Pakistani song to showcase it 😂

— hasstress007 (@hasstress) August 22, 2026

Pakistani song used by so called Nationalist party

— ভারতীয় বাঙালি🇮🇳 (@_proud_bangali_) August 23, 2026

Why Are You Using a Pakistani Song, Asks X User

Why are you using a Pakistani 🇵🇰song rashtrbhakts ? https://t.co/o2QaaEJDsR

— Subhadip Barui 🇮🇳 (@Subhadip_barui9) August 22, 2026

One widely shared reply asked, “Why are you using a Pakistani song?” while others pointed out the apparent inconsistency with past public positions on content originating from Pakistan. Similar comments described the selection as ironic given the party’s nationalist messaging. A second user said, "And using Pakistani song to showcase it", while a third user wrote, "Pakistani song used by so called Nationalist party".

Online Reactions To BJP's Reel

Criticism spread across X over the following day. Users highlighted the song’s Pakistani origins and contrasted it with earlier instances in which political figures or party-linked accounts had objected to Pakistani music or artists. Some replies simply flagged the music without further comment, while others framed it as an oversight in content selection. Engagement on the original post and quote tweets rose as the observation circulated. No official statement or correction from the BJP account addressing the soundtrack had appeared by Sunday, August 23.

Pakistani Song 'Safar'

Background on the Track

"Safar", released in October 2024 under Sony Music Middle East, is a reflective track about personal journeys and resilience. It has gained substantial streaming numbers and is frequently used in social media reels across South Asia. Bayaan, formed in Lahore, is known for Urdu-language alternative and contemporary pop music. The Mumbai–Pune Missing Link forms part of ongoing highway and expressway upgrades aimed at reducing travel time between the two cities. BJP Leader Sanjay Gupta Says Non-Voters Will Get ‘Plastic Worms’ (Video).

Official communications have presented the project as a key infrastructure priority. The episode joins a series of recent social-media moments in which background music choices in political content have prompted public scrutiny. As of August 23, the original reel remained online.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 23, 2026 01:26 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).