Chandigarh (Punjab): Shubdeep Singh Sidhu Moose Wala, Punjabi singer and Congress leader, who in the past was often accused of promoting gun culture through his songs, was shot dead in his home town Mansa on Sunday.
While Punjab police is believed it the handiwork of gangsters and there are reports of Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar, a close aide of gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi, taking responsibility for Moosewala's murder. The possible motive behind his murder is yet not known.
While chief minister Bhagwant Mann was ‘shocked’ and said no one would be spared, the latest incident was in the series of law and order problems that the two months old Aam Aadmi Party government failed to tackle.
Earlier, gangsters were also involved in the killing of Kabaddi players soon after the Mann government took over after election victory on March 16.
The 27-year-old singer was reportedly shot at least 10 times near a temple in village Jhawahar Ke, which is near Mansa city and was declared brought dead at the local Civil Hospital.
Police suspect that eight assailants had attacked Moosewala. Bullets from three AK-94 rifles, a highly sophisticated weapon, were also found at the crime spot.
Outside the hospital, there was a protest against the Mann government after news was spread that his security cover was lately withdrawn as part of the Mann government’s exercise to crack down on VIP culture.
From controversial singer to politician
Sidhu Moosewala belonged to Moosa village near Mansa and this is how he got his last name.
He had a bad boy image in Punjabi pop industry because popularising gun culture through his songs.
He was facing charges of promoting violence and gun culture in his song ‘Sanju’. His song 'Jatti Jeonay Morh Di Bandook Wargi', released in September 2019, kicked off a controversy over a reference to 18th century Sikh warrior Mai Bhago.
He too landed himself into trouble during covid lockdown by using firearms with AK-47 allegedly procured with help of cops and since then he was booked under arms act along with six other cops. The DSP level officer too was suspended later.
He did not surrender to the police for days. He was let off by police in Patiala during those days pretending that he was out on bail. The SSP level officer was then given the case after embarrassing conduct of police.
Despite these controversies, tens of millions of likes on his videos and songs speak volumes of his popularity.
He was known for hit Punjabi tracks like 'Hathyar', 'Legend', 'Devil', 'Jatt da Muqabala' etc.
He later appeared in a few Punjabi movies too.
Social media is almost stormed with messages expressing shock and condemning the incident.
Unlike his career in music, politics rather came as a damp squib for him.
He joined Congress last year in December ahead of Punjab elections in a hope to captialise his popularity to advance his political career.
Moosewala had even contested the Assembly polls from Mansa on the Congress ticket. But he was defeated by AAP’s Dr Vijay Singla, who was recently sacked in graft case and currently in judicial remand, with a margin of 63,323 votes.
Tug of war
His murder has triggered tug of war in Punjab politics. The whole of the opposition has been targeting the Mann government for law and order deterioration.
Former chief minister Capt Amarinder in a statement blamed the continuously deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab for the brutal murder of the young singer.
“This government has been a complete failure on the law and order front and I have been saying it right since the beginning”, he said.
He alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government in the state was completely clueless as to what was happening here. “Moosewala’s murder was not the first during last two months and I am afraid this might not be the last one”, he said, adding, the criminals have no fear of law as the government has ceased to exist and there was total anarchy.
He criticised the Punjab government’s mindless decision to withdraw Moosewala’s security without assessing his threat perception.
“Responsibility must be fixed as to why his security was withdrawn. After all he was not a routine leader or a party candidate, but a world renowned singer under continuous threat to his life”, he pointed out, while asking the government to fix the responsibility for the loss of a precious and promising life.
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa blamed Kejriwal and Mann for Moosewala’s killing.
“Sidhu Moose Wala was a prominent singer. Due to the dirty politics of Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann, he was fatally attacked, in which he lost his life. Firstly, they withdraw the security of people and then publish their names. I warned this can be dangerous,” Sirsa said in a tweet.
Sirsa had, on Saturday, shared two pages of the document that gave the list of people whose security was either being withdrawn by Punjab police or was being downgraded.
He alleged that the document had been leaked despite being confidential and that it was a threat to the safety of the people who names were on the list.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also tweeted that he was deeply shocked and saddened by the murder of promising Congress leader and talented artist, Sidhu Moosewala.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukbir Singh Badal too said in a statement that this exhibited an abject breakdown of law & order in Punjab.
“This is an extremely sombre and critical hour, requiring all of us to exercise restraint and statesmanship. On his part, CM must reflect deeply why Punjab under him has drifted into anarchy with total breakdown of law & order,” he added.
He then said, “CM also must honestly think if the cheaply populist decision to withdraw Moosewala's security is directly responsible for the tragedy. After all, he faced tangible threat to life. This is no time for political point scoring but someone must take responsibility for the situation.”
Meanwhile, Punjab police has beefed up security in the state. Bhagwant Mann appealed for calm and said no culprit would be spared.
“I am deeply saddened and shocked by the horrific murder of Sidhu Moose Wala..No culprit will be spared..My heartfelt sympathies and prayers are with his family and his fans all over the world..Appeal to all to remain calm,” he tweeted.
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal also appealed for peace after Punjabi singer and Congress member Sidhu Moosewala was gunned down in Punjab’s Mansa.
“Sidhu Moosewala’s murder is saddening and very shocking. I have spoken to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. The culprits will be given the strictest punishment. I request all of you to be strong and maintain peace. May god grant his soul peace,” Kejriwal tweeted.
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