From AK-47 training to supporting Khalistani movement, Sidhu Moosewala's controversial journey

Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moose Wala, was shot dead on Sunday, a day after Bhagwant Mann removed his security cover.

He started his career as a songwriter for the song "License" by Ninja, and began his singing career on a duet song titled "G Wagon". Following his debut, he collaborated with Brown Boyz for various tracks which were released by Humble Music.

He gained wide attention with his track "So High". In fall 2018, he released his debut album PBX 1, which peaked at 66th on Billboard Canadian Albums chart. Following the album, he started releasing his songs independently. Also, his single "47" was ranked on UK Singles Chart. In 2020, Sidhu was named by The Guardian among the 50 new artists. Ten of his songs have peaked on UK Asian chart, two of which have topped the chart. His "Bambiha Bole" entered in top five on Global YouTube music chart.

In 2021, Moose Wala released Moosetape, tracks from which charted globally including Canadian Hot 100, UK Asian, and New Zealand Hot charts. He had faced legal challenges for promoting gun culture and using inflammatory and inciting lyrics in his songs.

Feuds

Moose Wala had a rivalry with Karan Aujla; both have replied to each other through songs, social media handles and live performances. Also, both the singers have been criticised for singing songs promoting violence. Elly Mangat, both Sidhu and Aujla's then-colleague in an interview disclosed that the dispute between two singers began when Sidhu's video targeting Aujla in his song was leaked to Aujla's management, and they threatened attacking Sidhu. Following the incident, both started targeting each other on social media.

The rivalry was resolved temporarily till Karan Aujla released a diss-track "Lafaafe", followed by Moose Wala's "Warning Shot". 

Aujla in an interview stated that he didn't write the track "Lafaafe", and didn't reveal anything about their rivalry, but praised Sidhu's work. In fall 2019, their rivalry was most-active as both the singers were on India tour, and targeted each other in almost every performance.

AK-47 training

On 4 May 2020, Moose Wala's two videos went viral in which he was training to use an AK-47 with five police officers in one video, and a personal pistol in another. Six police officials who assisted Moose Wala were suspended following the incident. 

On 19 May, Moose Wala was booked under two sections of the arms act. Later that month, police started conducting raids to arrest him, but he went underground and evaded the arrest. 

On 2 June, Barnala court rejected his anticipatory bail, among five accused officers. In July, he got regular bail after he joined the police investigation. On 6 June, he was fined for black-tinted glass of his car in Nabha, and was released despite being under lookout. 

In July 2020, he released a single "Sanju", in which he compared his charges with Sanjay Dutt. Indian shooter Avneet Sidhu criticised Moose Wala for promoting gun culture.

On the next day, case was registered on him for the song. In an interview Moose Wala stated that he is being targeted by news channels and some lawyers.

Glorification of Khalistani movement

In December 2020, Moose Wala released the single "Panjab: My Motherland", in which he glorified Khalistani separatist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The song also includes visuals from a speech made by Khalistani supporter Bharpur Singh Balbir in the late 1980s.

"ScapeGoat" and reopening of 2020 Arms Act case

On 11 April 2022 Sidhu released a new song titled "Scapegoat" in which he laments his failure in the recent state assembly elections. 

Aam Aadmi Party alleged that the popular singer called the voters of Punjab "gaddar" (traitors) in the song for making AAP win. AAP also claimed that Moose Wala's song perpetuates the Congress' “anti-Punjab” mentality and has demanded an answer from the party's newly appointed state unit president, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, on whether he endorsed the singer's views. 

MLA Jagdeep Kamboj Goldy called him “frustrated”, and Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said, “We will reopen the case showing Moosewala in possession of AK-47."