Barely a day after his security was withdrawn, Punjab gangster rap singer-turned-Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Mansa on Sunday. The Bhagwant Singh Mann-led APP government had withdrawn the security of 424 people including former MLAs, Jathedars of two Takhts, heads of Deras and police officers. Moosewala was also on the list, which was made public by the government officials a day before on Saturday. The list, though, should have been kept confidential, according to sources.
Withdrawal of security during the Blue Star anniversary is an every year affair, but it is kept strictly confidential. DGP VK Bhawra, while addressing media said, “It is a regular thing that during Blue Star anniversary security pruning happens. Moosewala still had two commandos
which he did not take along, and he had a bullet proof car which he did not either.” But Bhawra did not comment how this confidential information was made public. A SIT has been formed to probe the murder, he added. The DGP ended the conference without taking any single question from the media.
Meanwhile, Canada-based gangster Goldy Brar has taken responsibility for killing the famous but controversial Punjabi rapper.
Moosewala was born Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu in 1993 in Moosewala village of Mansa district. He learnt music while he was in college and after studying electrical engineering moved to Canada. The singer, with a fan following that ran into millions, took to politics and joined the Congress Party. But he could not make a mark in elections. Last month, Sidhu Moosewala had courted controversy after targeting the AAP and its supporters in his new song ‘Bali ka bakra’, reportedly calling them ‘gaddars’ (traitors).
In fact, both fame and controversy went hand in hand with Moosewala, he openly glorified gangsters and gun culture. His song ‘Jatti Jionne Mod Di Guntak Vargi’, released in September 2019, sparked a controversy with reference to the 18th Century Sikh warrior Mai Bhago. He was accused of tarnishing the image of the Sikh warrior. Many FIRs were registered against him for promoting violence and hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikh community. However, he issued an apology later on after people slammed him for portraying the Sikh warrior in a poor light.
The open day-light murder has come in sharp criticism from various political parties. “The murder of Sidhu Moosewala, Congress candidate from Punjab & a talented musician, has come as a terrible shock to Congress party & the entire nation. Our deepest condolences to his family, fans & friends,” tweeted the Congress Party. BJP senior leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa questioned the leaking of security withdrawal document. Sirsa while sharing a document on Twitter said, “How did such a sensitive document of @PunjabGovtIndia become public!! I demand strict action against those who leaked a confidential list of people whose security was withdrawan by Govt of Punjab. First you withdraw security & then make them vulnerable by leaking their names.”
Putting a question mark on law and order situation in Punjab, Partap Singh Bajwa demanded resignation of Chief Minister Mann. “Murder of a promising youngster Sidhu Moosewala exposes law & order situation of Punjab. CM @BhagwantMann should immediately resign as he holds charge of the home department and an explanation is needed on what basis his security was withdrawn yesterday just one day before the attack,” tweeted Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly.
Finding his government at the receiving end of a scathing attack from all quarters, Mann appealed to ‘stay calm’.
Finding his government at the receiving end of a scathing attack from all quarters, Mann appealed to ‘stay calm’.