Canadian singer Shubneet Singh, popularly known as Shubh, has spoken out following the controversy of a post which excluded Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir from the Indian map. The incident resulted in the Mumbai-based boat-speaker company withdrawing their sponsorship, leading to the cancellation of shows from September 23 to 25. Shubh’s entire India tour, slated for 12 cities including Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, was scrapped. Ticketing platform Book My Show confirmed the cancellations, assuring ticket-holders of a full refund within 7-10 days. The Mumbai performances were scheduled aboard the Cordelia Cruise from September 23-25, followed by Chandigarh on October 6 and Ludhiana on October 7.
In a heartfelt message on social media, Shubh expressed his distress, stating, “India is my country too. I was born here. Punjab is my soul, Punjab is in my blood.” He emphasised that he did not share the controversial post with any separatist intent but rather to draw attention to reported power and internet disruptions in Punjab. He urged people to refrain from labelling every Punjabi as separatist or anti-national and clarified that his ancestors had made sacrifices for India’s freedom.
The controversy arose when Shubh shared a map excluding Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir during a high-profile case involving Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal. This action led to allegations linking Shubh with Khalistani supporters. Following the controversy, many, including Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli, distanced themselves from the singer by unfollowing him on social media platforms.
