RIP Sidhu Moosewala: Singing to Politics, controversies that involved the Punjabi singer

Punjabi singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala aka Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Jawaharke village of Mansa District in Punjab on Sunday (May 29). The incident happened just a day after Punjab government withdrew the security of 424 people, including the singer. Reportedly Moosewala had four police gunmen on his security, out of which two were withdrawn.

Singer-turned-actor-politician Sidhu Moosewala was 27. He was travelling in his vehicle when the assailants fired at the singer and his two friends. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead. ALSO READ: Who was Sidhu Moosewala? Punjabi singer-turned-politician shot dead in Mansa

Controversies that involved Sidhu Moosewala

Leaving behind his celebrated tag of a top Punjabi rap singer with fans across the globe, Moosewala, belonging to native Moosa village, was often caught on the wrong side of the law. 

Moosewala broke several records, and did not mind in singing couplets of his songs and posing for countless selfies with the electorate, largely first-timers, during his campaigning. With assets of Rs 7.87 crore as per his nomination affidavit, the singer-turned-politician, who loved to ride on an open jeep, was facing four criminal cases, including two for obscene scenes.

Controversies are not new to Moosewala. He created a stir by allegedly misusing the name of 18th-century Sikh warrior Mai Bhago in his track ‘Jatti Jeonay Morh Di Bandook Wargi’ with panthic bodies demanding his arrest for hurting Sikh sentiments. He later apologised.

The singer, who is facing charges of promoting violence and gun culture in his song “Sanju”, joined the Congress on December 3, 2021.

Moosewala, who created a niche for himself with his unique rapping style, is known for hit tracks like ‘Legend’, ‘Devil’, ‘Just listen’, ‘Jatt da Muqabala’ and ‘Hathyar’, among many others. He plays the protagonist in the Punjabi film ‘Moosa Jatt’. His other film ‘Yes I Am A Student’ is a story that sheds light on the hardship of international students but inspires them to never lose hope. Many of his songs featured in the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 charts.

“I am not entering politics for status or to earn praise. I want to become a part of the system to transform it. I am joining the Congress to raise the voice of the people. I am joining the Congress as the party has leaders who have come from common families,” Moosewala, who went to Canada in 2016 as an international student, had said on the day he joined the politics.

(With IANS inputs)