Popular Punjabi singer turned politician Sidhu Moose Wala was shot dead on 29th May 2022 in Jawaharke village in Mansa, Punjab. According to reports, some unknown shooters fired 30 shots at his car, out of which the singer took 20.
The mysterious and unexplained killing caused shock and disbelief in many. The singer enjoyed a massive fan following on social media, with more than 10.9 million followers on YouTube and 8 million on Instagram. Moose Wala was famous for his Tupac-style Punjabi gangster rap that left an unforgettable mark on his listeners.
While many try to make sense of Moose Wala’s murder, here are some facts that may shine some light on the issue.
Sidhu Moose Wala was an Engineering Graduate
Sidhu Moose Wala, 28, was born as Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu in Moosa village in Mansa, Punjab. He shared a close relationship with his mother, Charan Kaur and Father Balkaur “Bhola” Singh, which he also reflected in his songs. Sidhu graduated in Electrical engineering in 2016 from Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana. He later moved to Canada for his studies, but his passion for music remained with him. He eventually released his first-ever song, ‘G-Wagon’, in 2017 with Deep Jandu and Gulrez Akhtar. Initially, he was a songwriter but gained a huge fan base for singing songs like ‘So High’, ‘Warning Shots’, ‘Same Beef’, and ‘Old School’.
Fame Surrounded By Controversies
Sidhu Moose Wala became a global sensation within 5 years of his musical career. The Guardian listed him among the top 50 new artists in 2020. The fame also dropped him into an endless pit of controversies. He was heavily criticized for promoting drugs, gun violence, and hurting the religious sentiments of the Sikh community through his songs. Sidhu once landed himself in a boiler for using the name of legendary ‘Mai Bhago’ in one of his songs. Mai Bhago was the first woman warrior in Punjab to fight on a battlefield and was greatly respected by Sikhs. Sidhu was accused of using her name in poor light, for which he appeared before Akal Takht (one of 5 seats of power for Sikhs) and submitted a written apology. He was also booked by the Punjab government led by Captain Amarinder Singh after his video of firing an AK-47 gun at a firing range went viral.
Possible Prediction of Death Date
After the murder of Sidhu Moose Wala, his fans pointed out the eerie connection between his 2021 song ‘295’ and the date of his death. Many questioned whether Sidhu already knew about what would happen to him on 29th May, which he tried to depict in the song. Sidhu expressed his views about Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code in the song. The law stated that “damaging or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult any religion”. He talked about how unjustly it was used by the authorities whenever someone “speaks the truth”, reflecting the consequences of dissent in India.
Tragic Romance with Politics
Besides being a successful musician, Sidhu Moose Wala also worked in 2 movies, ‘Moosa Jatt’ and ‘Yes I am Student’ in 2021. He also took part in the 2022 Punjab assembly election as a Congress ticket holder. Punjab Congress chief at that time, Navjot Singh Sidhu, called him a “youth icon” and “a global star”. However, he was defeated by Vijay Singla of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) by more than 63,000 votes.
In his April 2022 song called ‘Scapegoat’, Sidhu targeted AAP and its supporters, calling them “gaddar” (traitors). He faced a lawsuit under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly spread by public servant) during the election for holding a door-to-door campaign which was termed as a “violation of code of conduct”. Moose Wala also campaigned for his mother in 2018, who won the Sarpanch elections.
He also used his 2020 song ‘Punjab: My Motherland’ to glorify Khalistan separatist Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The song also contained pro-Khalistan Bharpur Singh Balbir’s speech from the 1980s.
Similarities with Tupac’s Killing
Gangster rap music is known for its ominous themes, including violence, anger, and revenge. The master of this art was Tupac Shakur, who was the idol of Sidhu Moose Wala. Inspired by Tupac’s legacy and hurt by the mysterious murder, Sidhu made a song called “The Last Ride” in 2022, which was his final number before death. This song recreated scenes from the gruesome murder of Tupac.
Sidhu’s friends revealed how he would tell stories about Tupac’s rise to stardom and assassination. They also highlighted the disturbing fact that Sidhu got assassinated in the same way as his idol. The American rapper was shot 4 times in the chest in 1996 in Las Vegas. He was also in his car, stopping at a traffic light while an unknown gunman in a white Cadillac opened fire. Investigation regarding Tupac’s case is also incomplete, with uncooperative witnesses and little hunt for leads related to gangs.
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