In Depth | Who is Sidhu Moose Wala, the controversial singer who has joined Congress?

Ahead of Punjab Assembly election, the Congress party inducted Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala into the party on Friday.

The Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu described Moose Wala as a youth icon and an “international figure.” Sidhu futher said, “Moose Wala is joining our family. I welcome him in the Congress.”

At the induction ceremony in Chandigarh, Sidhu Moose Wala said “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 voices of the people. I am joining the Congress as the party has leaders who have come from common families.”

But who is Sidhu Moose Wala? Why has Congress chosen him? And what does he bring to the table?

Who is Sidhu Moose Wala?

Born on June 17, 1993, Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu aka Sidhu Moose Wala belongs to the Moose Wala village in Mansa district. He holds a degree in electrical engineering. He learned music during his college days and later moved to Canada.

He started his career by writing a song 'licence' which was sung by Ninja and ultimately kicked off his career as a songwriter and singer. Eventually, Moose Wala gathered a fan following running into millions and is now popular for his gangster raps.

Controversies

Sidhu Moose Wala is also known as one of the most controversial Punjabi singers.
The singer faces many cases that accuse him of glorifying guns and violence through his songs.

Sidhu Moose Wala, whose favoured theme is to depict the charms of bucolic life in his videos, has also been accused of glorifying caste divides.

Moose Wala’s song 'Jatti Jeonay Morh Di Bandook Wargi', released in September 2019, kicked off a controversy over a reference to 18th century Sikh warrior Mai Bhago. He was accused of showing this Sikh warrior in a poor light. Moose Wala had later tendered an apology.

Another song 'Sanju' also kicked off a controversy. The song was released after Sidhu Moose Wala got bail in the AK-47 firing case. He had compared himself with actor Sanjay Dutt in the song released on social media. A case under Arms act was registered against Sidhu Moose Wala after a video clip showing him shooting at a firing range in Barnala village went viral on social media in May 2020. However, a Sangrur court later granted him bail.

Role in farmers' protest

Sidhu Moose Wala fervently supported the farmers protest and was very vocal during the farmers' agitation against the three farm laws, which have now been repealed. He lent his support to “Chalo Delhi” protest call by farmers' associations.

During the farmers’ protest, Moose Wala released a song where he hailed Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The song titled “Punjab (Motherland) started with Khalistani leader Bharpur Singh Balbir in 1982 in the presence of Bhindranwale. The speech that was used by Moose Wala talks openly about separatism.

In December 2020, Moose Wala reached Tikri Border where farmers were protesting and asked the central government to address farmers’ concerns related to three farm laws.