Sidhu Moose Wala, a popular Punjabi musician, and rapper who had joined the Congress before the Punjab elections was shot and killed by unidentified assailants in Jawaharke village of Mansa district on Sunday, May 29. The Punjab Police dropped security for 424 persons, including Punjabi musician Sidhu Moose Wala, the day before.
Moose Wala had run for the Mansa Assembly seat on a Congress ticket. With a margin of 63,323 votes, he was beaten by AAP’s Dr. Vijay Singla. Moose Wala, who hails from Moosa, a village in the Mansa district, joined the Congress in November last year amid considerable excitement. After Congress granted him a ticket from the Mansa Assembly constituency, the then-sitting Mansa MLA, Nazar Singh Manshahia, turned against the party, stating that he would oppose the controversial singer’s candidacy. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann recently fired Vijay Singla amid allegations of corruption. Sidhu Moose Wala stirred controversy last month when his song “Scapegoat” criticized the Aam Aadmi Party and its supporters. In his song, the artist labeled AAP supporters “gaddar” (traitor).
Congressman Randeep Singh Surjewala expressed his condolences for the Punjabi singer’s death. He tweeted “Deeply shocked at the broad daylight murder of Sidhu Moose Wala. Punjab and Punjabis across the world have lost a talented artist with mass connect, who could feel people’s pulse. My heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and fans across the world.”
