6 min readLudhianaMar 19, 2023 08:18 AM IST
First published on: Mar 19, 2023 at 06:10 AM IST
Slain singer Sidhu Moosewala’s father Balkaur Singh Saturday questioned the timing of the crackdown on Waris Punjab De chief and self-styled radical Sikh Amritpal Singh and his associates stating that it was probably done to stop people from reaching in numbers to Mansa where his son’s fist death anniversary (barsi) will be observed Sunday (March 19).
The authorities stepped up security across the state, suspended internet and SMS services till Sunday noon and imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 as the police launched “massive cordon and search operations” to nab Amritpal, who continued to elude the police despite a high voltage chase.
“Police and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government needs to answer that why they particularly chose to take action against Amritpal today? Probably it was a plan to stop masses from reaching my son’s barsi gathering,” said Balkaur Singh.
He said with continued heavy security across state, “my son’s fans and supporters from Punjab and other states might find it difficult to reach the venue (Mansa Grain Market)”.
Balkaur Singh also said that “TV interviews of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi from inside jail”, days ahead of his son’s barsi was also a “planned conspiracy to tarnish Moosewala’s image”.
Moosewala was shot dead on May 29 last year and police had named Bishnoi and and Canada-based associate Goldy Brar as main conspirators. However, Moosewala’s parents have been constantly demanding that police must arrest “actual masterminds” alleging “bigger conspiracy” behind the murder and have blamed AAP government for leaking his security cover details on social media.
The barsi gathering is also expected to be a show of strength by Opposition Congress, on whose ticket Moosewala had unsuccessfully contested 2022 Assembly elections from Mansa.
Balkaur Singh alleged that an attempt was being made to portray Bishnoi as a “national hero”. “A criminal sitting inside a jail is calling himself a nationalist and talking of eliminating drugs. What can be a bigger irony than this. It was all done days ahead of our programme to tarnish my son’s image by trying to link him with gangsters”.
He added Amritpal too was to attend Moosewala’s barsi. “From past some days, we were being told that he (Amritpal) will come to visit us. He might have attended the barsi too. He has always been cordial to us,” said Balkaur Singh, adding “anyone who wants to seek justice for our son is most welcome to join us”
He claimed that he “will be answering many questions” during the programme. “We haven’t got justice till date. If the motive (behind crackdown) was to stop masses from attending our event, it won’t succeed. I had told ministers that thousands of my son’s supporters can gather within an hour of my call”.
Balkaur Singh said though his son was killed on May 29 last year, they planned his first death anniversary gathering on March 19 “weather will be too hot in April and May and the only possible venue for such huge gathering (Anaj Mandi) will be entirely booked due to arrival of wheat crop”.
Bishnoi in his interviews from jail had said that “he was a nationalist” and against “disintegration of the country”. He was also critical of Amritpal Singh saying “ham apni dukaan chala rahe hain, vo apni dukaan chala raha hai (We are doing our business, he is doing his)”. He had further said that he had enmity with Moosewala when he was alive but after his death, he has no enmity with his family and his gang did not issue any threat to singer’s father.
Bishnoi, who is alleged to have orchestrated the murder of Sidhu Moosewala, claimed it was his associate Goldy Brar and his cousin Sachin Bishnoi who planned the murder to avenge the killings of “our brothers” Vicky Middukhera and Gurlal Brar. He further said that Moosewala was trying to “enter the world of gangsters” and never “sang any patriotic track.”
Meanwhile, Amritpal Singh while reacting to Bishnoi’s statement from jail, had said that “Sikh community has always been the target of the governments, while others who indulge in criminal activities are made ministers.” He said that governments might make Bishnoi a minister in coming days.
“Sarkaaran Sikhan de lau di vairi hain. Hor jeda jo marzi kar le, ho sakda mantri banaun turr pain ohna nu. Eh santan de samay tey hoya si.. Sikhan naal bhed bhaav hunda aaya, hunda aauna hai. Naujawan nu meri benti hai panth layi kam kariye.. aapan apne Punjab di, panth di raakhi karni hai. Kisi piche lagke ikk dooje de khoon de vairi nahi banna jiven Sidhu Moosewala de case ch hoya si.. (Governments have always been enemies of Sikhs. Others can do whatever they want, maybe they will be made ministers tomorrow. The same happened during the times of Sant (Bhindranwale). Sikhs have always been discriminated against and it will continue this way. I appeal to youths to work for our panth, for our Punjab. We don’t have to become each other’s enemies following others like it happened in Moosewala case),” said Amritpal.
With police launching a crackdown on weapon licenses of his supporters, he said: “Khalse kol asla bahut hunda, asla nahi kite jaanda, chinta na karo..” (Khalsa never runs out of weapons, our weapons can’t go anywhere, don’t worry).”
Meanwhile, in a video message Balkaur Singh appealed to masses to reach Mansa in huge numbers to “chalk out next plan” to seek justice for Moosewala. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also posted an appeal that people should reach Mansa Sunday to protest against “goongi behri sarkaar” (mute and deaf government) which has “failed to give justice to Moosewala’s parents.”
Moosewala was shot dead on May 29 last year and police had named Bishnoi and and Canada-based associate Goldy Brar as main conspirators. (Express Photo) 
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