On the first death anniversary of Sidhu Moose Wala, his father says the killing has shattered him.
Mr Singh told Sky News on the first death anniversary of Sidhu Moose Wala that he has not been able to recover from the loss of his only child.
Sidhu Moose Wala was a global phenomenon who recorded over 60 singles and became a household name in Punjab as well as among the Sikh diaspora in the UK and Canada.
His father is currently in the United Kingdom working on a permanent memorial to the Punjabi hip hop legend.
We met in Kent, where we decided to talk at the local gurdwara, which the family, including Sidhu, frequented.
Gravesend’s Gurdwara is stunning, with intricate brickwork and exquisite wood carvings. It provided a tranquil setting for our talk with Mr Singh.
He seemed completely at comfortable in this place of worship, nodding and stopping to speak with several individuals who recognised him as we walked around the cloisters.
We climbed the white marble staircase to get away from the congregation.
We met a week before Moose Wala’s death anniversary.
“I felt completely cut up,” Mr Singh told me.
“I was lost. When a child from a simple family is taken away from the world in this way, then it would absolutely destroy you.”
Moose Wala, real name Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was killed by unidentified shooters on May 29, 2017 in Mansa, Punjab.
The day before, Punjab’s new administration had officially announced that his state security would be reduced in order to shift resources.
‘Death threats’
The family says the timing was suspicious and now feel that their lives are in danger too.
“We come from an honest, hardworking family, but yet still my only child is killed in a way that you wouldn’t even kill an animal,” Mr Singh said.
“What safety do we have? Every other day I receive a death threat. What have I done wrong? Should I not be seeking justice for my son? Something that is in my right to do.”
The perceived lack of progress in the investigation is a source of anger for Mr Singh, who is exhausted in his fight for justice.
The case is ‘going so slow’
“The saddest thing about this all is that the case is going so slow and I want to emphasise to your viewers around the world, that if the case carries on with the same pace, I will die and then there will be no justice for my son.”
So far, 27 people have been imprisoned for their involvement in the murder, and the inquiry is still ongoing.
Sky News requested an update on the murder probe from the Punjab police and the state administration but received no answer.
Moose Wala began his musical career in 2016.
He travelled to Canada after studying engineering, where hundreds of thousands of Sikhs had emigrated.
The rapper was known for blending modern hip-hop and traditional Punjabi music, which let Punjabi audiences connect beyond borders.
Moose Wala’s songs got more socially, culturally, and politically concerned as his career evolved.
He created history by becoming the first Indian singer to perform at the Wireless Festival in 2021.
Also read: Who is Goldy Brar? The mastermind behind Sidhu Moosewala murder
