What ties together Sidhu Moosewala, Shubhneet Singh aka Shubh, Jazzy B, Hard Kaur and many other rappers and singers who have hit headlines in the recent past? Apart from their Punjabi origins, it is their support — covert or overt — for the Khalistan cause, much to the chagrin of a section of their fans as well as India.
The latest artiste to have raised eyebrows is 25-year-old Canadian singer Shubh who came under fire for sharing a distorted map of India in an Instagram post. In Singh’s post, which was during the time of Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh’s arrest in Punjab, the regions of Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh and the entire Northeast of India were missing — in line with the narrative marketed by the Pakistani ISI and Khalistani propagandists.
The furore in India ultimately led to his concern being cancelled after sponsors, sensing the rising hostility, pulled out.
Seeking to clear his stand, Shubh — who burst onto the music scene with his first song ‘We Rollin’ on September 17, 2021 — launched into damage-control mode and said “India is MY country too” and “Punjabis do not need to give proof of patriotism”. The singer further requested that everyone refrain from branding every “Punjabi as a separatist or anti-national”.
Punjabi singers are known to enjoy immense popularity among the diaspora. However, of late, it seems the same target audience has become an excuse for the artistes to colour their songs with extremist undertones and burst onto the international scene.
With newer generations of Punjabi singers coming up — most of whom are based in Canada or US — India has seen an uptick in anti-India, pro-Khalistan propaganda music being peddled in the form of song and rap. Certain members openly sympathise with the Khalistan movement and glorify gun-culture, anarchy, lawlessness, gangs, anti-India sentiments and sectarian supremacy through their music.
Singer Sidhu Moose Wala, who was shot dead in Punjab in May last year, toyed with the idea of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, the assassination of former Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi, Khalistan and revenge from India.
His posthumously released song “Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal” not only played with the themes above but also touched upon the idea of Punjab not sharing water with any other state and called for the return of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Chandigarh to its jurisdiction.
A popular name among the youth, Moose Wala’s pro-Khalistani themes — coupled with sophisticated music and video production — were made palatable and “cool” for the new generation.
Another popular artist who was a rage in the 90s, Jazzy B, has been accused of making references to Bhindranwale. Punjabi rapper Hard Kaur — who also showcased her talent in several Bollywood films — also used a distorted map of India and pictures of Bhindranwale in her social media post during the farmers’ protest in India.
The allegations of being a Khalistani sympathiser were also levelled on singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh who is a well-known name not only in the global Punjabi music industry but also in Bollywood. He was accused by Congress leader Ravneet Singh Bittu of supporting calls for Khalistan. Dosanjh had then come out to defend himself and said he was an Indian taxpayer who always stood shoulder to shoulder with the country.
Apart from these names, other Punjabi singers such as Tarsem Jassar, Sharry Maan, and Himmat Sandhu, have faced accusations of posting similar statements regarding Punjab, which have ignited controversy surrounding the Khalistan movement.
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