Moosewala’s Father Claims Crackdown on Amritpal Timed to Coincide with His Son’s Death Anniversary

GG News Bureau

Chandigarh, 20th March. The parents of slain singer Sidhu Moosewala launched an attack on the Punjab government on Sunday, alleging that the crackdown on radical preacher Amritpal Singh was timed to coincide with their son’s death anniversary.

“I want to ask the government why did they not find any other day to catch Amritpal? Why they chose today? Why internet has been suspended today…,” said Balkaur Singh, the father of Moosewala who was shot dead in May last year.

Singh claimed that it was done on purpose as people were planning to raise their voices in support of Moosewala at his “barsi” (death anniversary) event, and that their fight will continue until justice is served.

“Can they suppress our voice seeking justice in this manner…,” Singh said addressing the gathering in their native village Mansa. Senior state Congress leaders, including Partap Singh Bajwa and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, attended the event.

The search for radical preacher Amritpal Singh entered its second day today, as the Punjab government extended restrictions on mobile internet and SMS services until Monday noon.

The self-styled radical preacher has been on the run since Saturday, when the Punjab Police launched a massive crackdown and arrested 78 members of the ‘Waris Punjab De,’ which he leads.

Moosewala’s father stated that when people gather in his native village to pay tributes and pray for the late singer, they do not have access to the internet.

People do not have access to internet but gangsters lodged in jails have it, he alleged.

He also claimed that gangsters like Lawrence Bishnoi were having a free run as he referred to one of his recent TV interviews. “When he (Lawrence Bishnoi) appeared on TV, I felt like my son has died again,” he said.

The alleged masterminds behind his son’s murder, according to Balkaur Singh, are still at large.

Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, also known as Sidhu Moosewala, was assassinated on May 29 in Punjab’s Mansa district.

His death anniversary was observed in advance.

Balkaur Singh and his wife Charan Kaur sat on a protest outside the Punjab Assembly complex in Chandigarh earlier this month, demanding justice for their son.

“Don’t force us to sit outside the gates of Vidhan Sabha again. What is our demand after all? It is just that the masterminds in the case should be brought to book. The names of people whom we suspect of conspiring our son’s murder should be questioned. Is this an unjustified demand,” he told the gathering.

Moosewala’s mother, Charan Kaur, claimed that gangsters imprisoned were signing death warrants for people.

On Amritpal Singh, she stated that she had no idea who he was or where he came from, but that he was guiding the youth towards “Sikhi” and that no wrongdoing on his part had come to light so far.

She claimed that the date for her son’s death anniversary had been announced months in advance, but that the authorities chose the event to announce that they had filed FIRs against Amritpal and his supporters in the Ajnala incident and launched a crackdown.