Rahul Gandhi raises Sidhu Moosewala’s killing, law and order at Sangrur rally

The image of Sidhu Moosewala being shot dead in broad daylight remains one of the most haunting episodes in Punjab’s recent history. More than four years after the Punjabi singer’s murder, Rahul Gandhi has brought it back to the centre of the state’s political debate, arguing that the fear and intimidation behind the killing have become widespread.

Addressing the Congress’s Insaaf Rally in Sangrur on Wednesday, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha recalled meeting Moosewala when the singer wanted to join the Congress. He said the killing was not just a personal tragedy for the family but a warning about what happens to talented young people who want to build a future in Punjab.

Rahul Gandhi says the mindset behind Moosewala’s murder still haunts Punjab

Gandhi said he had changed his planned speech after Moosewala’s father came to meet him and was invited onto the stage. Recalling the singer’s murder, he alleged that the mindset responsible for the shooting was still operating across the state.

“What happened to his son has now become a fashion in Punjab. The mindset that shot Sidhu Moosewala in front of everyone, without any fear, that same mindset is roaming around every nook and corner of Punjab today,” Gandhi said.

He claimed that people with talent and ambition were being threatened and intimidated rather than encouraged to contribute to the state. Gandhi also recalled his first meeting with Moosewala, describing him as an impressive and talented young man who wanted to enter politics.

The Congress leader said he had worried that the singer was stepping into a dangerous environment without fully understanding its risks. He clarified that he had wanted to protect Moosewala politically, rather than provide physical protection.

Sidhu Moosewala murder: What happened in May 2022?

Moosewala, whose real name was Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, was shot dead on May 29, 2022, in Jawaharke village in Mansa district. He was travelling in a vehicle when armed assailants opened fire.

The killing came shortly after the Punjab government scaled back security cover for 424 people, including the singer. The Indian Express reported, citing the police chargesheet, that Moosewala’s security had been reduced from four personnel to two before the murder.

Gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar have been accused in the case, with investigators alleging that Brar helped plan the killing. The case is still moving through the courts. In September 2026, the Punjab and Haryana High Court rejected the bail plea of accused Joginder Singh alias Joga. The court noted that only 20 of the 180 prosecution witnesses had been examined, highlighting the slow progress of the trial.

Drugs, gangsterism and jobs become Congress’s attack on AAP

Gandhi widened his criticism to Punjab’s drug problem, saying he had warned about the spread of narcotics in the state years ago but was dismissed by political opponents.

He argued that the lack of industrial growth, factories, agricultural opportunities and employment could create conditions in which drug abuse and gangsterism flourish. His remarks were a direct attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

The drug problem remains a major political and administrative challenge. The Times of India reported in September, citing Punjab’s Anti-Narcotics Task Force, that the state’s anti-drug campaign had resulted in 25,339 arrests linked to information received through its Safe Punjab Helpline since March 2025. The figures underline the scale of enforcement activity, even as the political debate over the effectiveness of the crackdown continues.

Why the Sangrur rally matters ahead of Punjab’s 2027 elections

The Insaaf Rally is part of the Congress’s effort to build momentum ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Sangrur, in the Malwa region and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s home district, is a politically significant location for the party’s campaign.

Congress leaders have been highlighting drugs, gangsterism, unemployment, farmers’ concerns and law and order as issues on which they intend to challenge the AAP government. The rally also gives the party an opportunity to project a united front and sharpen its message against the ruling party.

Gandhi’s invocation of Moosewala’s murder gave that campaign a deeply personal dimension. But the larger question facing Punjab goes beyond election speeches: whether the state can make its young people feel safe enough to live, work and pursue their ambitions without fear.

(With inputs from ANI)