At the Congress Insaaf Rally in Sangrur, Rahul Gandhi reached for one of Punjab’s most powerful cultural symbols. “Punjab’s voice used to come out in his songs. Gandhi also invoked the circumstances of Moose Wala’s murder, drawing a parallel with the climate of fear he accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of allowing to take hold in Punjab.
Recalling his first meeting with Sidhu Moose Wala, the singer murdered in May 2022, the Leader of the Opposition described him as an extraordinary talent.
“He was probably Punjab’s most talented singer, who could also one day make a mark in politics,” he told the rally. “The mindset behind shooting Moose Wala in front of everyone without any fear is the same that is prevalent in every corner of Punjab today,” he said.
He joined Congress, contested from Mansa, and lost to AAP’s Vijay Singla. The timing was significant. Gandhi’s personal association with him gives the tribute an added political dimension. Can Congress embrace the man without confronting the politics running through his music? Moose Wala’s early success rested on gangster imagery, swagger, personal rivalries, and an unapologetic celebration of Jatt masculinity. Congress can speak about federalism, states’ rights, and the Centre’s treatment of Punjab. These songs venture into more contentious territory, including territorial claims and questions of Sikh political assertion. Moose Wala’s own political journey was complicated. His subsequent song Scapegoat addressed the defeat in his characteristically confrontational style. His political interests also appeared to extend beyond his party affiliation, with reports linking him to support for Simranjit Singh Mann during a Lok Sabha by-election. Gandhi is entitled to celebrate a former Congress candidate and acknowledge his contribution to Punjabi music. His party can also refer to the singer’s murder in its criticism of the state government. The harder task is acknowledging the full catalogue, including its celebration of gun culture, its Sikh political references, the demands made in ‘SYL’ and its anger directed at institutions.
With Punjab heading towards Assembly elections in 2027, Congress is reaching for a cultural figure whose appeal crossed generations and geographical boundaries. Moose Wala joined the party in December 2021 and contested the 2022 Assembly election from Mansa. Their references to 1984 and Sikh prisoners associated with cases under TADA and POTA carry a political charge that cannot easily be absorbed into a standard election speech.
A singer’s work belongs to the public, not to the political party with which he once contested an election. Moose Wala’s listeners know the songs a politician might prefer to leave off the playlist. The rest of his music, however, is a much harder proposition than a campaign-friendly edit.
So Congress can borrow ‘295’ for a rally.
