This is not the first instance of Balkaur Singh using the song politically. In 2023, he shared similar lines after Sandeep Pathak’s remarks on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal.
Late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala
Balkaur Singh, father of late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, shared a brief but pointed message on social media shortly after seven AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, including Raghav Chadha, announced their merger with the BJP.
Without adding any explanation, he posted two lines from Moosewala’s song Scapegoat on Facebook: “Jo Raj Sabha hoeya, zimmvar dasso kaun? Hunn mainu loko oey gaddar dassso kaun? “Tell me, who is responsible for what happened with the Rajya Sabha? Oh people, tell me now, who is the traitor? ’)
He simply credited the lines as: “Written by Sidhu Moosewala, April 2022.”
The post quickly drew attention, given the timing. The song Scapegoat, released on April 11, 2022, had earlier stirred debate for its political undertones. Written by Moosewala and composed by Mxrci, it has crossed 65 million views on YouTube as of April 24, 2026.
The track was released soon after AAP announced its Rajya Sabha nominees from Punjab, a move that faced criticism at the time. The list included leaders seen as outsiders, such as Raghav Chadha and Sandeep Pathak, along with local figures like Harbhajan Singh and industrialists Ashok Kumar Mittal and Sanjeev Arora.
Moosewala, who had contested the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections from Mansa on a Congress ticket, lost by a margin of over 63,000 votes. Known for addressing social and political issues through his music, he was later killed on May 29, 2022.
This is not the first time Balkaur Singh has used the song in a political context. In 2023, he shared similar lines after remarks by Sandeep Pathak on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link canal issue triggered controversy in Punjab. The lyrics were widely circulated then as well, often interpreted as a criticism of the AAP.
The latest political shift has once again brought those lines into focus. Six of the seven MPs who switched sides are from Punjab, where AAP had secured a strong majority in 2022.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticised the defectors, calling them “gaddar” and questioning their electoral strength. “There is no machine that can read minds. Tell me if there is… and if I can order one from Amazon!” he said.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of betraying Punjabis in a brief post on X.
Raghav Chadha defended his decision, saying the AAP is “no longer working for the country, but for personal gain”.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said, “The AAP has no ideology. This was natural. These MPs have no relevance in Punjab. AAP should remain aware, their 50 MLAs might join the BJP next! Only the MPs have left the party for now.”
April 24, 2026, 22:55 IST
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