Panjab Opposition Leaders Speak Up for Shubh

In March 2023, when the Panjab police and central forces were on a manhunt for Amritpal Singh, administration cut off the state’s Internet, imposed Section 144, conducted Cordon and Search Operations. Young Panjabi singer Shubhneet Singh posted a map of India drawn by Amandeep Singh. Panjab is in black and Jammu and Kashmir is grayed out. The caption said Pray for Panjab. Recently, after relations between India and Canada soured, electronics company boAt canceled their sponsorship for the singer’s upcoming Canada tour. Panjab Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring condemned the move and said, ‘We don't need to give any proof of nationalism.' Akali leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, 'Shubh is a proud son of India and Panjab.’ Fellow singers AP Dhillon and Gary Sandhu also spoke in favor of Shubh. In late 2022, after the Farmers' Protest, singers like Kanwar Grewal and Ranjit Bawa faced raids by India's agencies. However, the response given in Shubh’s defense is still on lines of nationalism when his original message was a prayer – free speech.