Shubh Concert Controversy: Hoodie Incident Sparks Outrage and Misinformation

In a recent turn of events on October 29th, the controversial Punjabi singer and rapper Shubh found himself at the center of a bizarre controversy during his concert in London. He was seen holding a hoodie on stage, which bore an uncanny resemblance to a garment allegedly celebrating the assassination of former Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi. 

The Viral Video

The video of Shubh holding the controversial hoodie was initially shared by a Twitter account known as "SherePanjabUK," with affiliations to Khalistani activism. The video was captioned with the statement, "Panjabi Artist Shubh holding a hoodie of an illustration that shows Indian PM Indira Gandhi (aka maimuna begum) being greeted by Shaheed Bhai Satwant Singh and Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh #NeverForget84." This post quickly went viral on social media as it was shared by several pro-Khalistani accounts.

Fact Check and the Hoodie's True Design

However, an essential fact-check later revealed a startling revelation. Contrary to the initial claims, the hoodie that Shubh displayed on stage did not depict the assassination of Indira Gandhi. Instead, it featured a map of Punjab, with its districts clearly outlined. The illustration, though, bore a striking resemblance to a pro-Khalistani design. 

Adding to the confusion, the clothing label responsible for manufacturing the hoodie, Akaal Clothing, shared Shubh's video on their social media platforms, inadvertently creating a false impression that the hoodie celebrated a historical event.

ਵੈਰ ਸਾਡੇ ਨਾਲ, ਛੋਟੇ Dead-End ਨੀਂ Footage from lastnight at the 02 of #shubhworldwide holding the hoodie of Indira Gandhi being greeted by Shaheed Bhai Satwant Singh & Shaheed Bhai Beant Singh-- ਖ਼ਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ ਜਿੰਦਾਬਾਦ pic.twitter.com/g7Vrw9snWf

— ਅਨੰਦਪੁਰ ਵਾਸੀ (@anandpusahib84) October 30, 2023

Kangana Ranaut's Reaction

The controversy took an unexpected turn when Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut weighed in on the matter. She reshared a tweet condemning Shubh's actions, describing Indira Gandhi's assassination as a "cowardly killing of an old woman." Kangana appeared to be misled by the false claims that the rapper was promoting the controversial merchandise during his concert. She criticized Shubh, demanding that he should be ashamed for seemingly glorifying an attack on an elderly woman who was disarmed and unaware.

Shubh has found himself embroiled in a series of controversies over the past few months. It all began when Canada accused India of being involved in the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in the Canadian province of British Columbia, leading to a deterioration in diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Amid this escalating tension, Shubh faced accusations of supporting Khalistani separatists, further intensifying the controversy surrounding him. His actions, including sharing a distorted map of India on his social media platform, triggered severe backlash. This resulted in the cancellation of his scheduled concert in Mumbai, originally set to take place from September 23-25.

- PTC PUNJABI