New Delhi: Late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala's father Balkaur Singh on Saturday clarified that he does not intend to contest any elections and asked people to not pay heed to such rumours, news agency PTI reported. The pyre of my son is not yet doused and I have no intention to contest elections, Balkaur said. His statement comes a day after Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring seconded the opinion of economist Sardara Singh Johl, who suggested that Balkaur must get elected unopposed from Sangrur Lok Sabha seat.
According to the report, Moosewala's parents met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at Chandigarh on Saturday following which Balkaur took to social media and said that it hurts him when he comes across such rumours.
He also extended his gratitude to the people for standing by the bereaved family and urged them to attend the 'bhog' ceremony of his son on June 8.
It is to be noted that Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Mansa on May 29.
Expressing grief over his untimely death, noted economist Johl wrote on social media, “The society lost a forceful and popular voice. It is a cultural loss. Yet the loss for the parents is unimaginable and cannot be compensated.”
“I feel it may be a bit helpful consolation if the father of Sidhu Moosewala is persuaded to be elected in by-election to the Parliament from Sangrur constituency unopposed,” he added.
Following his suggestion, Punjab Congress chief Warring took to his Twitter handle and wrote, “Nothing can compensate Sidhu Moosewala's loss to his parents. Dr SS Johl has suggested his father Balkaur Singh Ji be fielded as consensus candidate for Sangrur bypoll & he gets elected unopposed. I endorse it. Hope all other parties agree. Let's put politics of one-upmanship aside.”
Notably, the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat has fallen vacant after Bhagwant Mann contested and won from the Dhuri assembly segment in the Punjab assembly elections earlier this year.
As per reports, polling for the seat will be held on June 23, while counting of votes will take place on June 26.