Human Rights Group Seeks Inquiry and Counselling for Moosewala’s Parents Over Child’s Stage Appearance

A human rights organisation has lodged a complaint against the parents of late Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu Moosewala, seeking an inquiry into a viral video allegedly showing their two-year-old son making gun-like gestures during a hologram concert in Toronto on October 9.
 

The organisation, Lawyers for Human Rights International (LFHRI), sent the complaint by speed post on Saturday to the Mansa District Magistrate and the District Child Protection Unit. It has sought an investigation into the incident and counselling for the child’s parents, Balkaur Singh and Charan Kaur.
 

The organisation has also requested interim directions to prevent the child from being encouraged to make gun-like gestures at public or private events.
 

Viral concert videos trigger controversy
 

The controversy erupted after videos from the ‘Sign to God World Tour’ hologram concert at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena circulated on social media.
 

The child, named Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu and popularly known as “Little Sidhu”, was allegedly seen imitating the signature thapi gesture associated with his late elder brother, making a pistol-like shape with his hand and saying “tha tha tha”.
 

LFHRI General Secretary and advocate Navkiran Singh said the organisation believed the child should be kept away from violence and that his parents needed counselling.
 

He said the organisation believed the child’s appearance on stage, where he was shown imitating his deceased brother through gestures resembling gunfire, was not in his best interests.
 

Navkiran Singh further alleged that another video circulating on social media showed people around the child teaching and encouraging him to make pistol-like gestures with his hands.
 

He said the organisation wanted the parents to be advised against encouraging such behaviour, adding that legal action under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act should be considered if they did not change their approach.
 

Lawyer says family has not received complaint
 

Advocate Gurwinder Singh Sandhu, who represents Balkaur Singh in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case, said the family had not received any report or complaint from the competent authorities so far.
 

Speaking over the phone, Sandhu said decisions about a child’s upbringing were the parents’ right. He added that the context, including whether the gestures were connected to a song or another performance, should also be considered.
 

He alleged that some people wanted to keep the Moosewala family embroiled in controversies. Sandhu recalled that a controversy had also arisen following the birth of the child.
 

Child protection office to check complaint
 

Mansa District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Jagtar Singh told The Tribune that he would check on Monday whether his office had received a complaint concerning the incident.
 

The Moosewala family and the singer’s younger brother are currently abroad for the hologram tour.
 

Earlier controversy over the child’s birth
 

The latest development follows a controversy surrounding the child’s birth in March 2024.
 

Charan Kaur, who was around 58 at the time, gave birth to Shubhdeep through in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). The Union Health Ministry had sought a report from the state government regarding the age limit prescribed under the Assisted Reproductive Technology law.
 

Balkaur Singh had then accused the state government of harassing the family.
 

Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead on May 29, 2022, in Jawaharke village in Mansa district.