Punjabi rapper Shubhneet Singh, widely known as Shubh, has called for an end to the spread of "hate and negativity" following a recent controversy surrounding a hoodie he displayed during a concert in London.
The recent controversy stemmed from a concert in London where videos circulating online showed Shubh picking up a black hoodie from the floor and displaying it to the audience.
Critics argued that the hoodie featured a map of Punjab and an image of India's former prime minister Indira Gandhi who was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984.
Shubh's Response
Shubh responded to the controversy through an Instagram story. He explained that various items including clothes, jewellery, and phones, were thrown at him by the audience during his performance, and he hadn't thoroughly examined the hoodie's content.
The issue of Sikh separatism is a sensitive and delicate topic in India.
Past controversies
This is not the first time Shubh has found himself in the midst of controversies surrounding this issue.
In September, his India tour was cancelled due to an old social media post where he had shared an inaccurate map of India.
He was accused of supporting the demand for Khalistan, a separate Sikh homeland, which had led to a violent insurgency in India during the 1980s.
Shubh's request for understanding
At that time, Shubh had urged his critics not to label every Punjabi as a separatist or anti-national. He stressed the need for understanding and fair judgment.
