By Link News Desk
SURREY: It was a day of shock and mourning for the Punjabi community across the world after they heard about the sudden and shocking death of actor turned activist Deep Sidhu on February 15. Hundreds of the Lower Mainland community members gathered on 72 and Scott Road at the same spot, where they have displayed support for farmers since last year, in memory of Sidhu.
The community members held a candle light vigil to remember Deep Sidhu as someone who stood for the cause of the farmers. People present there remembered the farmer agitation days and how he took farmers protest against the black farming laws to the next level.
While many remembered him as someone who had the potential to be a future leader, many were suspicious about the sudden death just before Punjab assembly elections.
Sidhu who garnered respect and support across the world was a controversial figure in India especially for the Indian government.
The actor first hit headlines during farmers’ protest in 2021. He was arrested on February 9 for his alleged involvement in the Republic Day tractor rally in the national capital which had turned violent. Sidhu was facing a criminal trial for engineering the violence.
On January 26, protesting farmers had clashed with police during the tractor rally against the Centre’s now-repealed farm laws and stormed into the Red Fort, hoisting flags on its domes and injuring scores of policemen.
Sidhu died in a road accident near Haryana’s Sonepat on February 15. The accident took place on Western Peripheral Expressway in Haryana. According to a few reports, the actor was travelling from Delhi to Bhatinda when his vehicle met with the ill-fated accident. The incident occurred near Pipli toll plaza in Kharkhoda.
Kharkhoda police station Inspector Jaspal Singh said, “Deep Sidhu died in the accident. A female friend accompanying him was taken to a hospital where her condition was stable.”
Police said that the girl who accompanied Sidhu in the SUV told them that a truck ahead of them was allegedly “speeding rashly” and the driver all of a sudden applied breaks due to which the car they were in barged into it.
Police said that they have filed a case of rash and negligent driving against the driver.
The girl has been identified as Reena Raj. She was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Sidhu was cremated at Threeke village in Ludhiana on Wednesday. His body was kept at his younger brother advocate Mandeep Singh’s house in the village where people in large numbers especially youth reached to pay tributes.
According to The Tribune, at Sidhu’s cremation, youth carrying Kesari flags, photographs of Sidhu raised slogans ‘Deep Sidhu Amar rahe”(Long Live Deep Sidhu”, Khalistan Zindabad’, Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale Zindabad etc. Nihangs in large number too came to attend the cremation.
People from across the state including from his native village of Muktsar, even from Haryana came to offer their condolences to the family.
Originally from Muktsar’s Udekaran village, Sidhu’s family had left the village in the 80s. His father was an advocate who practised at Gidderbaha.
People from across the state including from his native village of Muktsar, even from Haryana came to offer their condolences to the family. People present there remembered the farmer agitation days and how Deep took farmers protest against the black farming laws to the next level.
Villagers said Deep was successful actor, advocate and good human being. They said whenever Deep used to visit Threeke, he used to hold talks over the farming issues and other issues of the country.
Prominent persons who attended the cremation were Simarjit Singh Mann of SAD(Amritsar), Lakha Sidhana, singer Gagan Anmol Mann etc
Sidhu was a close aide of BJP MP Sunny Deol, who contested from the Gurdaspur seat in Punjab during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. He had remained with Deol during the poll campaigning.
“Oh din Kal varga lagda hai jado mein Deep Sidhu de viah teh Gaya si, Tej ajvi ohda ohi Hasmukh chera meri akhan samney aa reha hai. Eh dukhdai hadsey ne meinu nishabd karta. Pramatma ohdi Rooh nu shanti bakshey, teh usdey parivaar nu es Gehrey dukh nu sehan da bal bakshey,” wrote famous singer Gurdas Maan.
