Cong bets on Mohd Sadiq in Faridkot

Kulwinder Sandhu

Tribune News Service

Moga, April 6

The Congress today announced the candidature of folk singer Mohammad Sadiq, a former MLA, from the Faridkot (reserved) Lok Sabha election constituency.

Being a folk singer, he has been a popular figure among all the communities for the past over five decades. It was due to his popularity among the Punjabi masses that the Congress leadership used to invite him to the public rallies to pull crowds. Later, he became an active worker of the Congress and remained so for the past three decades. Even during the time of militancy, he used to be a crowd puller for the Congress in the public rallies.

In 2012, he contested the Assembly elections from the Bhadaur (reserved) constituency and defeated Darbara Singh Guru of the SAD.

However, his election was challenged on the ground that he is a Muslim and thus does not belong to a Scheduled Caste. While the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed his election, the Supreme Court, on his appeal, on April 29, 2016, overturned the HC decision.

Born into a non-practising Muslim family, Mohd Sadiq belongs to the ‘Doom’ Scheduled Caste. Sadiq argued that he had grown up as a Muslim and not a Sikh and that he converted to Sikhism in 2006.

In the 2017 Assembly elections, after the delimitation, he was shifted to the Jaito (reserved) constituency, but he lost to Master Baldev Singh of the AAP.

Sadiq enjoys friendly relations with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh.

Talking to The Tribune over phone, Mohd Sadiq said, “Capt Amarinder Singh is my guru in politics. He has helped me a lot to get the party ticket. He has also promised to actively campaign for me in the ensuing LS elections.”

He will be facing the sitting MP of the Aam Admi Party (AAP), Prof Sadhu Singh. The SAD is yet to announce its candidate.

In tune

• A folk singer, Mohd Sadiq has been with the Congress for three decades.  
• In 2012, he won from Bhadaur (reserve). His election was challenged on the ground that being a Muslim, he didn't belong to a Scheduled Caste 
• The HC quashed his election, but the Supreme Court overturned the decision. 
• Sadiq belongs to the 'Doom' caste. In 2017, he contested Jaito (reserve) seat but lost to Master Baldev Singh of AAP.