Sidhu Moosewala's father accuses Punjab govt of harassment over son born via IVF: What does the doctor say?

Balkaur Singh, the father of late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, has accused the Punjab government of harassing him over the birth of his newborn son. Nearly two years after Sidhu Moosewala's tragic demise, Balkaur Singh and his wife Charan Kaur welcomed a baby boy on March 17.

Allegations against the government

In a post on Instagram, Singh alleged that the administration was harassing him to prove the child's legitimacy. He expressed frustration, stating that he was being bombarded with questions and requests for documentation to prove the child's legality.

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“Two days ago, with the blessings of Waheguru and your prayers, the almighty blessed us by returning Shubhdeep to us. However, since this morning, the administration has been harassing me, asking me to provide legal documents for the baby. They are asking me several questions and demanding proof that this child is legally ours," Singh said.

Addressing PunjabCM Bhagwant Mann, Moosewala's father said, "I want to tell you in strong words that you have a habit of taking a U-turn. If you are trying to harass me, then come fully prepared to take me on. I am not among those who take U-turns. As far as the law of the land is concerned, I want to tell you that my son respected the law during his 28 years of life."

"Being an ex-serviceman, I also respect the law, and I have not violated it at any point. If I have done so, then you should put me in jail. Your advisors may give you advice that is difficult to reverse. If you do not trust me, then register an FIR, put me behind bars, and conduct your investigation. At the same time, I want to let you know that I will provide you with the legal documents necessary to prove my innocence and get out of this situation clean," he added.

What is IVF and what's the legal age for IVF?

Singh and his wife Charan Kaur opted for the In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technique for the birth of their baby boy. IVF is a medical procedure where an egg is removed from the woman's ovaries, fertilized with sperm in a lab, and then implanted into the woman's womb.

The Government of Punjab has been asked to submit a report to the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on the IVF treatment of Charan Kaur, the mother of Sidhu Moosewala.

"Under Section 21(g)(i) of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, the age limit prescribed for a woman going under ART Services is between 21-50 years," the notice read according to ANI's tweet. However, Balkaur Singh is around 60 and his wife Charan Kaur is 58 years old.

Dr Rohit Gutgutia, Medical Director of Nova IVF Fertility, told WION, "Pregnancy can worsen preexisting health conditions in elderly couples, such as diabetes and hypertension, which can hurt the health of the baby. In addition, the physical strain of raising a child may cause fatigue to the elderly couple physically and emotionally. Given the possible health risks, it is ideally not recommended to not have a child post-50s."

"In addition, there are long-term factors to think about. Children born to old parents could be concerned about their parent's capacity to support and care for them as they grow older. Most couples would likely have health-related issues in their 60s and 70s which may incapacitate them from playing an active role in parenting in the formative years of children born to couples in their 50s," he added.

What is the opposition saying?

Opposition party leaders criticised the AAP government over the accusations made by Moosewala's father. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring urged the Chief Minister to stop harassing the Sidhu family. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia condemned the government's actions, calling it unfortunate to demand documents from Balkaur Singh.

Who was Sidhu Moosewala?

Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was a prominent Punjabi singer who was shot dead in May 2022 in Mansa. Despite his untimely demise, Moosewala's influence on Punjabi music, especially among the youth, remained significant. He was also involved in politics, having contested the Punjab Assembly elections in 2022 on a Congress ticket from Mansa.