Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has accused the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP of attempting to implicate him in the death of a Dalit man in Sangrur, as opposition parties intensify demands for his resignation and an independent investigation into the case.
Gulzar Singh, a resident of Turbanjara village in Dirba, died on September 7 after allegedly consuming poison. His family has alleged that he faced harassment and caste-based slurs after questioning Cheema about the availability of drugs in his area during an event in Dirba a day earlier.
Breaking his silence on the controversy, Cheema rejected the allegations against him and accused opposition parties of trying to frame him. He told reporters that he possesses evidence related to the matter but would not release it while the investigation remains underway. Cheema said he would respond to opposition leaders and present his evidence once the probe is completed.
Cheema also referred to what he described as the family’s original statement, saying it was already publicly available and that people could examine the circumstances surrounding the case themselves.
The Congress, BJP and other opposition voices have demanded Cheema’s resignation and an independent investigation into Gulzar Singh’s death. Calls for action intensified following the emergence of a purported video from Singh’s final moments in which he reportedly referred to questioning the finance minister. Opposition parties have also sought the registration of an FIR against Cheema.
Punjab Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team to investigate the circumstances surrounding Singh’s death. No finding from the investigation establishing Cheema’s responsibility was cited in the information available so far.
Cheema also used his remarks to criticize the BJP over its planned “Nasha Mukt Yatra” campaign in Punjab, questioning the central government’s efforts to prevent cross-border drug smuggling. He argued that the 553-kilometre stretch of Punjab’s international border falls under the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force and questioned why drug consignments continue to enter the country.
The BJP has announced four “Nasha Mukt Yatras” across Punjab beginning September 18, aimed at raising awareness about drug abuse and promoting a drug-free state. Cheema countered that the BJP should address drug networks in states where it governs and strengthen border security before criticizing Punjab’s handling of the issue.
Defending the Aam Aadmi Party government’s record, Cheema highlighted its “Yudh Nashean Virudh” anti-drug campaign, the deployment of anti-drone systems and Punjab Police operations against alleged drug traffickers. He said the government is pursuing a two-pronged strategy combining enforcement against traffickers with treatment for people dealing with drug addiction.
Cheema also alleged that Punjab’s drug problem expanded significantly during the SAD-BJP government’s tenure from 2007 to 2017 and made several allegations regarding drug trafficking during that period. Those claims were presented by Cheema as part of his political criticism of the opposition and were not independently established in the material provided.
The Sangrur case remains under investigation, with the controversy continuing to fuel political exchanges between Punjab’s AAP government and opposition parties over both Gulzar Singh’s death and the broader issue of drug trafficking in the state.
