The alleged suicide of a 47-year-old daily wager in Sangrur’s Dirba has triggered a political storm in Punjab, with the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) targeting the Aam Aadmi Party government over claims that the man was pressured to apologise after questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the drug menace.
Gulzar Singh allegedly consumed pesticide on Monday night after local AAP leaders purportedly confronted him over remarks he made during Cheema’s visit to his village on September 6. Police have registered a case of abetment to suicide in the matter.
Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Cheema, besides an FIR against all those allegedly responsible under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita dealing with abetment to suicide.
Bhatia alleged that Singh had raised the issue of drugs during Cheema’s village visit and told the minister that his son was addicted to “chitta”, a term commonly used in Punjab for illicit drugs. Singh, he said, had urged the minister to act against the supply of drugs.
According to Bhatia, after Cheema left, the village sarpanch and other local AAP functionaries allegedly visited Singh’s house and demanded that he apologise for his remarks. When he refused, they allegedly threatened him.
Bhatia claimed Singh, before his death in hospital, narrated the episode and named those who had allegedly threatened him. He demanded that all those named be booked for abetment to suicide. Since Singh belonged to a Scheduled Caste, he also sought action under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
“When the protector turns the predator, he has no right to remain in office,” Bhatia said, demanding Mann’s resignation.
The Congress also mounted an attack on the AAP government, with Punjab Leader of Opposition and CLP leader Pratap Singh Bajwa demanding Cheema’s dismissal and registration of a case of abetment to suicide against him.
Bajwa said Singh’s alleged dying declaration named Cheema as being responsible for the threats and intimidation. He questioned why the minister had not been named in the FIR when five other persons had allegedly been booked.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also expressed concern, alleging that the father had faced intense harassment after raising the issue of his son’s addiction.
Dhiromani Akali Dal too joined the Opposition offensive. Party leader Bikram Singh Majithia demanded justice for Singh, alleging that he had been pushed to the point of consuming Celphos after questioning Cheema about what was being done to eradicate drugs.
Singh was initially taken to Civil Hospital, Sangrur, and later shifted between hospitals in Sangrur and Patiala before being admitted to a private hospital in Ludhiana, where he died on Monday night.
