Chandigarh: A political confrontation broke out between Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress on Wednesday after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi criticised Punjab govt over the suicide of a farmer who had questioned finance minister Harpal Cheema on the state’s failure to rein in the drug menace.Rahul’s remark triggered a sharp retort from chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, who accused him of engaging in “politics over dead bodies”. Previous Akali, BJP, and Congress govts were responsible for spreading drugs in Punjab, he alleged.The skirmish began with Rahul sharing a video on X about the suicide of Gulzar Singh. He alleged that the Dalit from Sangrur was subjected to “torture and humiliation” after questioning Cheema, and demanded that Mann seek Cheema’s resignation and ensure an independent and impartial investigation. Cheema should be named in the FIR, he said.“A dangerous pattern is emerging in Punjab’s AAP govt — if you question govt failures, the response will come in the form of threats and torture. Gulzar Singh, from the Dalit community, who had to watch his son fall victim to drugs, asked the finance minister just this much: why has govt failed so miserably in stopping the drug trade? For just this, he was tortured and humiliated so much, pressured so intensely to apologize, that he consumed poison. Wandering from one hospital to another, without access to treatment, he ultimately lost the battle for his life,” Rahul tweeted.He added, “Last week, I spoke with a young Mohanjeet Singh, who was tortured for protesting against chief minister Bhagwant Mann. Govt’s job is to answer to the people, not to crush those who ask questions.”In another post, Rahul said, “The people of Punjab, especially Dalits, should become vigilant about the misuse of power by AAP govt. Listen to what happened to Gulzar Singh on his final day…”Mann hit back by saying, “Rahul Gandhi ji, don’t do politics over dead bodies; Punjabis don’t like this kind of politics. When Congress leaders went to the victim’s village and tried to indulge in this dirty politics, people chased them away. In this case, all the accused have already been caught by police, based on identification by the family. The Akali, BJP, and Congress govts have been responsible for spreading drugs in Punjab. In my govt, no drug smuggler will be spared.”AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal also shared a video on social media platform X showing Congress functionaries visiting Gulzar’s village and accused them of indulging in “dirty politics”. Replying to Rahul, Kejriwal said: “Punjab govt is fighting a decisive war against drugs. Who brought drugs to Punjab? Your Congress govt brought them. Akali Dal and BJP govts brought them.”Kejriwal added, “I am deeply saddened that a leader like you is indulging in dirty politics over a dead body… I request you to visit this village yourself as well. No minister or MLA of our govt has anything to do with this person’s death. Please do not indulge in such dirty politics.”Sachin Pilot, newly appointed AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab, said the growing drug menace in Punjab was a matter of serious concern. “What’s even more concerning is that Gulzar, who questioned the finance minister on the drugs menace was allegedly threatened and intimidated. Is it wrong to ask questions about the drug menace?” Pilot asked.Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring hit out at Kejriwal and Mann for their remarks on Rahul Gandhi, saying their reaction showed that Rahul had “hit the nail on the head” by exposing Punjab govt’s claims on the drug menace.“It’s good that AAP has felt the pain,” Warring said, asserting that the party’s response demonstrates how uncomfortable its leadership has become on questions concerning drugs in Punjab.Despite repeated claims by AAP govt that the drug problem had been brought under control, the ground reality is starkly different, he said, adding: “AAP leaders like Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann have the audacity to lie so blatantly about drugs in Punjab that they jail and force people to take their lives if they ask questions on the prevailing drug problem in the state.”Punjab’s people deserve transparency and accountability from govt on the drug crisis, rather than repeated claims of success, he remarked.Paramjit Singh Kainth, vice-president of Punjab BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha, on Wednesday demanded an impartial investigation into Gulzar’s suicide. “The Bhagwant Mann govt must answer questions raised by his family,:” he said.Kainth said Gulzar, whose son had fallen into drug addiction, approached a govt representative seeking help and questioned the alleged sale of ‘chitta’ in his village. “His question should have prompted action rather than efforts to silence him… If an ordinary labourer feels unsafe, humiliated or pressured after raising questions about drug sales in his village, it is a serious warning for both the rule of law and democracy in Punjab,” Kainth said, adding that the authorities must establish if he was pressured into a public apology, who exerted such pressure, and what happened before his death.
