Punjab CM Mann tells Rahul Gandhi not to politicise villager’s death

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday hit back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his criticism of the AAP government following the alleged suicide of a 47-year-old villager who had questioned Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the drug menace in Sangrur’s Dirba.

Mann urged Gandhi not to “do politics over dead bodies”, saying police had already arrested those accused in the case. His remarks came after Gandhi demanded Cheema’s resignation and called for an impartial investigation into the death.

The deceased, Gulzar Singh, a Dalit daily-wage worker from Dirba, allegedly consumed poison on Monday night. His family said he had confronted Cheema about the availability of drugs in the area during an event in Dirba on September 6.

A purported video of Singh’s final moments, in which he is seen questioning Cheema about drugs and referring to his son’s drug use, has triggered a political controversy. Opposition parties, including the Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal, have accused the AAP government of failing to tackle the state’s drug problem and have sought a thorough investigation.

Five people have been booked following a complaint by Singh’s family under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, concerning abetment of suicide, along with relevant provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Punjab Police has constituted a Special Investigation Team headed by an officer of additional director general of police rank to investigate the circumstances surrounding Singh’s death.

Mann said the accused had already been arrested and vowed that his government would not spare drug traffickers. He also blamed previous Akali-BJP and Congress governments for allowing the drug problem to spread in Punjab.

with inputs from PTI