CHANDIGARH — Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has launched a direct political offensive against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration in Punjab following the suicide of Gulzar Singh (47), a daily wage worker belonging to the Dalit community in Sangrur district.
The deceased reportedly ingested pesticide after facing intense coercion, threats, and public humiliation from local ruling-party figures and village leaders. The harassment was triggered when Singh confronted Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema regarding the unchecked availability of synthetic heroin (chitta)—a substance to which his eldest son is addicted.
Political Operations & State Governance Matrix
-
Victim Profile & Incident Location: Gulzar Singh (47), resident of Toor Banjara village, Dirba Assembly Constituency (Sangrur District).
-
Core Political & Governance Issue: Proliferation of illicit synthetic drugs (chitta), state accountability, and alleged official intimidation suppressing public questioning of ministers.
-
Primary Allegations & Political Demands (Rahul Gandhi / Congress):
-
Systemic Intimidation Allegations: LoP Rahul Gandhi stated that a “dangerous pattern” of state-backed threats, custodial pressure, and humiliation is being deployed to punish citizens who question governance failures.
-
Pattern of Retaliation: Referenced the parallel case of Mohanjeet Singh, who was allegedly subjected to custodial police abuse after staging a black-flag protest during an event addressed by CM Bhagwant Mann.
-
Executive Demands: Demanded the immediate resignation of Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, the registration of Cheema’s name in the formal First Information Report (FIR), and a court-monitored, independent investigation.
-
-
Police Action & Healthcare Bottlenecks:
-
FIR Registration: Police registered a case against five individuals under provisions covering abetment to suicide (BNS) and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
-
Healthcare Supply Deficits: Transit delays occurred as the victim was moved across four hospitals (Sangrur Civil Hospital $\rightarrow$ Govt Rajindra Hospital, Patiala $\rightarrow$ Private Hospital, Sangrur $\rightarrow$ DMC Hospital, Ludhiana) due to a lack of emergency medical equipment and poison treatment facilities in state-run hospitals.
-
-
State Rehabilitation & Addiction Surge:
-
Government de-addiction facility admissions rose sharply by over 164%—jumping from 9,577 in 2024 to 25,290 in 2025—with over 14,000 new admissions recorded through July 2026.
-
