Rahul Gandhi, Bhagwant controversy over alleged suicide of Dalit man in Punjab

LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi addresses a press conference at Indira Bhawan in New Delhi. File | Photo credit: PTI

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) asked Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi not to “do politics over dead bodies” after the Congress leader stepped up his attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government over the alleged suicide of Dalit Gulzar Singh.

Mr Gandhi demanded the resignation of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and an independent inquiry into the death, alleging that Gulzar Singh was pressured and humiliated after he questioned the minister about the drug menace in his area.

“A dangerous pattern is emerging under the AAP government in Punjab – if you question the government’s failure, the response will come in the form of threats and torture,” Gandhi said in a post on X.

He claimed Singh, whose son was a drug victim, questioned Mr Cheema about the government’s failure to stop the drug trade and was subsequently pressured to apologise.

A dangerous pattern is visible in the AAP government in Punjab – if you question the failure of the government, the response will be through threats and torture.

Gulzar Singh ji, who hails from the Dalit community and saw his son fall victim to drug addiction, merely asked the finance minister why the government was doing so much to stop the drug trade. https://t.co/umImJz7GFm

—Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 9, 2026

“Tortured for protesting against CM”

Mr. Gandhi also pointed to another alleged case of harassment. “Last week I also spoke to young Mohanjeet Singh who was tortured for protesting against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann,” Gandhi said.

Mr Mohanjeet Singh, who hails from Sangrur district, claimed he was tortured in custody after he waved a black flag and raised slogans against the government’s handling of the drug menace at a program attended by Mr Mann.

“The government’s job is to answer the people, not ‘crush’ those who ask questions,” Mr Gandhi said, demanding that Mr Mann immediately call for Mr Cheema’s resignation and ensure an “independent and impartial investigation”, with the minister named in the First Information Report (FIR).

“No dead body policy”

Gulzar Singh (47) of Dirba in Sangrur district died on Monday evening (September 7, 2026) after allegedly ingesting poison. His family said he questioned Mr Cheema at the September 6 event about the availability of drugs, including “chitta (heroin)” in the area.

Responding to Mr Gandhi, Mr Mann said: “Rahul Gandhi ji, don’t do politics over dead bodies; Punjabis don’t like this kind of politics.”

The chief minister said the police had already arrested the accused and alleged that the Congress leaders who visited Gulzar Singh’s village were “chased out” by the locals.

Mr Gandhi came back and shared video clips of the deceased’s family members blaming the AAP functionaries and the minister.

“People of Punjab, and Dalits in particular, should be vigilant about the abuse of power by the AAP government,” the opposition leader said.

‘dirty politics’

In a post on X, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal also accused Mr Gandhi of indulging in “dirty politics over a dead body”.

The exchange follows a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) by Congress MLA Partap Singh Bajwa, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, who alleged that Gulzar Singh was humiliated and forced to apologize after questioning the minister and his associates about the availability of drugs.

Mr Bajwa described the death as evidence of “complete lawlessness” under the AAP government and accused it of failing to curb the drug menace. He also cited the alleged torture of Mr. Mohanjeet Singh and accused the government of using the police as its “private militia”.

Published – September 9, 2026 12:09 PM IST