AAP hits back at Rahul Gandhi over Punjab FM Cheema resignation demand
Synopsis
A Sangrur man's alleged suicide has ignited a fierce political battle in Punjab: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is demanding Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema's resignation and an independent probe, while AAP is firing back — accusing Congress of exploiting a death and of having presided over Punjab's drug crisis themselves.
Key Takeaways
Gulzar Singh , a 50-year-old resident of Sangrur , allegedly died by suicide after consuming pesticide, sparking a political row in Punjab .
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded the resignation of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and an independent probe, with Cheema's name included in the FIR .
AAP leader Anurag Dhanda accused Gandhi of 'indulging in politics over dead bodies' and rejected the resignation demand.
In a purported pre-death video, Gulzar Singh alleged police pressure after questioning an AAP leader and blamed the village sarpanch for his condition.
Dhanda counter-charged that Congress, during its own tenure, had allowed drugs to spread across Punjab and failed to honour its electoral promise of eradication.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Anurag Dhanda on Wednesday, 9 September sharply rebuked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for demanding the resignation of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, accusing Gandhi of exploiting the death of Sangrur resident Gulzar Singh for political gain. 'I believe Rahul Gandhi should not indulge in politics over dead bodies,' Dhanda said, as the row over Singh's alleged suicide deepened into a full-blown political confrontation in Punjab.
Background: The Death That Sparked the Dispute
Gulzar Singh, a 50-year-old resident of Sangrur, allegedly died by suicide after consuming pesticide. In a video statement purportedly recorded before his death, Singh claimed the village sarpanch bore responsibility for his condition and alleged that he faced police pressure after questioning a leader of the ruling AAP.
'The sarpanch is also responsible for my death. I had questioned Cheema about drugs. My son takes drugs. My house was sold. I don't have anything, and finally, now I have consumed poison. The problem of drugs has not been solved anywhere in Punjab,' Singh reportedly said in the video.
The authenticity of the video has not been independently verified. The circumstances surrounding Singh's death remain under scrutiny.
What Rahul Gandhi Demanded
Responding to the incident, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded justice for Singh's family and called for an independent, impartial investigation into the death. Gandhi urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to seek Finance Minister Cheema's resignation and ensure that Cheema's name be included in the First Information Report (FIR) related to the case.
This marks an escalation by the Congress in its criticism of the AAP-led Punjab government over the state's drug crisis — an issue that has been politically contested for years across multiple administrations.
AAP's Counter-Attack on Congress
Dhanda did not limit his response to defending Finance Minister Cheema. He went on the offensive, alleging that the Congress, during its own tenure in Punjab, had allowed the drug menace to proliferate rather than curb it.
'The Akali-BJP government spread the drugs, and Rahul Gandhi's Congress government delivered them to every doorstep. During their tenure, the situation was terrible; these people drowned Punjab in substance abuse,' Dhanda said.
He also alleged that a Congress Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) had attempted to visit a village in Punjab the previous day in connection with the matter but was 'pushed out and driven away' by villagers — a claim that could not be independently verified.
AAP Defends Its Drug-Control Record
Dhanda argued that the Bhagwant Mann government has waged the most decisive campaign against drug trafficking of any state in the country since coming to power. 'Name any other state in the entire country where a fight of this magnitude is being waged against drugs like the one launched by the Punjab government,' he said.
He alleged that the Congress had failed to honour its own electoral promise of eradicating drugs from Punjab. 'The Congress party promised people that they would eradicate drugs. They swore an oath on the gutka, and what did they do after that? They allowed drugs to proliferate in every household and patronised drug traffickers,' Dhanda charged.
He further stated that no drug trafficker would be spared regardless of political affiliation. 'We will not spare a single drug trafficker, whether they have the backing of Congress leaders, BJP leaders, or Akali leaders,' Dhanda added. Notably, the AAP's drug-control claims have themselves faced scrutiny from opposition parties and civil society groups in Punjab.
What Happens Next
With the Congress pressing for an independent probe and Finance Minister Cheema's inclusion in the FIR, and the AAP government firmly rejecting those demands, the political standoff is unlikely to ease quickly. The case is expected to draw further attention as opposition parties in Punjab look to build momentum ahead of future electoral cycles. The status of any formal investigation into Gulzar Singh's death remains to be officially confirmed.
Point of View
While not without factual basis, sidesteps the specific and serious allegations raised in Singh's own purported video. Demanding that opposition leaders stay silent on a citizen's alleged suicide-by-pesticide is a politically risky posture, especially when the deceased's video directly names a ruling-party minister. The real question — whether the state's drug-control machinery failed Gulzar Singh's family — risks being buried under partisan noise.
NationPress
9 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Gulzar Singh and how did he die?
Gulzar Singh was a 50-year-old resident of Sangrur, Punjab, who allegedly died by suicide after consuming pesticide. In a video purportedly recorded before his death, he alleged police pressure following his questioning of an AAP leader and blamed the village sarpanch for his condition.
What did Rahul Gandhi demand over Gulzar Singh's death?
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded the resignation of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and called for an independent, impartial investigation into Singh's death. He also urged Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to ensure Cheema's name is included in the FIR.
How did AAP respond to Rahul Gandhi's demands?
AAP leader Anurag Dhanda rejected Gandhi's demands, accusing him of 'indulging in politics over dead bodies.' Dhanda counter-charged that the Congress, during its own tenure in Punjab, had allowed the drug menace to spread and failed to honour its promise of eradication.
What did Gulzar Singh allege in his purported video?
In the video, Singh allegedly said he had questioned Finance Minister Cheema about drugs, that his son was a drug addict, that his house had been sold, and that he faced pressure from police. He also blamed the village sarpanch and said the drug problem had not been solved anywhere in Punjab. The video's authenticity has not been independently verified.
What is AAP's position on Punjab's drug crisis?
AAP claims the Bhagwant Mann government has launched the most decisive anti-drug campaign of any Indian state, vowing to spare no trafficker regardless of political backing. Critics, including Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, dispute this characterisation and argue the drug situation in Punjab remains severe.
