Harbhajan Singh sharing Rajasthan video to defame Punjab, says Minister Cheema
Synopsis
Punjab Minister Harpal Cheema accused Rajya Sabha MP and former cricketer Harbhajan Singh of sharing a video from Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar and falsely presenting it as being from Punjab — a charge that puts the AAP-BJP political battle squarely in social media territory, with Punjab's youth and drug narrative at the centre.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema criticised Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh on 11 August for sharing a video falsely linked to Punjab.
Punjab Police traced the video and confirmed it originated from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan — not Punjab.
Cheema alleged the BJP's 'IT machinery' was deliberately picking videos from other states to malign Punjab and its youth.
The minister highlighted the 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh' campaign and blamed the SAD-BJP government (2007–2017) for the state's drug crisis.
Punjab has built more than 3,000 sports stadiums , with 6,000 more under development to provide youth with positive alternatives.
Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday, 11 August sharply criticised former Indian cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh for sharing a video falsely linking it to Punjab, alleging it was a deliberate attempt to defame the state and its youth. Cheema said Punjab Police had traced the video and confirmed it originated from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan — a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled state — and had no connection with Punjab whatsoever.
What the Minister Said
Speaking to the media in Chandigarh, Cheema expressed disappointment that Harbhajan Singh — who was sent to the Rajya Sabha by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to represent Punjab's interests — was now amplifying BJP propaganda instead. 'Harbhajan Singh should have used his platform to encourage Punjab's youngsters to take up sports and raise issues concerning their future, rather than sharing misleading content that tarnishes the image of Punjab,' Cheema said.
The Disputed Video
According to Cheema, the video in question was picked up by what he described as the BJP's 'IT machinery' and presented as an incident from Punjab to malign the state. He alleged that instead of verifying facts, the video was shared without any scrutiny. Punjab Police's verification, he said, conclusively established that the footage was from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, not Punjab.
Drug Fight and BJP's Record
Cheema used the occasion to highlight the Bhagwant Mann government's 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh' campaign, arguing that the BJP was attempting to undermine the progress made in combating drugs. He pointed to the 10-year SAD-BJP government from 2007 to 2017, alleging it was during that period that terms such as 'chitta' and 'smack' became widely associated with Punjab, with countless young lives destroyed by addiction. He said the current government was working on multiple fronts to eradicate drugs and provide Punjab's youth with better opportunities.
Sports Infrastructure Push
Cheema also highlighted the state's investment in sports infrastructure as a positive alternative for youth. He said more than 3,000 sports stadiums have already been built across Punjab, with 6,000 more currently under development. 'We are investing in sports because we want Punjab's youth to stay away from drugs and move towards a healthy and productive future,' he said.
The episode underscores the sharpening political contest between AAP and BJP over Punjab's narrative, with both sides increasingly using social media incidents as flashpoints ahead of future electoral cycles.
Point of View
With viral videos now weaponised faster than facts can catch up. Cheema's response is as much about political positioning as fact correction — AAP needs to protect its Punjab governance narrative ahead of future elections. Notably, Harbhajan Singh's trajectory from AAP-endorsed Rajya Sabha MP to perceived BJP amplifier is itself a story of alliance fractures the party has not fully addressed. The drug debate, meanwhile, remains genuinely contested: while the Mann government points to its anti-drug campaign, independent assessments of ground-level progress remain limited.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What video did Harbhajan Singh share that sparked the controversy?
Harbhajan Singh shared a video that was allegedly presented as being from Punjab. Punjab Police investigated and confirmed the footage was actually from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, a BJP-ruled state, with no connection to Punjab.
Why did Minister Harpal Cheema criticise Harbhajan Singh?
Cheema criticised Harbhajan Singh for sharing the misleading video without fact-checking, arguing that as a Rajya Sabha MP sent by AAP to represent Punjab, he should have used his platform to uplift Punjab's youth rather than spread content that defames the state.
What is the 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh' campaign?
'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh' — meaning 'War Against Drugs' — is the Punjab government's ongoing anti-drug initiative under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Cheema cited it to argue that the BJP's misinformation campaign was undermining genuine progress on drug eradication.
How many sports stadiums has the Punjab government built?
According to Minister Cheema, more than 3,000 sports stadiums have already been built across Punjab, with 6,000 more currently under development, as part of the government's strategy to give youth a productive alternative to drugs.
What is AAP's allegation against the BJP regarding the video?
AAP, through Minister Cheema, alleged that the BJP's 'IT machinery' was systematically sourcing videos from other states and falsely presenting them as incidents from Punjab in order to malign the state's image and undermine the Bhagwant Mann government's record.
