Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) asked the Leader of Opposition in the 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 a Dalit man, Gulzar Singh.
Mr. Gandhi demanded the resignation of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and an independent probe into the death, alleging that Gulzar Singh had been pressured and humiliated after he had questioned the Minister about the drug menace in his area.
BJP demands Punjab CM’s resignation over death of a man
“A dangerous pattern is emerging under Punjab’s AAP government — if you question the government’s failures, the response will come in the form of threats and torture,” Mr. Gandhi said in a post on X.
He alleged that Singh, whose son had fallen victim to drugs, had questioned Mr. Cheema about the government’s failure to stop the drug trade and was subsequently pressured to apologise.
पंजाब की AAP सरकार में एक खतरनाक पैटर्न दिख रहा है – सरकारी नाकामी पर सवाल करोगे, तो जवाब धमकी और torture से मिलेगा।अपने बेटे को नशे का शिकार बनते देखने वाले, दलित समुदाय से आने वाले गुलज़ार सिंह जी ने वित्त मंत्री से सिर्फ़ इतना पूछा कि सरकार ड्रग्स का कारोबार रोकने में इतनी… https://t.co/umImJz7GFm
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) September 9, 2026
‘Tortured for protesting against CM’
Mr. Gandhi pointed to another alleged instance of harassment as well. “Last week, I also spoke with a young Mohanjeet Singh, who was tortured for protesting against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann,” Mr. Gandhi said.
Mr. Mohanjeet Singh, who hails from Sangrur district, alleged that he was tortured in custody after waving a black flag and raising slogans against the government’s handling of the drug menace at a programme attended by Mr. Mann.
“The government’s job is to answer to the people, not to ‘crush’ those who ask questions,” Mr. Gandhi said, demanding that Mr. Mann immediately seek Mr. Cheema’s resignation and ensure an “independent and impartial investigation”, with the Minister’s name included in the first information report (FIR).
Water cannons used as Punjab Congress members stage demonstration against AAP after villager’s death
‘No politics over dead bodies’
Gulzar Singh, 47, from Dirba in Sangrur district, died on Monday night (September 7, 2026) after allegedly consuming poison. His family said he had questioned Mr. Cheema at an event on September 6 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 do not like this kind of politics.”
The Chief Minister said the police had already arrested the accused and alleged that Congress leaders who visited Gulzar Singh’s village had been “chased away” by locals.
BJP blames AAP govt in Punjab for ‘worsening drugs menace’
Hitting back, Mr Gandhi shared video clips of the family members of the deceased in which they blamed AAP functionaries and the Minister.
“The people of Punjab, and especially the Dalits, should become vigilant regarding the misuse of power by the AAP government,” the Opposition leader said.
‘Dirty politics’
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal, in a post on X, also accused Mr. Gandhi of indulging in “dirty politics over a dead body”.
The exchange follows Tuesday’s (September 8, 2026) press conference in Delhi by Congress MLA Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, who alleged that Gulzar Singh had been humiliated and pressured to apologise after questioning the Minister and his associates over the availability of drugs.
Mr. Bajwa described the death as evidence of “utter 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”.