Chandigarh [India], September 15 (ANI): Congress leaders and workers held a protest in Chandigarh on Tuesday over the death of Gulzar Singh in Sangrur, who died by suicide recently after allegedly questioning the Punjab Minister Harpal Cheema.
Punjab Congress chief and MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has demanded Cheema's resignation and arrest, alleging his involvement in the case.
Congress leaders, including Sachin Pilot, Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Gurjeet Singh Aujla and other party leaders and workers, participated in the protest against the state government.
Amid the huge sloganeering, Police resorted to water cannons to disperse the protesting leaders and workers.
Speaking to reporters during the protest, Raja Warring said that the Congress was demanding action against Punjab Minister Harpal Cheema in connection with the death of Gulzar Singh.
He said, "...Today, the entire Congress party, under the leadership of Sachin Pilot, has held a march. We demand that Harpal Cheema resign, that an FIR be registered against him immediately, and that he be arrested. Furthermore, Bhagwant Mann must apologise for shielding a culprit. That is our demand, and I will say nothing more..."
Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa alleged that different standards were being applied in similar cases and demanded action against Cheema.
"There cannot be two sets of laws in this country. One of our District Managers, Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, committed suicide. In his statement, he named a Cabinet Minister, Laljit Singh Bhullar. The minister was arrested and has been in jail for seven months. When Gulzar Singh committed suicide, he stated that Harpal Cheema was responsible. Five people were arrested, but not Harpal Cheema. Can there be two sets of laws in this country? We will take to the streets to ensure that he resigns. Through the Punjab and Haryana High Court, we will seek both his resignation and his arrest. He will end up behind bars..." Bajwa said.
The protest comes in the wake of the suicide of Gulzar Singh, a Sangrur resident who died after allegedly being harassed for confronting the minister over Punjab's worsening drug crisis.
Gulzar Singh, a member of the Valmiki community, took the extreme step after confronting Minister Cheema during a public event regarding the drug addiction affecting his son. Following the encounter, Singh was allegedly subjected to severe intimidation, mental distress, and pressure from local leaders and panchayat members to issue a public apology for questioning the minister. (ANI)
"We demand Harpal Cheema's resignation, arrest": Raja Warring as Congress holds protest over Gulzar Singh's death
