Punjab Congress leaders and workers were detained in Chandigarh on September 15 after police used water cannons to stop their march towards the official residence of Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the death of 53-year-old Dalit agricultural labourer Gulzar Singh in Sangrur.
The protest, led by newly appointed Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot, saw the participation of state Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
Congress has demanded Cheema’s removal, his inclusion in the FIR and an independent, time-bound investigation, alleging that Gulzar faced pressure after questioning the minister about drug availability in his village.
Police have already registered a case against five people, while a Special Investigation Team is probing the death. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has also sought a report from the Punjab government. Cheema has denied wrongdoing, while the AAP government has maintained that the matter should be investigated rather than politicised.
Water Cannons Stop March
The protest began outside the Punjab Congress headquarters in Sector 15, from where party leaders and workers planned to march towards Cheema’s residence in Sector 2.
Police had put up barricades along the route, and the situation became tense when protesters attempted to move forward. Water cannons were subsequently used to disperse the crowd, following which several senior Congress leaders, including Pilot, Warring and Bajwa, were detained.
Addressing protesters before the march, Pilot questioned why Cheema had not been named in the case despite allegations made by Gulzar before his death. He alleged that Gulzar had raised concerns about the drug menace but was subsequently subjected to pressure.
Pilot called for an independent investigation and said the minister should face accountability if the allegations are established. The protest was also significant because it brought together Congress leaders from rival factions, including Channi and Warring, who have previously been on opposing sides within the Punjab unit.
How Gulzar’s Death Became Flashpoint
Gulzar Singh, a resident of Toor Banzara village in Sangrur’s Dirba area, died on September 7 after allegedly consuming poison. Reports say the 53-year-old agricultural labourer had raised concerns about the availability of chitta, a term commonly used for illicit drugs, during a public interaction involving Cheema. His family has linked the incident to his concerns over his son’s drug addiction and alleged that Gulzar was humiliated and pressured after speaking about the issue.
A video circulated before his death reportedly contained allegations against members of the village panchayat and referred to Cheema. The NCSC, acting under its constitutional powers, took cognisance of the matter and sought a detailed report from Punjab’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police. The Commission said it was examining the circumstances surrounding Gulzar’s death and asked the state government to report on the action taken.
Police have registered an FIR against a village sarpanch and four others, invoking provisions related to abetment of suicide, harassment and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Four accused were reported arrested, while the investigation continued against the remaining accused. The Punjab government has also formed an SIT headed by an officer of Additional Director General of Police rank.
The central point of the Congress’s objection is that Cheema has not been named as an accused in the FIR. Congress leaders argue that the allegations made by Gulzar warrant a probe into the minister’s role and have demanded his resignation or dismissal. Pilot had announced the September 15 march as a way of seeking justice for Gulzar’s family and a time-bound investigation.
The Questions Still Unanswered
The controversy has also raised concerns about how Gulzar’s family was treated after his death. His family alleged that the administration carried out his cremation without their consent and that police pressure was used during the process. These claims have added another layer to the dispute, although they remain allegations and require independent verification.
For the AAP government, the case comes amid a wider political battle over Punjab’s drug problem and law and order. Congress has sought to turn Gulzar’s death into a larger accountability issue, while the ruling side has rejected allegations of wrongdoing by Cheema. Meanwhile, the NCSC’s intervention and the ongoing SIT investigation mean the case is now being examined beyond the immediate political confrontation.
The September 15 protest also carries significance for Punjab Congress itself. Pilot’s first major political programme in the state since taking charge saw rival factions share the same platform, with Channi, Warring, Bajwa and Randhawa joining the demonstration. The unity comes ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election and could mark an attempt by the party to put internal differences aside over issues of public concern.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Gulzar Singh’s death should not become only another flashpoint in Punjab’s political contest. At its heart is a family grieving the loss of a member, allegations involving a vulnerable community, concerns over the availability of drugs and questions about whether people can safely raise concerns about issues affecting their neighbourhoods.
Political parties have every right to demand accountability, but such demands must ultimately be settled through an impartial investigation and evidence, not confrontation on the streets. The allegations against any individual, including a public office-holder, must be properly examined before guilt is assigned, while any person found responsible must face the law regardless of their position.
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