Opposition parties in Punjab have begun an indefinite sit in protest in Sangrur over the issue of drug abuse and allegations involving people who have publicly raised concerns about the availability of illegal drugs.
The protest has been organised by a 21 member joint action committee comprising representatives of the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, Bharatiya Janata Party and other political and social organisations. The protest is being held in Sangrur, the home district of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The joint committee has named the protest the Mohanjeet Singh Gulzar Singh Insaf Morcha. The name refers to two recent cases involving individuals who, according to opposition parties and their families, had raised concerns about drug-related activities in their respective areas.
The committee has announced that the protest will continue indefinitely until its demands are addressed. Among its demands is the registration of a First Information Report against Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. The committee has also sought the suspension of four police officials and registration of FIRs against them in connection with allegations surrounding the case of Mohanjeet Singh. These are demands made by the opposition committee and have not been established as findings against the individuals concerned.
According to reports, Mohanjeet Singh, a 37-year-old man from Sangrur, had raised questions about the drug situation during a public programme involving the chief minister. He was subsequently taken into police custody. Mohanjeet later alleged that he had been subjected to custodial assault and other forms of physical abuse. He also alleged the involvement of a police officer. These allegations form part of the opposition’s demands for an investigation and further action.
Another case cited by the opposition involves Gulzar Singh, a farm labourer from Toor Banjara village. According to reports cited by the opposition and his family, Gulzar Singh had raised concerns about the availability of a drug commonly referred to as chitta and about his son’s drug addiction when Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema visited the village on September 6.
His family has alleged that he faced threats after raising the issue. Gulzar Singh later consumed a poisonous substance and died. The circumstances surrounding his death have become part of the wider political dispute over the state’s response to drug-related concerns. The opposition has linked the case to its demand for accountability and investigation.
A further incident involving a man identified as Jagga Singh has also intensified the dispute. According to reports, Jagga Singh posted a video alleging the sale of drugs in his village and claimed that he possessed footage relating to the alleged activity. He subsequently alleged that the village sarpanch and associates threatened and assaulted him.
The Indian Express reported that Jagseer Singh, also known as Jagga Singh, allegedly consumed a poisonous substance outside the Sangrur deputy commissioner’s office after raising concerns about the alleged availability of drugs in his village. Police subsequently registered an FIR in connection with the incident.
The opposition parties have used these incidents to demand stronger action against drug trafficking and greater protection for people who report alleged drug-related activities. They have argued that complaints involving alleged threats or attacks should be investigated independently and that responsibility should be fixed if wrongdoing is established.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party has rejected the opposition’s allegations. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has criticised the opposition’s protest and accused it of turning recent tragedies into a political issue. According to The Economic Times, Cheema also questioned the allegations concerning Jagga Singh and referred to multiple FIRs registered against him. These statements represent the government and AAP’s position on the matter.
The dispute comes as political parties in Punjab prepare for the upcoming state Assembly election. Drug abuse has become an important political issue in the state, with opposition parties frequently raising questions about the government’s efforts to tackle drug trafficking and addiction.
The current protest therefore combines demands relating to specific cases with broader political arguments over the state’s drug-control policies. The opposition has called for criminal cases and police action where it alleges wrongdoing, while the ruling party has defended its position and accused opposition parties of politicising the incidents.
The indefinite nature of the protest means that the issue is likely to remain a focus of political debate in Punjab. The outcome will depend on investigations into the individual cases, any action taken by law-enforcement authorities and discussions between the government and the protesting groups.
For readers, it is important to distinguish between allegations made by political parties or individuals and facts established through official investigations or judicial proceedings. The allegations concerning ministers, police officers and other individuals remain matters for the relevant authorities to investigate and determine.