The controversy surrounding the death of Gulzar Singh, a Dalit labourer from Sangrur district, has taken a fresh political turn after a new video emerged in which his family members alleged that his cremation was carried out forcibly and without their consent.
They have now announced that they will not proceed with further religious rituals, including the Bhog ceremony, until action is taken against those they hold responsible. Gulzar Singh, a member of the Valmiki community, died by allegedly consuming poison shortly after publicly questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema regarding the unchecked drug menace that had affected his own son. Following the interaction, Gulzar Singh allegedly faced harassment and pressure from local leaders and panchayat members to publicly apologise for questioning the minister. In the video, the family members demand action against all those whose names were allegedly mentioned by Gulzar Singh in the video. The name of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema is also mentioned in the video, adding a political dimension to the case.
The family has alleged that they were not allowed to proceed with the cremation according to their wishes and that the last rites were carried out amid heavy police presence.
Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira also stepped up the attack on the Punjab government. Khaira demanded the immediate arrest of the minister, his dismissal from the Cabinet and registration of an FIR against all those allegedly involved in carrying out the cremation with police assistance.
BJP leader Parminder Singh Brar said the family’s allegation that Gulzar Singh’s cremation was carried out forcibly by the Punjab government machinery raised “grave questions of abuse of power and denial of basic dignity. He demanded accountability from Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and said the AAP government could not “hide from these questions or silence the family.
