Punjab labourer suicide row: BJP-AAP clash over leaders’ visit to family

The ruling party denied the charge, saying villagers had objected to politicians arriving at the village over Singh’s death.

Singh died after allegedly consuming poison days after raising the issue of drug availability in his village with Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.

His family has alleged that he was pressured and harassed after questioning the minister and has also claimed that his cremation was carried out against their wishes.

The allegations have triggered a political confrontation in Punjab ahead of the assembly election.

BJP delegation stopped on the way to village

Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon was travelling to Toor Banjara in Sangrur to meet Singh’s family.

He was accompanied by senior BJP leaders, including Manpreet Singh Badal, Sunil Jakhar and Ashwani Sharma.

The BJP alleged that AAP workers surrounded Dhillon’s vehicle and prevented the delegation from proceeding.

Dhillon claimed police personnel nearby failed to intervene and called the incident an “attack on democracy”.

The BJP delegation later met Singh’s family and demanded a CBI probe into his death, while also raising the family’s allegation that his cremation was conducted forcibly.

AAP leaders rejected the BJP’s version of events, saying the delegation had been stopped by villagers who did not want political leaders turning Singh’s death into a campaign issue.

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh accused the BJP of “playing politics over the body” and said the leaders were turned away by local residents.

AAP leader Manish Sisodia similarly accused the BJP of seeking political mileage from the death.

Singh’s death and the drug row

Singh, a daily-wage labourer from Toor Banjara, had publicly raised concerns about the availability of drugs after his son became addicted.

His family has alleged that he was subsequently pressured to apologise for questioning Cheema.

Before his death, Singh reportedly recorded a statement in which he named Cheema and others.

Cheema has denied any role in the death, while the allegations against those named by the family remain subject to investigation.

Police have registered a case against several people over alleged abetment to suicide and related offences.