'Villagers Stopped BJP Leaders': Politics Spirals Over Punjab Man's Suicide

The suicide of a labourer in Punjab who flagged the drugs menace in the state after his son fell victim to it -- and named finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema in the process -- has become thoroughly politicised ahead of the coming assembly election in the state. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the opposition BJP clashed again today after the vehicle of some visiting BJP leaders was not allowed to proceed to Gulzar Singh's village in Sangrur district.

Singh had died by suicide on Monday, apparently leaving behind an audio clip where he named Cheema.  His family has since alleged that his cremation was carried out forcibly and against their consent. 

READ | 'Forcibly Cremated': Family Of Man Who Named AAP Minister In 'Suicide' Video

Today, the convoy of state BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon was attacked. The BJP claims that AAP workers were involved, AAP claims that it was the villagers who sent the politicians packing.

BJP leaders "sent packing" by villagers, said AAP's health minister Balbir Singh.

A statement from the BJP said Dhillon was on his way to village Toor Banjara in Dirba, Sangrur district, to offer condolences to the family of Gulzar Singh. He was accompanied by senior Punjab leader Manpreet Singh Badal, Sunil Jakhar and Ashwani Sharma.

On the way, AAP workers -- allegedly acting at the behest of their "masters" in Delhi -- surrounded his vehicle, Dhillon said. The police, who stood just around 100 meters away, did not intervene, he said. "This was not an attack on me, but an attack on democracy," he said.

READ | Punjab Man Dies By Suicide Days After Raising Drug Issue, Blames AAP Minister

The state's health minister and AAP leader Balbir Singh hit back, saying "BJP leaders who arrived to play politics over the body were sent packing by the people of Punjab".

Calling it the BJP's "vile mindset of playing politics over corpses", he said those who "see political opportunity instead of offering sympathy in times of grief - what kind of politics will they teach the people of Punjab?".

ਗੁਲਜ਼ਾਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਦੀ ਮੌਤ ਦੇ ਗ਼ਮ ਵਿੱਚ ਡੁੱਬੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਦੇ ਦੁੱਖ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਵਾਹ ਕੀਤੇ ਬਿਨਾਂ ਲਾਸ਼ 'ਤੇ ਸਿਆਸਤ ਕਰਨ ਪਹੁੰਚੇ ਭਾਜਪਾ ਆਗੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੇ ਮੌਕੇ 'ਤੇ ਹੀ ਵਾਪਸ ਭਜਾ ਕੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਮੌਕਾਪ੍ਰਸਤੀ ਦਾ ਪਰਦਾਫ਼ਾਸ਼ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ।

ਕੇਵਲ ਢਿੱਲੋਂ, ਅਸ਼ਵਨੀ ਸ਼ਰਮਾ, ਸੁਨੀਲ ਜਾਖੜ ਅਤੇ ਮਨਪ੍ਰੀਤ ਬਾਦਲ ਨੂੰ ਯਾਦ ਰੱਖਣਾ... pic.twitter.com/dX5ofPM881

— Dr Balbir Singh (@AAPbalbir) September 10, 2026

Such behaviour "will never be accepted by Punjab," he added, in what is being seen as a hint at the coming elections.

"The BJP, which was politicising the pain of a poor Dalit family from Punjab, was shown its true reflection by the villagers," senior party leader Manish Sisodia posted in social media platform X.