Chandigarh Police detain Sachin Pilot, Raja Warring as Congress protest against Harpal Cheema over Gulzar Singhs death
Meanwhile several Congress workers climbed over the barricades during the protest, following which police used water canons to disperse them.
PTC News Desk: Chandigarh Police on Tuesday detained Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot, state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, and the leader of the opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa amid the party's protest against finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
Meanwhile several Congress workers climbed over the barricades during the protest, following which police used water canons to disperse them.
Punjab Congress in-charge and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot, who was leading the march, was detained by Chandigarh Police. Some Congress workers and police personnel were also injured during the confrontation.
Earlier Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring called upon the party workers to gather for a stir seeking justice for Gulzar Singh, who died by suicide after raising drug issue during an event in the presence of Finance Minister Harpal Cheema. The opposition party is demanding the minister’s dismissal and a time-bound, independent investigation into the death of the Sangrur resident.
The protest comes days after a Dalit man allegedly died by suicide after consuming poison. On September 6, he had publicly questioned Punjab minister Harpal Cheema during a village programme about the availability of drugs, particularly “chitta”, and had also spoken about his son’s addiction.
Following his death, police registered a case against the village sarpanch, her husband and others. The charges include abetment to suicide and provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
However, opposition parties are demanding that Harpal Cheema’s name also be included in the FIR.
Earlier, addressing the gathering from the stage, Pilot said that “chitta” (synthetic drugs) was being delivered to people’s homes in Punjab. Referring to the death of a poor Dalit man, Gulzar, he said he would remain at the forefront of the fight for Punjab. “I will take the first lathi blow. The workers will come later,” Pilot said.
Meanwhile, former Punjab Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi and Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring were seen together on the same stage for the first time in three months.
Channi was seated on Sachin Pilot’s right, while Raja Warring was seated on his left. The two leaders were also seen talking to each other during the event. When Channi’s name was mentioned from the stage, Congress workers raised slogans in his support.
However, Channi did not mention Raja Warring’s name throughout his speech. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, meanwhile, said, “Look, all the Congress leaders have come together on the stage.”