A new political controversy has broken out in Punjab with Gulzar Singh taking his life allegedly after harassment for raising questions about the state’s drug problem. His death has brought opposition parties to attack Bhagwant Mann government accusing it of not being accountable and questioning how administration dealt with allegations against members of ruling Aam Aadmi Party.
Singh had publicly spoken about drugs availability and sale in Punjab. He had also talked about substance abuse on his family saying that his son was addicted to drugs. His concerns reportedly reached Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
Video Message Names Minister
Singh had released a video before consuming poison in which he named Cheema and alleged that pressure was put on him to tender an apology. The video has become the focal point of political controversy as opposition parties say allegations need a fair probe.
Singh’s allegations have not been proven in court yet. The circumstances of his death and the claims made in his final video are still under investigation.
Police registered an FIR against five people (sarpanch among them) for alleged abetment to suicide after his death. Harpal Singh Cheema was not named in the FIR as an accused (this has become a major part of political debate).
Opposition Targets Bhagwant Mann Government
The Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal have used the incident to attack the Punjab government. Opposition leaders have said that administration has failed to tackle state’s drug problem and demanded that allegations surrounding Singh’s death be probed without politics.
The controversy is being fought against the background of a long-standing political battle over drugs in Punjab: successive governments have been criticised for the availability of narcotics and the difficulty in preventing addiction and illegal drug trafficking.
Opposition parties say Singh’s death shows what citizens risk if they speak out about the issue. They have demanded more transparency in the investigation and stronger protection for people who raise concerns about drug problems.
Raising Punjab’s Drug Menace Must Never Cost a Citizen His Life
— Rai Amanpreet Kaur Sheenmar (@RSheenmar) September 8, 2026
Raising concerns about Punjab’s growing drug menace should never come at the cost of a citizen’s life.
Gulzar Singh, a resident of Toor Banjara village in the Dirba constituency, reportedly questioned AAP Minister… pic.twitter.com/oeA8EOgAC3
Drug Crisis Remains Major Political Issue
The incident has put Punjab’s drug crisis back in the political spotlight once again. Families across Punjab have been affected by drug abuse; illegal supply networks and addiction have been a major issue during election campaigns too.
The Mann government has said repeatedly that tackling drugs is a major priority and enforcement agencies are cracking down on traffickers. Supporters of the government have also said that you cannot tackle the scale of the problem with political accusations alone; enforcement must continue, rehabilitation and community participation as well.
But Singh’s death has given the debate an emotional dimension. His claim that he was pressured after questioning drug availability has led to calls for authorities to find out exactly what happened before his death.
Calls for Fair and Independent Investigation
The FIR against five people is the start of the legal process but questions remain about wider circumstances: Singh’s allegations; what was in his video; events leading up to his death; roles of those named in police case.
For Punjab’s political parties the episode has become another flashpoint in the on-going debate over governance, drugs and accountability. For Singh’s family justice and clarity over the circumstances surrounding his death are likely to be the immediate priority.
As the investigation proceeds, what happens with the case itself could have wider political ramifications. Whatever evidence emerges from the probe may determine whether the controversy remains a political confrontation or becomes a larger legal and administrative challenge for Punjab government.
