Rahul Seeks Punjab Minister’s Ouster Over Dalit Villager Suicide

NEW DELHI: A political slugfest erupted between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday over the suicide of a Punjab villager, who had questioned state finance minister Harpal Cheema on the unabated supply of recreational drugs, with Rahul Gandhi demanding the minister’s sacking and Arvind Kejriwal slamming his “dirty politics”.

Punjab’s drug crisis has again become the focal point of a heated political debate ahead of assembly polls early next year, with the BJP and the Congress targeting the ruling AAP.

Gulzar Singh, a 47-year-old Dalit man from Dirba in Sangrur district, died on Monday night after allegedly consuming poison. Singh’s family said he had questioned Cheema about the supply of drugs in the area during an event in Dirba on September 6. A video of him accusing the Punjab minister was also in circulation on social media, where he said the village sarpanch would be responsible for his death.