Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has dismissed allegations that his government pressured Gulzar Singh to apologize for questioning the state's drug policies, calling the claims 'politics over dead bodies.' In a social media post on X, Mann stated that all accused in the case have been arrested by police based on family identification, and accused previous governments of failing to curb drug trafficking.

Gulzar Singh, a 47-year-old Dalit from Sangrur, died by suicide on September 7 after allegedly consuming poison. His family claims he was subjected to casteist slurs and intense pressure to apologize for questioning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the 'unabated' supply of 'chitta' (a local term for a type of drug) in his area. A video of Singh's last moments, in which he questions Cheema about the drug supply, has gone viral, prompting calls for an independent investigation.

Rahul Gandhi, Lok Sabha leader of the opposition, accused the AAP government of a 'dangerous pattern' of silencing critics, alleging that Singh was tortured and humiliated for his questions. Gandhi demanded that Mann immediately demand Cheema's resignation and ensure an impartial probe. 'The government's job is to answer to the people, not to crush those who ask questions,' he said.

Punjab Police have set up a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the incident, and five villagers have been booked under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. However, no official confirmation has been provided on the nature of Singh's harassment or the extent of his suffering before his death.

Mann, in his post, shared a video of a Congress leader being chased by villagers, suggesting that Congress had previously engaged in 'dirty politics' in the area. He also blamed previous Akali-BJP and Congress governments for the drug crisis, vowing that his administration would not spare any drug traffickers. However, no evidence has been presented to support these claims, and the family's allegations remain unverified.

The incident has intensified political tensions in Punjab, with opposition parties demanding the resignations of both Mann and Cheema. The case has also drawn attention to the broader issue of drug abuse in the state, which has been a point of contention among all major parties. While the family's account of Singh's death is detailed, the exact circumstances of his harassment and the role of the government in his death remain unclear, with no official statements from the accused parties or independent verification of the allegations.