Chandigarh: Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot, state Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa were detained by police on Tuesday during a protest seeking the dismissal of state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema over the death of Dalit man Gulzar Singh.
Several other Congress leaders were also detained as party workers attempted to march towards Cheema’s residence in Chandigarh.
The protest was organised following the alleged suicide of Gulzar Singh, a resident of Sangrur, who had reportedly raised concerns over the availability of drugs and his son’s addiction.
The Congress has demanded that Cheema’s name be included in the FIR and sought an independent and time-bound investigation into Singh’s death.
Speaking to IANS, Pilot alleged that Gulzar Singh had named Cheema and accused the Punjab government of failing to act on his concerns.
“The Finance Minister here is responsible for this, and he has been named by Gulzar Singh,” Pilot said, alleging that the government should have ordered an inquiry and registered an FIR.
Pilot also criticised the state government over the drug situation in Punjab, alleging that authorities had failed to address the growing problem of drugs and ‘chitta’ in the state.
The Congress has stepped up its demand for accountability and a probe into the circumstances surrounding Gulzar Singh’s death.