Congress Holds Major Protest Outside SSP Office Under Balbir Sidhu’s Leadership, Demands Justice for Gulzar Singh and Action Against Drugs

Congress Holds Major Protest Outside SSP Office Under Balbir Sidhu’s Leadership, Demands Justice for Gulzar Singh and Action Against Drugs

Memorandum submitted to SSP Mohali seeking action against Aam Aadmi Party Minister Harpal Cheema

S.A.S.Nagar 24 September ( Ranjeet Singh Dhaliwal ) : A massive protest was held outside the SSP Office in Mohali by the District Congress Committee, Mohali, demanding justice in the case of Gulzar Singh, who had raised his voice against the growing menace of drugs in Punjab. The protest was led by senior Congress leader and former Health Minister S. Balbir Singh Sidhu. On the occasion, Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the issue of drugs in Punjab cannot be confined merely to government advertisements, slogans and political campaigns. He said that it is the responsibility of the government and administration to listen to young people and ordinary citizens who are raising their voice against drugs and to ensure their safety. Instead of intimidating or suppressing those who speak out, strict action should be taken against the actual drug-trafficking networks, he said.

Referring to the incident involving Mohanjit Singh in Sheron village of Sangrur, Balbir Singh Sidhu said that if a young person raising his voice against drugs has to face alleged police harassment, it raises very serious questions. He said that such cases should be investigated impartially and action should be taken against responsible officials in accordance with law. Balbir Singh Sidhu raised serious questions over the Punjab Government in connection with the Gulzar Singh case. He said that when a citizen raises his voice against the growing menace of drugs, the government’s first responsibility is to listen to him and provide protection, rather than push him into an atmosphere of fear and pressure. He said that in a video that surfaced before Gulzar Singh’s death, he had levelled serious allegations concerning Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the truth of these allegations has to be determined by investigating agencies and the courts, but in such a serious matter, the government must ensure a transparent investigation. He questioned why the statements of a person who makes serious allegations pointing towards a responsible individual before losing his life should not be impartially investigated. He said that Gulzar Singh’s family deserves justice and that the matter should be investigated in a time-bound, impartial and transparent manner, above any political influence. He said that the law is equal for everyone and if an investigation establishes anyone’s responsibility, political position or influence should not become a shield.

Balbir Singh Sidhu also questioned the Aam Aadmi Party government’s ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign, saying that Punjab cannot become drug-free through slogans, posters, press conferences and government publicity alone. He said that while the government claims to be waging a ‘War Against Drugs’, the direct question before the people of Punjab is: if this is truly a war, what concrete and transparent action is being taken against the drug supply chain, major traffickers and their networks? He said that the success of the fight against drugs should not be measured by government advertisements, but by reducing the impact of drugs in Punjab’s villages, cities and households and by providing a secure future to the youth. He said that the government must move beyond political publicity and ensure action against the entire drug network, justice for affected families and protection for citizens who raise their voice against drugs.

He also directly questioned the BJP, saying that before making claims about making Punjab ‘drug-free’, the BJP should also answer questions about drug supply and trafficking routes at the national level. He said that reports of large consignments of narcotics being seized from ports in Gujarat have repeatedly surfaced. Therefore, the questions should not only concern Punjab’s youth but also the sources and routes through which drug consignments enter the country. He said that along with undertaking a ‘Drug-Free Yatra’, the BJP should also explain the results of the steps being taken by the Central Government to prevent the inflow of drugs through the country’s ports and border routes. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that every political party that talks about making Punjab drug-free must go beyond political statements and speak about accountability and concrete action across the entire supply chain.

Sidhu said that the serious issue of drugs, which directly affects the lives of Punjab’s youth and their families, should not be reduced to a subject of political publicity, marches and slogans. He said that the fight against drugs is not the responsibility of one party or one state alone, but a shared responsibility of the Central and State Governments. Strict and transparent action, without political bias, should be taken against the points from where the drug supply originates, the routes through which drugs enter the country and the networks involved in trafficking them. He said that the people of Punjab no longer want to hear only slogans of a ‘Drug-Free Punjab’; they want accountability, concrete action and results on the ground. Sidhu said that instead of using an issue concerning the future of young people for political benefit, all governments should work together to act against the entire drug supply and trafficking network.

In conclusion, Balbir Singh Sidhu said that the Congress party will continue to raise its voice on every platform to protect the people of Punjab, especially the future and rights of the youth. He said that Congress would not back down from demanding accountability from any government on serious issues such as drugs and would stand firmly with people wherever injustice is done. He said that Congress’s struggle for justice for Gulzar Singh, protection for those raising their voice against drugs and safeguarding the future of Punjab’s younger generation would continue. He said that the voice of the people of Punjab cannot be suppressed and that Congress would continue to fight firmly for the rights of the people. On the occasion, District Congress Committee Mohali president Mr. Kamal Kishore Sharma thanked all Congress leaders, workers and supporters who participated in large numbers and raised their voice against drugs. He said that in the fight for people’s rights and justice, the Congress party would always remain united and continue to raise its voice.

During the protest, the important role of stage secretary was performed by former Market Committee Kharar chairman and senior Congress leader Harkesh Chand Sharma Machhli Kalan. The protest was addressed by Mr. Kamal Kishore Sharma, President, District Congress Committee Mohali; Hardyal Chand Badbar; Contractor Mohan Singh Bathlana; S. Sucha Singh Kalour, former councillor; Khushi Ram, former D.C.; Mandeep Singh Kumbra; and Harsh Rishi, Block President, Zirakpur.

Among others present on the occasion were Kamaljit Chawla, Kanwarbir Singh Sidhu, Block Rural President Pradeep Singh Tangori, Block Urban President Jaspreet Singh Gill, Ranjit Singh Naglian, SC Cell Chairman, Block President Kharar Satnam Singh Saini, Sukhwinder Singh Lambardar, Block President Majri, Karnail Singh, Block President Lalru, Mandal President Happy Malik, Mandal President Shri Ashok Kaundal, Mandal President Gurwinder Singh Sohi, Kamaljit Singh Banni, Councillor, Smt. Davinder Kaur Walia, Paramjit Singh Happy, Jasbir Singh Manku, Surinder Rajput, Inderjit Singh Dhillon, Gurcharan Singh Bhamra, Arun Sharma, Anu, all former councillors, Mukul Sharma, Halqa Youth Congress President, Sukhdeep Singh Naya Shehar, Rajinder Singh Dharmgarh, Jaswinder Singh Sharma, IT Cell In-charge Paramjit Singh Chauhan, Baljinder Lucky Phase-1, Amarpal Singh Phase-7, Shri Bal Chand Ji Phase-11, Nahar Singh, Sarpanch Kurri, former Sarpanch Ramandeep Singh Safipur, Davinder Singh, former Sarpanch Kurra, Gyan Singh Kurra, Mangal Singh Maujpur, Gulzar Singh Kurra, Manjit Singh Tangori, Vice Chairman Block Samiti Kharar, Tehal Singh Manakpur Kallar, Karam Singh Manakpur Kallar, former Sarpanch, former Sarpanch Boota Singh Baidwan, Sohana, Davinder Chopra Sohana, Sanjay Kaushik Sohana, Mohan Singh, former Sarpanch Raipur, Meet Singh Kumbra, Prince Verma Phase-9, Jaswinder Singh Gill Lakhnour, Surjit Singh Manak Majra, Major Singh, former Sarpanch Manauli, Shri Ashok Kumar Manauli, Satnam Singh Gill Manauli, Giani Gurmel Singh Manauli, Avtar Singh Gige Majra, Lakhbir Lucky Behlolpur, senior Congress leader Jang Singh Kumbra, Jaswinder Singh Pappa Giddarpur, Ajmer Singh, former Sarpanch Daun, Navdeep Singh Goldy Daun, Sarabjit Singh Mauli Baidwan, Gursev Singh Mauli Baidwan, Manjit Singh Mote Majra, Satvir Singh Ballo Majra, Malkit Singh Mattour, Makhan Singh Mattour, former Sarpanch Amrik Singh Mattour, Baljinder Singh Pappu Mattour, Lakhmir Singh Mattour, Karamjit Singh Sidhu Sector-86, Rajinder Singh Sector-123, Gurdeep Singh Sector-77, Sher Singh Sector-74, Mamta Sharma Sector-68, Narinder Singh Sector-70, Monika Thakur Sector-70, Sukhchain Singh Chachu Majra, Ravinder Sharma Phase-7, Ranjit Singh Gill Jagatpura, Satish Kumar Jagatpura, Dr. Darshan Lal Khattak Jagatpura, Mukhtiar Singh Phase-9, Jatinder Singh Sodi Phase-4, Ravinder Singh Ravi Phase-4, Sukhpal Singh Phase-4, Kulwinder Singh Romi Phase-6, Amritpal Singh Tiwana Phase-9, Surjit Singh Dhillon Wave Estate, Jasdeep Singh Shergill Sector-89, Harcharan Singh Grewal Sector-69, Harwant Singh Grewal Sector-69, Gurpreet Singh Tangori, Mukhtiar Singh Jujhar Nagar, Gurdeep Singh Mauli Baidwan, Rajinder Singh Prakash Jhampur, Gurpreet Singh Jhampur, Dalbir Singh Chao Majra, Amarjit Singh Sukhgarh, Darshan Singh Dhariwal Phase-10, Harjinder Singh Manakpur Kallar, Gurpreet Singh Ginny Bar Majra, Sukhwinder Singh Bar Majra, Sanjeev Kumar Bunty Gobindgarh, Gurwinder Singh Bari, former Block Samiti member, Rupinder Singh Matran, Daler Singh Matran, S. Gurdeep Singh Dhillon, Karnveer Singh Dhillon Phase-10, Sandeep Dhaman Phase-1 and Tarlochan Singh Chao Majra. A large number of Congress office-bearers and workers, along with village Panchayat members and Sarpanches, were also present.