Chandigarh, September 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Newly appointed AICC General Secretary in-charge of Punjab Sachin Pilot on Tuesday led a massive Congress protest in Chandigarh, with senior state leaders putting up a show of unity as party workers marched towards the residence of Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema demanding his resignation over the suicide of Gulzar Singh.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and several other senior leaders joined Pilot in the protest, with the leadership asserting that winning the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections was their common objective and the question of leadership would be decided later by the Congress high command.
The march, attended by a large number of Congress workers, was stopped by a heavy police deployment before the protesters could reach Cheema’s residence. Police also used water cannons to prevent them from proceeding further.
Several Congress workers were injured during the water cannon action, according to the party. Senior Congress leader Kuljit Singh Nagra was among those stated to have suffered injuries.
Addressing the gathering, Pilot said the Congress had nothing personal against the Finance Minister but maintained that the allegations surrounding Gulzar Singh’s death required investigation.
Referring to the alleged dying declaration, Pilot asked why an FIR should not be registered and a detailed investigation conducted when, according to the Congress, the deceased had mentioned the minister’s name.
The Congress has accused Cheema of abetment in Gulzar Singh’s suicide. The allegation is a charge made by the opposition party and has not been established by a court.
Pilot linked the case with the drug problem in Punjab, alleging that Gulzar Singh had lost his life after raising questions over the easy availability of drugs, to which his son had allegedly fallen victim.
He also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party over its pre-election promise concerning Dalit representation in the government.
Pilot said AAP had promised to appoint a Dalit Deputy Chief Minister in Punjab, but alleged that instead of empowering the community, the situation under its government had reached a stage where a Dalit like Gulzar Singh had been forced to take the extreme step.
Referring to AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s pre-election claims about eliminating the drug menace, Pilot alleged that after nearly five years of AAP rule, chitta had become so easily available in Punjab that there was now “home delivery” of drugs.
Thanking Congress workers for mobilising in large numbers at short notice, Pilot assured them that the party would stand with its workers in their struggles.
He said that as the representative of the Congress high command in Punjab, he would remain at the forefront of the party’s fight for justice and would make every effort to restore the dignity and honour of Congress workers.
Warring, Bajwa and Channi also launched a sharp attack on the Bhagwant Mann government, describing its performance as disastrous and accusing the AAP dispensation of failing Punjab.
Significantly, the senior Punjab Congress leaders publicly assured Pilot of their complete support and cooperation in working towards the party’s victory in the 2027 Assembly elections.
They maintained that bringing the Congress back to power was their immediate priority and that the issue of leadership would be decided subsequently by the party high command.
The assertion assumed significance against the backdrop of periodic speculation over differences and competing leadership claims within the Punjab Congress.
Besides Warring, Bajwa and Channi, senior leaders Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Brahm Mohindra, Vijay Inder Singla, Rana K.P. Singh, Dr Amar Singh, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Rana Gurjeet Singh, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Dr Raj Kumar Verka, Sukhvinder Singh Danny, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Kuljit Singh Nagra, Amarpreet Singh Lally, Lakhvir Singh Lakha, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Amit Vij, Pawan Adia, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Gurkirat Singh, Baljit Kaur and others participated in the protest.
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