CHANDIGARH- Launching a fierce attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government, senior Congress leaders alleged today that the ruling party is misleading the people of Punjab on the issue of drugs, systematically persecuting Dalits, and shielding influential figures involved in serious crimes.
Welcoming Rajendra Pal Gautam, Chairman of the Central SC Department, PPCC President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring thanked Dr. Rajkumar Verka and Gurpreet Singh Lucky Pakho for their continuous struggle for the rights of marginalized communities. Warring stated that under the BJP at the Centre and the AAP government in Punjab, poor Dalit families are falling victim to administrative apathy and targeted exploitation.
Raising the tragic suicide of Gulzar Singh, the leaders stated that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi have expressed deep concern over the incident. They noted that Gulzar Singh’s only fault was speaking out to save his son from drugs and opposing the open sale of narcotics in villages. Instead of taking action against drug traffickers, the administration subjected him to relentless harassment, which ultimately drove him to suicide. Despite the Finance Minister being explicitly named in the dying declaration, no legal action or accountability has been fixed so far, leaving the victim's family running from pillar to post for justice.
The Congress leadership also strongly raised the issue of brutal police torture inflicted on Mohanjeet, who was subjected to inhuman cruelty merely for showing black flags during a peaceful, democratic protest. Leaders cited this as clear evidence of an authoritarian regime under AAP rule.
Targeting the ruling party directly over law and order, AICC SC Department Chairman Rajendra Pal Gautam said that AAP came to power in 2022 on promises of eradicating drugs and transforming traditional politics within months. He remarked that during its tenure in Delhi, AAP evaded accountability for law and order under the pretext of not having full statehood, however, in Punjab, despite having full control over the police, the drug trade has spiraled out of control. Gautam questioned how drugs could spread to every village and even circulate openly inside Punjab’s jails without direct political and administrative patronage.
Exposing AAP’s governance record in the national capital, Gautam stated that during its decade-long rule in Delhi, the party systematically dismantled the social welfare framework designed for SC, ST, and minority communities. He revealed that Delhi’s only residential school for Dalit children, established in 2013, was shut down during 2023-24 under AAP.
Furthermore, two major hostels for SC/ST students in Sanskar Ashram Nehru Boys Hostel and Kamla Nehru Girls Hostel with a capacity of 100 students were closed in 2023.
Gautam also highlighted that the Delhi SC/ST/OBC/Minority and Handicapped Financial and Development Corporation, which provided subsidized, low-interest loans to marginalized youth to start businesses, has been completely non-functional since 2023. He added that sanitation workers and contractual employees have still not been regularized, while fees for professional courses once around 60, 000 to 70, 000 have been hiked to 2 lakh to 2.5 lakh, effectively commercializing education on the lines of the BJP.
Announcing a statewide agitation, Congress leaders declared that the party will take out a massive protest march on Tuesday, September 15, to seek justice for Gulzar Singh’s family and hold the government accountable for the rampant spread of drugs. The demonstration will be led by Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot alongside senior state leadership. The party appealed to the people of Punjab to join the march in large numbers to fight against administrative injustice and safeguard the rights of marginalized communities.
The press conference was attended by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, AICC SC Department National Chairman and UP in-charge Rajendra Pal Gautam, Working President Dr. Rajkumar Verka, Punjab Congress SC Department Chairman Gurpreet Singh Lucky Pakho, and Adampur MLA Sukhwinder Singh Kotli.