Chandigarh, Sep 10 (PTI) The family of Gulzar Singh whose suicide has become a political flashpoint in Punjab on Thursday alleged that his cremation was done by the administration “without their consent”.
The family further said they will not hold the customary ‘bhog’ ceremony and collect ashes until they get justice in the matter.
Gulzar Singh, a 47-year-old from Dirba in Sangrur district, died on Monday night after allegedly consuming poison, with his family claiming he was harassed and subjected to casteist slurs for questioning state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema about the supply of drugs in the area during an event on Sunday.
In a purported video released on Thursday, Gulzar’s son Shahbaz claimed that the cremation of his father was done “forcibly” and that his brother was “misled” into cremating the body.
“We appeal that until justice is done, we will neither hold ‘bhog’ (customary ritual) nor collect his ashes, he said.
Gulzar’s other son, Lakhwinder Singh, also claimed that the administration conducted the cremation without the family’s consent.
The family claimed that the body was taken straight to the cremation ground instead of bringing it to the house for rituals.
The family demanded action should be taken against FM Cheema and all those who were “named” by Singh before he died.
On the day of cremation, Lakhwinder had claimed that his brother would be given a government job and that the family was satisfied with the police action in the matter.
Reacting to Singh’s family claims, BJP MP Tarun Chugh slammed the AAP government, alleging that “the shameful, deceitful, and hideous face of the Aam Aadmi Party has once again been exposed.” “The incompetent officials of Bhagwant Mann claimed that the last rites of Dalit labourer Gulzar Singh were performed with the family’s consent, but the victim’s family alleges that the police forcibly conducted the funeral against their wishes and consent,” said Chugh.
He said the whole Punjab is asking why Cheema has not been sacked yet, and why no case has been registered against Cheema for abetment to suicide.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the AAP government “humiliated” the family by getting his Singh’s rites performed “against their wishes.” “Adding insult to injury. Criminally callous, arrogantly insensitive,” Warring said, targeting both Cheema and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the incident.
The Punjab Congress chief accused Mann of being responsible for the “forcible cremation” of Gulzar’s body, saying the family had been subjected to further humiliation at a time of grief.
“First, an AAP minister Harpal Cheema was the cause for Gulzar Singh’s suicide. Now Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is responsible for humiliating the family by forcibly getting Gulzar Singh cremated against the family’s wishes,” Warring alleged.
He said the incident amounted to “adding insult to a Dalit’s injury” and warned that the incident would have lasting consequences, both political and social, for the ruling AAP government.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal too lashed out at the AAP government over the suicide matter and said, “Gulzar’s family’s consent was not taken for the cremation. It was hurried.” Today, Gulzar’s entire family has exposed @AAPPunjab,” said Badal in a post on X. PTI CHS VSD SKY SKY SKY
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