Chandigarh: A political controversy has erupted in Punjab's Sangrur district after the Namol incident, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accusing opposition leaders of using the matter for political attacks against the state government.
Punjab Cabinet Minister and AAP state president Aman Arora on Monday alleged that the incident was being turned into a political issue without checking the facts on the ground. He claimed that village panchayats, gurdwara committees, farmer groups and local residents of Namol had collectively taken a stand against drug sales in the area.
Addressing a press conference, Arora questioned the support extended by opposition leaders to Jagga Singh, who allegedly consumed a poisonous substance outside the Sangrur Deputy Commissioner's office and was later admitted to a hospital.
AAP Raises Questions Over Opposition Statements
Arora claimed that several criminal cases have been registered against Jagga Singh since 2018, including allegations related to drugs, excise violations and rape. He further claimed that convictions were recorded in some cases. The AAP leader accused opposition parties of making statements without understanding the village situation and alleged that the incident was being used to target the Punjab government politically.
He said several opposition leaders had publicly supported Singh and accused the village panchayat and police of ignoring the drug issue.
Political War Over Sangrur Incident Intensifies
The controversy intensified after leaders from various opposition parties reacted to the incident and raised questions about the government's action against drugs in Punjab. Arora named several opposition figures who had commented on the matter and challenged them to visit Namol village and repeat their allegations in front of local residents.
He said leaders making claims about the incident should first listen to the villagers and understand the local situation before reaching conclusions.
Punjab Government Highlights Anti-Drug Drive
Arora also highlighted the state government's anti-drug initiative, 'Yudh Nashean Virudh', stating that the campaign includes Village Defense Committees and night patrols at the village level.
Other Punjab ministers, including Harpal Singh Cheema, Ravjot Singh and Hardeep Singh Mundian also urged political leaders to consider the villagers' version before commenting on the controversy.
The incident has triggered a fresh political debate in Punjab, with both the ruling AAP and opposition parties trading allegations over the handling of drug-related issues in the state.