Sangrur (Gurpreet Singh): Tensions flared in Punjab’s Sangrur district on Thursday after local residents prevented Bharatiya Janata Party leaders from entering Toor Banjara village following the death of a Dalit resident, Gulzar Singh. The confrontation escalated rapidly when a delegation led by Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon arrived at the village, prompting an angry response from the local community. Demonstrators surrounded the visiting politicians, chanting slogans against their presence and forcing the delegation to turn back before reaching the bereaved household.
The incident quickly ignited a sharp political exchange between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the opposition BJP. Senior AAP leader and Punjab affairs in-charge Manish Sisodia took to social media to denounce the visit, asserting that the local residents had firmly rejected what he characterized as an attempt to exploit personal tragedy for political mileage. Sisodia stated that the villagers held up a mirror to the BJP leadership by refusing entry to Dhillon and making it clear that opportunistic posturing would find no quarter in rural Punjab.
Echoing these remarks, Punjab Cabinet Minister Dr Balbir Singh heavily criticized the visiting delegation for showing a lack of genuine empathy toward the grieving family. According to Dr Balbir Singh, the opposition leaders arrived without any regard for the family’s sorrow, seeking only to create a spectacle around an unfortunate loss of life. He emphasized that the public immediately saw through the manoeuvre and demonstrated that turning tragedy into political theatre is unacceptable to the electorate.
Dr Balbir Singh further warned state BJP figures, including Kewal Singh Dhillon, Ashwani Sharma, Sunil Jakhar, and Manpreet Badal, that the state has historically rejected leaders who capitalise on death and suffering. He questioned the moral authority of those seeking political gain during times of intense family hardship, maintaining that such actions run counter to the ethical standards expected by the public. Local authorities continue to monitor the area closely to ensure peace and order remain intact across the district.
