A Congress activist identified as Kamaldeep Singh, who raised slogans in support of former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi during a party event in Bathinda district, is now facing criminal charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and for allegedly abetting a suicide attempt.
The Chenab Times has learned that Kamaldeep Singh of Fatehpur village in Mansa district was identified as the individual who shouted pro-Channi slogans from the stage during the Congress’s ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ programme on Monday. The event was attended by AICC general secretary in-charge for Punjab, Bhupesh Baghel, and Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.
Sukhpal Singh, the Numberdar of Fatehpur village and father of the 23-year-old activist, has asserted that both cases filed against his son are false. He told The Tribune on Tuesday that his son was booked under the NDPS Act at Talwandi Sabo police station in May of the previous year. According to Sukhpal Singh, police allegedly planted 506 grams of heroin on his son and others while they were en route to Bathinda. He further stated that approximately two months ago, Kamaldeep Singh was also booked by the Jhunir police in Mansa district in a case related to allegedly abetting a person to attempt suicide. Sukhpal Singh added that this latter case is currently at the cancellation stage.
Kamaldeep Singh is reportedly out on bail. His father emphasized the family’s standing in the village, mentioning they own a textile shop in Jhunir, Mansa, and have a long association with the Congress party. He noted that his own father had served as the village sarpanch for several years.
Sukhpal Singh acknowledged that his son is a supporter of Bikram Singh Mofar, though he admitted there had been past differences between them. He expressed his belief that Kamaldeep Singh had done nothing wrong by raising slogans for Channi during the party gathering in Bathinda.
Sukhpal Singh also claimed that his son had attended a similar Congress event in Mansa on Sunday. He alleged that Kamaldeep Singh was merely advising some individuals not to engage in arguments, but this action is now being misrepresented as if he were involved in a dispute with Channi’s supporters.
Mandar Singh, the sarpanch of Fatehpur village, stated that Kamaldeep Singh’s family has a good reputation within the village. However, he declined to comment on the specific criminal cases registered against Kamaldeep Singh.
The incident of sloganeering occurred on Monday when a section of Congress workers seated near the stage began raising slogans favouring Charanjit Singh Channi. In response, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring acknowledged the slogans and invited Kamaldeep Singh to the stage to voice his support for Channi from there.
Following this, Warring asked Kamaldeep Singh to call Channi’s phone number in front of the gathering. After two attempts to connect failed, Warring offered his personal mobile number to the young activist, assuring him that he could contact him whenever needed. This episode highlights the ongoing factionalism within the Punjab Congress, with supporters of different leaders, including Channi and Warring, raising rival slogans at various party programmes across the state in recent times.
The Chenab Times News Desk