Chandigarh, Sep 10 — Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday condemned the Bhagwant Mann government of forcibly cremating the body of Gulzar Singh, who died of suicide after being allegedly insulted by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, describing it as "criminally callous" and "arrogantly insensitive".
In a statement, Warring said the state government had humiliated Gulzar Singh's family by getting his last rites performed against their wishes.
"Adding insult to injury. Criminally callous, arrogantly insensitive," the State Congress President added, targeting both Cheema and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the incident.
He alleged that Cheema was responsible for the circumstances that led to Gulzar Singh taking his own life.
He also accused CM Mann of being responsible for the forcible cremation of Gulzar Singh's body, saying the family had been subjected to further humiliation at a time of grief.
"First an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Minister Harpal Singh Cheema was the cause for Gulzar Singh's suicide. Now the 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 the incident would have lasting political and social consequences for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government.
"Punjabis in general and the Dalit brotherhood will never forget and never forgive this," Warring added.
He said the treatment meted out to Gulzar Singh's family reflected a serious failure of sensitivity and accountability on the part of the state administration.
On Wednesday, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, demanded justice for the family of Gulzar Singh and called for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.
He also urged CM Mann to seek the resignation of Finance Minister Cheema and ensure that a fair and impartial investigation is conducted, with Cheema's name included in the first information report (FIR).