Archive · 16 Sep 2026
Sachin Pilot Unites Punjab Congress Rivals Against AAP
Sachin Pilot recently became the Congress leader responsible for Punjab.
He visited Chandigarh for a protest against the state government.
Two Congress leaders who have been arguing, Charanjit Singh Channi and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, appeared together.
They said they would work together against the Aam Aadmi Party.
The protest was about the death of Gulzar Singh, a Dalit worker from Sangrur.
Congress leaders alleged that Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema should be investigated and removed.
Pilot said the government should not use police action to silence protesters.
The leaders said their first goal was to unite Congress and try to defeat AAP in the 2027 election.
Sachin Pilot’s first Punjab visit as Congress in-charge brought Charanjit Singh Channi and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring together at a Chandigarh protest.
The leaders temporarily set aside their factional differences and jointly attacked the Aam Aadmi Party government ahead of the 2027 Punjab elections.
The protest demanded Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema’s removal over the alleged suicide of Dalit labourer Gulzar Singh in Sangrur.
Congress leaders accused the Bhagwant Mann government of corruption, mistreating Dalits and mishandling the investigation into Gulzar Singh’s death.
Pilot and senior Congress leaders said unity and defeating AAP were immediate priorities, while the party’s 2027 leadership decision would be left to the high command.
- Who
- Sachin Pilot, Charanjit Singh Channi, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and other Punjab Congress leaders.
- What
- Congress factions publicly displayed unity and attacked the Aam Aadmi Party government at a protest demanding action against Harpal Singh Cheema.
- When
- Tuesday, during Sachin Pilot’s first visit to Punjab after becoming the party’s state in-charge.
- Where
- A protest rally in Chandigarh, concerning the alleged suicide of Gulzar Singh in Sangrur.
- Why
- The rally demanded Cheema’s removal and investigation over allegations linked to Gulzar Singh’s death, while also seeking to unite Congress ahead of the 2027 election.
Congress allegations
Punjab government position
Gulzar Singh investigation
Congress allegations
Congress leaders said Gulzar Singh’s alleged dying declaration named Harpal Singh Cheema, questioned why Cheema was not named in the FIR and demanded investigation, arrest and dismissal.
Punjab government position
The article reports no direct response from the Punjab government to these allegations.
Government performance
Congress allegations
Congress leaders accused the Bhagwant Mann government of corruption, mistreating Dalits, failing farmers and employees, and mishandling the case.
Punjab government position
The article does not provide the Aam Aadmi Party government’s response to these accusations.
Use of police action
Congress allegations
Sachin Pilot warned that police batons or water cannons should not be used to suppress Congress workers or people in Punjab.
Punjab government position
The article does not include a response from the Punjab government regarding the use of police action.
- Congress state in-charge
- Sachin Pilot replaced Bhupesh Baghel as Punjab Congress in-charge.
- Protest demand
- Congress demanded the removal of Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
- Case at issue
- The protest concerned the alleged suicide of Dalit labourer Gulzar Singh in Sangrur.
- Factional unity
- Charanjit Singh Channi and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring shared the stage and promised to fight AAP together.
- Election focus
- Congress leaders said defeating AAP in the 2027 Punjab Assembly election was the immediate priority.
- Leadership decision
- Partap Singh Bajwa said the Congress high command would decide who leads the party into the 2027 polls.