Archive · 11 Aug 2026
Punjab Minister Cheema Says Harbhajan Video Defames State
A famous cricket player named Harbhajan Singh shared a video on the internet.
A minister from Punjab, Harpal Singh Cheema, said the video was not really from Punjab at all.
He said it was actually from a place called Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan.
The minister felt disappointed because he thought Harbhajan was trying to make Punjab look bad.
He said Harbhajan should use his fame to help young people in Punjab instead of sharing misleading videos.
The minister also said the Punjab Police checked the video and confirmed it came from another state.
He accused a political party called the BJP of spreading fake stories about Punjab.
He talked about the government's special campaign to stop drugs.
He said drugs became a big problem in Punjab during an earlier government's time.
The government is building many sports stadiums so kids can play sports and stay away from drugs.
Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema criticized former Indian cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh for sharing a video he linked to Punjab.
Cheema said Punjab Police traced the video and found it was actually from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, not Punjab.
Cheema accused Harbhajan Singh of amplifying BJP propaganda, saying the party's "IT machinery" presents videos from other states as incidents from Punjab.
Cheema alleged the BJP was trying to undermine the Bhagwant Mann government's 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh' anti-drug campaign and said drugs surged during the 2007-2017 SAD-BJP rule.
Cheema said more than 3,000 sports stadiums have been built in Punjab and 6,000 more are being developed to keep youth away from drugs.
- Who
- Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema criticized former Indian cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh.
- What
- Harbhajan Singh shared a video that Cheema says was from Rajasthan but falsely linked to Punjab to defame the state and its youth.
- When
- The minister made his remarks on Tuesday.
- Where
- Cheema spoke to the media in Chandigarh; the video was traced to Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan.
- Why
- Cheema alleges the video was an attempt to defame Punjab and its youth and to undermine the government's anti-drug campaign progress.
- Accused
- Harbhajan Singh, former Indian cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP
- Accuser
- Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema
- Video origin
- Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan (traced by Punjab Police)
- Allegation
- Sharing misleading content to tarnish Punjab's image
- Anti-drug campaign
- 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh'
- Sports stadiums built
- More than 3,000; 6,000 more under development
- Drugs escalation period
- 2007-2017 under SAD-BJP government (per Cheema)