Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has accused former cricketer and Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh of conspiracy after the MP shared a video showing two drug addicts. Cheema says the video was not shot in Punjab at all.
According to the original story, Cheema stated that the video, shared by Harbhajan Singh "Bhajji", was found to have been shot in Sri Ganganagar district of Rajasthan — not in Punjab. The minister's remarks come as a direct rebuttal to the MP's social media post, which showed two turban-wearing youth and appeared to highlight the drug problem in Punjab.
Cheema's Conspiracy Accusation Against Harbhajan Singh
Cheema did not hold back in his criticism of Harbhajan Singh, who switched his loyalty from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier this year. The Finance Minister reminded the public that it was AAP that recognized Harbhajan's contribution to the state and sent him to the Rajya Sabha.
"We thus sent him to represent the AAP and its political ideology in the Upper House in Parliament. But it is shocking that after joining the BJP, he is doing exactly the opposite," Cheema said, reacting to the video shared by the MP.
"It is shocking that after joining the BJP, he is doing exactly the opposite." — Harpal Singh Cheema, Punjab Finance Minister
The minister's accusation of "conspiracy" suggests he believes the video was deliberately used to mislead the public about the situation in Punjab. By pointing out that the video was shot in Rajasthan, Cheema is challenging the narrative that Harbhajan Singh tried to create.
Drugs Pushed into Punjab from Gujarat, Claims Cheema
In a significant statement, Cheema also claimed that drugs are being pushed into Punjab from Gujarat. This adds a new dimension to the ongoing political debate over the drug crisis in the state.
The minister's comments come at a time when the drug issue has become a major political flashpoint in Punjab. The "zombie drug" video row has intensified the debate, with political rivals trading accusations over who is responsible for the state's drug problem.
Harbhajan Singh, who posted the video on his social media late last night, has been vocal about the drug menace affecting the state's youth. His move to highlight the issue through the video appears to be part of a broader campaign to draw attention to the problem.
Political Fallout of the Zombie Drug Video Row
The video row has now become a political battleground. Cheema's response indicates that the AAP government in Punjab is pushing back against what it sees as a coordinated effort to damage the state's image.
The minister's claim that the video was shot in Rajasthan is a key point — if true, it would undermine Harbhajan Singh's message and suggest that the MP was either misinformed or deliberately spreading false information about Punjab.
This is not just about one video. The row reflects the deeper political rivalry between AAP and BJP in Punjab, with Harbhajan Singh's defection adding personal bitterness to the conflict. The former cricketer was once seen as a role model for Punjabi youth by AAP, and his switch to BJP has clearly angered his former colleagues.
Our Take: A Distraction from the Real Drug Crisis
To put it plainly, this video row is becoming a distraction from the real issue. Whether the video was shot in Punjab or Rajasthan, the drug problem in the state is real and serious. Both sides are using this video to score political points instead of focusing on solutions.
Cheema's accusation of conspiracy may have merit — the location of the video is a factual question that can be verified. But even if the video was shot elsewhere, it does not erase the fact that Punjab has a drug crisis that needs urgent attention.
Harbhajan Singh, for his part, should have verified the video's location before sharing it. As a public figure and a Rajya Sabha MP, he has a responsibility to share accurate information. If the video was indeed from Rajasthan, his credibility takes a hit.
The bigger question for readers is this: why are our leaders fighting over a video instead of fighting the drug problem? The people of Punjab deserve action, not accusations. Both the AAP government and the opposition need to move beyond this row and address the root causes of drug addiction in the state.
In our view, the "zombie drug" video row is a symptom of a broken political discourse. The real story is the drug crisis itself, and that is where the focus should remain.
