CHANDIGARH: A political row has erupted in Punjab after police fact-checked a viral video shared by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh, clarifying that the footage was from Rajasthan and not Punjab.The police clarification soon snowballed into a political confrontation, with AAP leaders accusing the BJP of trying to malign Punjab over its drug problem.The controversy intensified after AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal questioned whether the circulation of the video was part of a coordinated campaign, while Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema accused the BJP of sharing “fake, fabricated and forged videos” to defame Punjab and its youth.
What is the controversy?
Harbhaja Singh earlier had shared a video showing two men apparently in an intoxicated state and expressed concern over the condition of Punjab’s youth and the state’s drug problem.He posted the video with the message, “Nazar lag gayi yaar hamare Punjab ko,” while tagging Punjab Police.However, Punjab Police later clarified that the video was from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, and not Punjab.The police also said the clip had no connection with Punjab Police and cautioned people against assuming the location of an incident based on the language used in a video.The claims about the substance allegedly involved in the video have not been independently verified.
Cheema hits out at BJP, Harbhajan Singh
Speaking at a press conference, Cheema accused the BJP of conspiring against Punjab and said the party was using misleading material to portray the state’s youth negatively.“Today, the BJP is releasing fake, fabricated and forged videos that defame the youth of Punjab,” Cheema said.Referring to Singh’s post, Cheema asked, “Which state is that video from? It is from a state where the BJP is in power.”Cheema also targeted Singh over his political switch, saying that when the AAP government was formed in Punjab, Singh was given an opportunity to represent the state in the Rajya Sabha because of his stature and international recognition.“Harbhajan Singh ji is known across the world. But unfortunately, today, after Harbhajan Singh joined the BJP, he is promoting what we consider to be the BJP’s false policies,” Cheema said.
Kejriwal asks: ‘Did PMO order it?’
Reacting to the police fact-check, Kejriwal accused BJP leaders of collectively spreading a false claim about the video’s location.“Many BJP people spread this lie together yesterday. Did the order come from the PMO? Does the PMO spread lies in the country?” Kejriwal said in a social media post.His remarks added a political dimension to what had initially been a dispute over the authenticity and location of the viral video.
AAP-BJP clash over Punjab’s drug crisis
The controversy comes amid a broader political battle over the drug problem in Punjab.Singh’s original post sought to highlight concerns over drug addiction among the state’s youth, while the AAP has accused the BJP of using misleading social media content to attack Punjab’s image.The latest exchange has therefore turned a viral video into a fresh AAP-BJP confrontation over Punjab’s drug crisis, misinformation and the political narrative surrounding the state’s youth.
