A video by former Ramgarh Bhundar sarpanch Gurbinderjit Singh has triggered a fresh political row in Punjab, with the Opposition accusing the Bhagwant Mann government of using police to silence villagers who allegedly exposed poor-quality road construction in Bathinda’s Maur constituency.
The controversy centres around the newly constructed Kot Bhaiyya-Ramgarh Bhundar road. Villagers had recently circulated videos claiming that the road was poorly built, alleging that soil and gravel had been used and merely covered with a thin layer of material. They claimed the road could deteriorate quickly, particularly after rainfall.
The issue escalated on Sunday when PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO visited the village to inspect the road. According to the former sarpanch, villagers were stopped from reaching the site and were not allowed to meet the minister.
In the video, Gurbinderjit Singh alleged that police personnel entered his house, damaged or removed CCTV cameras and took away the DVR. He further alleged that his children were mistreated and their arms were twisted, while villagers were prevented from raising their concerns. These allegations have not been independently verified.
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia sharply attacked the Mann government, alleging that police action was being used to suppress evidence and intimidate villagers. He questioned why CCTV equipment and mobile phones were allegedly seized if the road construction had been carried out properly.
Majithia also accused Harbhajan Singh ETO of inspecting only the portion of the road where better-quality work had been carried out while allegedly avoiding the damaged stretch highlighted by villagers. He demanded a CBI probe into what he described as the “Ramgarh Bhundar road scam” and said the minister should apologise to Punjabis.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also joined the attack. Posting on X, Warring said, “Don’t shoot the messenger, Bhagwant Mann,” accusing the government of unleashing what he called “brutal retribution” against villagers for exposing poor road work.
He alleged that the episode had exposed the “autocratic and dictatorial face” of the AAP government.
Former Union Minister and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu also questioned the government, asking whether this was the “Badlav” promised by the Mann government. He alleged that poor road construction and claims of corruption had been met with raids, threats and seizure of CCTV DVRs and phones instead of accountability.
The controversy has now moved beyond the condition of a single road, with the opposition turning it into a larger political battle over transparency, police action and the government’s handling of complaints against public works.
Aam Aadmi Party leader Neel Garg said the minister visited the village over the row. He also lashed out at the Opposition, saying that they could raise issues, but they should not conspire against the government.
