A political row erupted on Tuesday after BJP Rajya Sabha MP Harbhajan Singh shared a viral video showing two men appearing to stand motionless on a roadside and used it to highlight Punjab's drug problem.
Singh described the situation as evidence of the state being “besieged by addictions”. However, Punjab Police later clarified that the video was not filmed in Punjab. According to the police, it was recorded in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan.
The video had also been widely circulated online with claims that the men were under the influence of a so-called “zombie drug”. There is, however, no confirmation that either man was using such a substance.
What Harbhajan Singh said
Sharing the clip on X, Singh said the situation in Punjab was “very sad” and called for urgent action to tackle addiction.
“Very sad to see the situation of Punjab. Punjab and its youth deserve better. This issue needs honesty, accountability, and urgent action—not denial,” he said.
In another post, Singh blamed successive governments for the situation and urged people to act.
“The evil eye has struck, my friend, on our Punjab. The governments have ruined Punjab and its Punjabi youth. It makes me want to cry seeing all this. Forgive my Punjab... Excuse Punjab,” he wrote.
He further said, “Where have they brought Punjab to? The Punjab that was once known for its rising fortunes, courage, and bravery—today, that same Punjab's youth is besieged by addictions. There's still time—save my Punjab. Save Punjab's youth.”
Punjab Police calls out video location
Punjab Police responded to the post, saying the footage was from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan and had no connection with the Punjab Police.
The force also pointed out that adding Punjabi music to a video does not establish its location.
“A Punjabi audio track does not make an incident a Punjab incident. We urge users and social media accounts to verify the facts and location before posting misleading content or tagging Punjab Police,” it wrote on X.
The police also tagged Singh and added, “Responsible sharing matters.”
Kejriwal, Punjab ministers hit back
AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of spreading false information and questioned whether the claim had come from the PMO.
“Many BJP people spread this lie together yesterday. Did the order come from the PMO? Does the PMO spread lies in the country?”
Punjab Cabinet minister Baljit Kaur also criticised Singh, accusing him of sharing a Rajasthan video while portraying it as a Punjab incident.
“Look at the desperation to please his political bosses. He is sharing a video from Rajasthan and lying that it is from Punjab. You will do anything for BJP ki dalali, even if it means ruining Punjab's image. The people of Punjab will never forgive you for this,” she wrote.
Punjab minister Harbhajan Singh ETO called it the “BJP’s standard modus operandi” and accused the party of trying to defame Punjab.
What the viral video shows
The footage shows two turbaned men standing hunched over and apparently struggling to move. While social media users linked the clip to drug use, there is no confirmation that the men were under the influence of any particular substance.
The location, however, was identified by Punjab Police as Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, not Punjab.