New Delhi:
Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi today sparked a huge controversy by citing the case of jailed Khadoor MP Amritpal Singh in the Lok Sabha to compare the BJP rule to the Emergency. Though his remark was scrubbed from the Lok Sabha records, it drew a strong rebuttal from the BJP, which questioned whether the Congress has started supporting Khalistan sympathisers despite the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala posted a scathing message on social media.
“Congress MP and former Punjab CM Channi is fighting for radical pro-Khalistan separatist Amritpal Singh. Is this Jai Sanvidhan? Fighting for separatist who wants tukde tukde from India? Rahul ji must answer – the idea of Khalistan which caused PM Indira ji's murder is praised!! Why does Congress always fight for separatists and terrorists? Yakub Afzal 26/11 jihadists now K Terrorists?” his post read.
Congressman and former Punjab Chief Minister Channi has taken up the cause of radical, pro-Khalistan separatist Amritpal Singh.
Is this Jai Sanvidhan? He is standing up for the separatist who wants the tukde tukde of India?
Rahul ji must answer – the idea of Khalistan which caused the assassination of PM Indira ji is… photo.twitter.com/j1MDq8s8QY
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) July 25, 2024
The Congress has already distanced itself from Mr Channi's remarks. “The views expressed by Charanjit Singh Channi, MP for Amritpal Singh, are his own views and do not in any way reflect the position of the Indian National Congress,” Jairam Ramesh, the party's media in-charge, posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The views expressed by Charanjit Singh Channi, MP on Amritpal Singh are his own views and do not in any way reflect the position of the Indian National Congress.
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 25, 2024
Amritpal Singh — accused of being a Khalistan sympathizer — was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA). He contested the recent Lok Sabha elections from jail and became a Lok Sabha member after defeating Khadoor by four lakh votes.
“The Congress party is now supporting separatist, Khalistani elements? The same Congress party is making tall claims about protecting the Constitution, are they protecting the Constitution by saying this? The person who is behind the assassination of Indira Gandhi, who is talking about dividing the country, you are supporting him today. This is competitive appeasement politics in practice,” Mr. Poonawala also said.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh termed Congress MP Channi's remarks in Parliament as “unfortunate”.
“As far as Channi's statement is concerned, I would just like to say that Indira Gandhi's assassin was a Khalistani and Congress supports Khalistani. How about Congress, Jai Channi. This is an attack on India's sovereignty. Action must be taken against this…The Congress ka haarah, Khalistanion ke saath“, he told reporters outside parliament.
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma demanded that the Congress expel Mr Channi.
Stating that Channi was “working on the orders of anti-national elements from Canada”, he said, “Congress should deport him. If Congress does not take action against him, it means Congress is somewhere in collusion with these anti-social and anti-national elements.”
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also distanced himself from the remark, saying it was Channi's “personal opinion”.
But his remark had a sting in the tail for the INDIA ally Aam Aadmi Party. “Congress has to take its stand. Half of the Congress does not agree with it. To maintain law and order, we will take action. I am not the custodian of one MP. I am the custodian of the people of Punjab,” he said.
