Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is in the eye of the storm once again. A video of his has gone viral on social media platforms in which he is raising a xenophobic pitch against the people of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi.
“Do not let ‘bhaiyye’ from UP, Bihar and Delhi to settle in Punjab. ‘Bhaiyye’ from these states can’t come here and lord over us. Only Punjabi will rule the roost in Punjab,” he said at an election rally.
What is even more surprising is the fact that the Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was present at the rally, cheered Channi’s xenophobic speech. While the Congress leaders – Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka in particular – talk about federalism and respecting regional sentiments, their actions belie their spiel. Instead of reining in their party leaders, they seem to egg them on.
Channi, who is the CM face of the Congress in Punjab, has a penchant for stirring hornet’s nest. Recently, in an interview with The New Indian, he had justified rampant conversions taking place in Punjab. In fact, he had blamed Sikhs for not giving “love” to their own people, which push them to convert to Christianity. His comment had sparked off a row, and a host of Sikh leaders had blasted him for his remarks.
Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shahzad Poonawala posted a video on Twitter to condemn Channi and Priyanka Gandhi.
उत्तर प्रदेश का यह अपमान
divide and rule की गांधी वाड्रा की दुकान
खुल गयी प्रियंका – राहुल की कारस्तान
माफ़ नहीं करेगा हिंदुस्तान pic.twitter.com/10c9NepXEU— Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) February 16, 2022
The assembly elections in Punjab will take place on February 20.
ALSO READ: Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi’s interview with the New Indian