New Delhi: Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi unleashed a massive controversy today in the Lok Sabha by citing the case of jailed Khadoor MP Amritpal Singh to compare the BJP rule to Emergency. Although his remark was expunged from the records, it drew a sharp rebuttal from the BJP, which questioned if the Congress was now backing Khalistan sympathizers despite the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala posted a scathing message on social media, criticizing Channi and the Congress party. “Congress MP and Former Punjab CM Channi bats for radical pro-Khalistan separatist Amritpal Singh. Is this Jai Sanvidhan? Batting for separatist who wants tukde tukde of India? Rahul ji must answer – the idea of Khalistan that caused the assassination of PM Indira ji is being hailed!! Why does Congress always bat for separatists and terrorists? Yakub Afzal 26/11 jihadis Now K Terrorists?” his post read.
The Congress quickly distanced itself from Channi’s comments. “The views expressed by Charanjit Singh Channi, MP on Amritpal Singh are his own, and do not reflect in any way the position of the Indian National Congress,” the party’s media in-charge Jairam Ramesh posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Amritpal Singh, accused of being a Khalistan sympathizer, was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA). Despite being in jail, he contested the recent Lok Sabha election and won from Khadoor by four lakh votes.
Union minister Giriraj Singh described Channi’s remarks as “unfortunate.” “On Channi’s statement, I would only say that Indira Gandhi’s assassin was a Khalistani and Congress is supporting Khalistani. Waah re Congress, Jai Channi. This is an attack on India’s sovereignty. Action should be taken on this…Congress ka haath, Khalistanion ke saath,” he told reporters outside parliament.
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma demanded that the Congress expel Channi, alleging that he was “working at the behest of anti-national elements from Canada.” He stated, “The Congress should expel him, and if Congress doesn’t take action against him, it means that somewhere Congress is in cahoots with these anti-social and anti-national elements.”
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also distanced himself from the comment, asserting that it was Channi’s “personal opinion” while subtly criticizing the Congress party’s internal discord. “The Congress should decide their stand. Half the Congress is not in tune. To maintain law and order we will take action. I am not a custodian of one MP. I am the custodian of people of Punjab,” he remarked.
