Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi sparked controversy today by comparing the BJP rule to the Emergency using the case of jailed Khadoor MP Amritpal Singh in the Lok Sabha. His remarks, which were removed from the Lok Sabha records, drew strong backlash from the BJP, accusing the Congress of supporting Khalistan sympathizers despite the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala took to social media with a sharp rebuke, “Congress MP and Former Punjab CM Channi bats for radical pro-Khalistan separatist Amritpal Singh. Is this Jai Sanvidhan? Batting for a separatist who wants to divide 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.
Amritpal Singh, accused of being a Khalistan sympathiser, was arrested under the National Security Act (NSA). He contested the recent Lok Sabha election from jail and won the Khadoor seat by four lakh votes.
BJP leaders expressed their outrage over Channi’s comments. Union Minister Giriraj Singh called the remarks “unfortunate” and accused the Congress of supporting Khalistanis. “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 Channi’s expulsion from the Congress, 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 Channi’s comment, stating it was Channi’s “personal opinion.” However, he added a critique of the Congress, saying, “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.”
