The Congress on Thursday distanced itself from Lok Sabha member Charanjit Singh Channi’s support for controversial MP Amritpal Singh, saying the former’s comments do not reflect the party’s viewpoint.
“Charanjit Singh Channi, MP’s views on Amritpal Singh are his own and do not reflect the position of the Indian National Congress,” posted senior Congress politician Jairam Ramesh on X (Initially Twitter).
Channi said on Thursday that the imprisonment of an elected MP under the NSA was part of the Centre’s “undeclared emergency,” prompting a harsh response from the BJP.
“This is also an emergency that a Member of Parliament elected by 20 lakh people in Punjab has been detained under the NSA (National Security Act) … He is unable to speak about his constituency here (in Parliament). This is also an emergency,” stated Channi.
Though Channi did not identify anyone, the BJP said he was referring to the Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, who won the Lok Sabha elections from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib constituency by almost 2 lakh votes.
Shehzad Poonawalla, a BJP spokeswoman, blasted Channi, alleging that the ideology of Khalistan was behind the death of Rahul Gandhi’s grandmother, late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
“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?” he added.
Union minister Giriraj Singh described Congress MP Channi’s statements as “unfortunate”.
“The Khalistani who assassinated Indira Gandhi has received open support from Channi today, which means the Congress is siding with the Khalistanis. This is an attack on the integrity of India…what can I say, I will say action should be taken,” he stated.
BJP MP Ravneet Singh Bittu accused Charanjit Singh Channi of behaving like a traitor recently.