Congress On Defensive After BJP Attack Over Former Punjab CM Channi Backing Pro-Khalistan Amritpal In Parliament

Congress appeared on defensive after its MP and former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Banni backed pro-Khalistan radical preacher Amritpal Singh.

Speaking in the Parliament on Thursday (25 July), Channi said that the detention of an elected MP under the NSA was part of an "undeclared emergency" by the Centre, drawing a sharp 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," said Channi, Hindustan Times reported.

Though Channi didn't name anyone, the BJP alleged he was speaking about the controversial Khalistani preacher Amritpal Singh.

The pro-Khalistan preacher Amritpal, who was elected from Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha in the recently held general elections, was arrested last year and is lodged in a jail in Assam under the NSA.

Following Channi's statement, BJP launched an all out offensive on Congress.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla slammed Channi, saying the idea of Khalistan was behind the murder of Rahul Gandhi's grandmother, late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

"Why does Congress always bat for separatists and terrorists? Yakub, Afzal, 26/11 jihadis, now K terrorists?" he said.

BJP MP Dinesh Sharma demanded that Channi be expelled by the Congress.

BJP MP Ravneet Singh Bittu said Charanjit Singh Channi had lately been behaving like a traitor.

Following the BJP attack, Congress distanced itself from Channi's remarks.

"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," said party leader Jairam Ramesh on X.

Slamming Ramesh's statement, BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari said that the Congress was trying to divert attention from the matter to please its vote bank.

"Channi is a MP & former CM, technically as senior as you. This statement should come from a higher authority; Congress President. Secondly, You could not even condemn the statement, which clears that it's nothing but a technique to divert attention for vote bank," Bhandari said.

Also Read: Indian-Origin Astronaut Sunita Williams Marks 50 Days In Space, Does 'Gardening' Amid Boeing Starliner Setbacks