"Behaving like a traitor": BJP lashes out at Punjab former CM Channi for supporting Amritpal

New Delhi [India], July 25 (ANI): Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi's remarks on controversial Khadoor Sahib MP, Amritpal Singh during the debate on Union Budget in the Lok Sabha triggered a political uproar with Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu accusing the former Punjab chief minister of behaving like a "traitor"
The Congress at once distanced itself from Lok Sabha member Charanjit Singh Channi's remark backing controversial MP Amritpal Singh, saying the former's views don't reflect the position of the party.
Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh clarified that his statement does not reflect the position of the party in any way.
Taking it to a social media post on X, Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh wrote, "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."
Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu said, "A former CM is behaving like a traitor and is misleading the entire country through the House. He said that the NSA has been slapped on farmers. But who has it been actually slapped on - on those who wanted to break the country and Punjab. He said that NSA has been invoked against farmers and this is absolutely incorrect."
"An ex-CM has spoken about breaking the country and Punjab. Congress and Rahul Gandhi were sitting before him and making him say it. When we told him to bring evidence to the Floor of the House, he went on backfoot and had no reply. Congress party and the entire INDI Alliance are ashamed due to him," Ravneet Singh Bittu added.
Congress Lok Sabha MP and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi alleged that there is "undeclared emergency" under BJP-led government's rule and noted that "free speech" of the Waris Punjab De chief and Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha MP Amritpal Singh who is in jail is being curbed by invoking the National Security Act against him.
Speaking during the debate on the Budget 2024, Charanjit Singh Channi said, "They (BJP) speak about Emergency every day. But what about the undeclared Emergency in the country today?...This too is Emergency that a man who was elected as an MP by 20 lakh people in Punjab is behind bars under the NSA. He is unable to present the views of the people of his constituency, here. This too is Emergency."
He made a scathing attack at the BJP led-NDA government and alleged that there is an undeclared emergency in the nation while stating that Sidhu Moose Wala, one of the famous singers of the nation was killed and justice has not delivered to his family.
Channi said, "Today in the country, a financial emergency-like condition is emerging and the BJP is responsible for that. They talk about the 1975 emergency but about today's undeclared emergency in the country? It is also an emergency that Sidhu Moose Wala, one of the famous singers of the nation was killed and justice has not given to his family."
AFter coming out of the Parliament,Charanjit Singh Channi said, "I spoke about the poor, the farmers that how promise on MSP to farmers is not being delivered. I spoke about the entire Budget, about the situation in the country and the manner in which the country is sinking financially."
On Amritpal Singh, he says, "I said inside (the House)."
Elaborating about the issues which are evident and due to which he is calling an "imposition of undeclared emergency" in the country, Charanjit Singh Channi said, "It is also an emergency when central agencies work against opposition leaders. It is also an emergency when farmers are declared as Khalistani when they ask for their rights. A concrete barricading has been created to stop them so they cannot arrive in Delhi. This is also an emergency. It is also an emergency that Manipur which has been constantly burning for the last 1.5-2 years is left in the plight condition. It is also an emergency that students who have been protesting for their rights have been declared anti-nationalists?"
Taking a jibe at Channi, Union Minister and BJP MP Giriraj Singh said that the person who assassinated former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was a Khalistani and the Congress is supporting the assassin.
"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," Giriraj said.
Slamming Channi for his remarks of an "undeclared emergency", Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, asked him whether he know what an emergency actually is and slammed him for advocating for Amritpal Singh.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said, "This issue is in court. Serious allegations are against him (Amritpal Singh). It's not right to talk about it in the Parliament. It's before the people, what Congress has done. He (Charanjit Singh Channi) was not there during the Emergency, so he didn't know what was the condition then. Today, they keep commenting over the PM, was it possible to make such comments over Indira Gandhi, during the Emergency?"
BJP leader RP Singh questioned Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge if he wanted to support the members who wants to divide the nation.
RP Singh said, "This is the same Congress that nurtured Bhindranwale and divided Punjab to win the elections. Today, they are supporting Amritpal Singh. If a person has murdered someone, shouldn't he be jailed? This is only for the vote bank, as elections are approaching in Punjab. Rahul Gandhi and Amritpal Singh have said India is a "union of states", which means they both have the same thinking. Kharge Ji needs to answer if his party is standing with the members who want to divide the nation."
BJP MP Brijmohan Agrawal also attacked Charanjit Singh Channi for his remarks and said, "Those who do not want the country's progress, those who want to protect people who create terror in the country - he has come to the Parliament for country's development, he has taken an oath of the Constitution. So, those who advocate such people do not work in national interest and this is highly condemnable."
Reacting to Channi's statement, Punjab Congress chief and MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said, "I have not heard the complete statement but I would like to say that due facilities as per the Constitution should be provided to every elected individual (MP) - be it me, or Amritpal or anyone else. Nobody has the right to violate laws - be it anybody. So, I have been saying from the first day that there should be no injustice to anyone as per the Constitution - be it anyone." (ANI)