Just before Punjab goes to the polls, another controversy has been stirred up by incumbent Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Channi has stoked controversy by saying “we will not let bhhaiyas from UP, Bihar and Delhi to come here and rule.” Priyanka Gandhi was seen applauding the statement. Channi made offensive remarks against people of the Hindi heartland. In his failed attempt Channi tried to create a divide between the Punjabis and people of UP, Bihar and Punjab.
Read More: What if Congress never existed?
BJP has been targeting the Congress ever since they ignored Sunil Jakhar’s candidature for the CM post of Punjab in order to give priority to ‘a Dalit Sikh face.’ The tussle grew intense after PM’s security lapse. BJP claims that the grand old party has been trying to divide on basis of communal lines and get benefit from it. And after this offensive address to the people of the Hindi heartland, Congress has given the BJP yet another opportunity.
Read More: What happened to PM Modi in Punjab was not a security lapse, it was a planned assassination attempt
Charanjit Singh Channi: The Incumbent CM
Charanjit Singh Channi was brought in after Captain Amarinder Singh was forced to resign. The Congress Party against its traditional style has declared CM Channi as the Chief Minister candidate for the upcoming Punjab Assembly Elections.
He has been surrounded with controversies from the day he sat on the CM’s chair. Congress is betting on his short tenure of 3-4 months and has been discrediting Captain and the work he did during his tenure as the CM of the border state.
Congress top brass has been seen targeting Captain Amarinder and his tenure in order to glorify Channi. But the potential of CM Channi came into question, the day PM Narendra Modi’s security was compromised in the border state.
Channi disrespects the people of UP & Bihar
On Wednesday, during a roadshow in Rupnagar, Channi made some controversial remarks against the people belonging to the Hindi Heartland i.e., Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
While addressing the public during the roadshow, he referred to the people of UP and Bihar as ‘bhhaiyas’. The term ‘bhaiya’ is an offensive remark, used to refer to people of Bihar and UP.
Channi was accompanied by Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, where he said that “Priyanka Gandhi is Punjab’s daughter-in-law, she is the bahu of Punjabis. Bhaiyas from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi cannot come here and rule. We will not allow UP bhaiyas to stray into Punjab.”
While he was referring to the people of UP and Bihar as ‘bhaiyas’ Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen clapping and smiling in the roadshow. Priyanka Gandhi’s behaviour implies that she approved the statement and intentions of Channi, hence she was applauding.
Congress: A party with dual character
While these offensive remarks were being made by Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi, Priyanka Gandhi, who calls herself the ‘Beti of Uttar Pradesh’ was smiling and applauding. Now, the question arises, how the so-called ‘beti of UP’ could tolerate such humiliating remarks hurled at the maternal side of her family.
Congress has its roots in Uttar Pradesh, the people of Uttar Pradesh have been traditional voters of the Congress. Congress cannot write its ‘tainted’ history without the mention of Prayagraj, Amethi and Rae Bareilly. Almost everyone belonging to the Nehru-Gandhi family has contested and won from constituencies of Uttar Pradesh. Currently, Sonia Gandhi is a Member of Parliament from Rae Bareilly. Rahul Gandhi used to represent Amethi before he lost to Smriti Irani in 2019. Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi too have reached the Parliament from UP.
BJP takes a dig at the Congress
BJP has been targeting and unveiling the Congress after Channi’s controversial remark. There is the outrage over Twitter after this remark.
The video was shared by BJP IT Cell Chief Amit Malviya, where he wrote, “When the CM of Punjab insults people of UP, Bihar, Priyanka Vadra stands by him, smiles and applauds. This is how Congress will develop UP and the country? It is making people fight among themselves.”
मंच से पंजाब के मुख्यमंत्री यूपी, बिहार वालों को अपमानित करते हैं और प्रियंका वाड्रा बगल में खड़े हो कर हंस रही है, तालियाँ बजा रही हैं…
ऐसे करेगी कांग्रेस यूपी और देश का विकास? लोगों को आपस में लड़ा कर? pic.twitter.com/h6TtmvqgZQ
— Amit Malviya (मोदी का परिवार) (@amitmalviya) February 16, 2022
Famous Bhojpuri Actor- Singer turned Politician Manoj Tiwari also posted a video targeting Congress. He slammed both Channi and Priyanka Gandhi and asked how she will now campaign and ask for votes in Uttar Pradesh.
मेरा संदेश पंजाब के मुख्यमंत्री @CHARANJITCHANNI जी व कोंग्रेस की मालकिन-UP की प्रभारी @priyankagandhi जी के लिए.. pic.twitter.com/RCv97wsbtu
— Manoj Tiwari (मोदी का परिवार) 🇮🇳 (@ManojTiwariMP) February 16, 2022
Yuva Leader Tejasvi Surya was also among the ones who hit back at Channi and Priyanka Gandhi. Surya in his tweet wrote, “Priyanka Vadra goes to Uttar Pradesh and calls herself UP ki beti (daughter of UP). And when UP-Bihar people are insulted in Punjab, she claps. This is her double face.”
प्रियंका वाड्रा जी उत्तर प्रदेश में आ कर अपने को यूपी की बेटी बताती है और पंजाब में उत्तर प्रदेश-बिहार के लोगो के अपमान पर ताली बजाती है , ये ही इनका दोहरा चरित्र है और चेहरा भी । pic.twitter.com/IJN4W0wmBV
— Tejasvi Surya (ಮೋದಿಯ ಪರಿವಾರ) (@Tejasvi_Surya) February 16, 2022
India is in no mood to give any space to faulty communal lines drawn by political parties like Congress to seek temporary benefits. And a lady like Priyanka Gandhi Vadra who is the so-called ‘Beti’ of UP and ‘Bahu’ of Punjab should understand this.
