Just few days ahead of crucial Punjab assembly elections, incumbent Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi was landed in a controversy warning that he will prevent migrants from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi, labeling them as `UP, Bihar ke bhaiye’.
The presence of Congress general secretary and star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi Vadra besides him during this comment and photos that she was clapping with a smile for these comments, has been sending wrong signals to Congress party, particularly in the poll-bound state of Uttar Pradesh.
During a roadshow, calling Priyanka Gnadhi Vadra as the `Punjabi’s daughter-in-law’ and `the bahu of Punjabis’, Channi declared that `Bhaiyas’ from UP and Bihar cannot enter Punjab and rule the state.
He was reportedly referring to leaders of BJP and AAP, who were extensively campaigning in the state. He asserted that “Don’t let UP, Bihar, Delhi ke-bhaiya enter Punjab”.
Both BJP and AAP leaders took no time to condemn his comments and also questioning Priyanka’s face in UP. Union Ministers Smriti Irani and Anurag Thakur deplored that Congress leaders are `insulting’ people of Uttar Pradesh.
AAP national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Aravind Kejriwal retorted and called the remark as “shameful” and recalled how earlier Channi had called him as `Kala (black)’. “The comments are really shameful. We strongly condemn comments aimed at any individual or any particular community. He also calls me `Kala (black)’, he added.
Terming these remarks as disgusting and shameful, Union Minister Smriti Irani said the BJP united the people, but the Congress divided them. Addressing an election meeting in Hadiyaabad suburb in support of party candidate Vijay Sampla in the evening, the Women and Child Development Minister said Channi’s statement was against the spirit of Indianness and aimed at breaking the society.
Disappointed by Channi’s low blow at citizens of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Delhi, Minister of industries of Bihar Shahnawaz Hussain issued a warning. “It won’t be tolerated,” he said,
BJP IT cell convenor Amit Malviya tweeting the video asked “The Chief Minister of Punjab humiliating the people of UP and Bihar from the stage with Priyanka. Vadra is laughing, clapping beside him. Is this how Congress will develop UP and the Countyr” By making people fight among themselves?”
