In a heated session of the Lok Sabha on Thursday, Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi triggered a political uproar with his allegations against the BJP-led Central government. Channi claimed that the government has severely restricted the freedom of speech of Amritpal Singh, the controversial MP from Khadoor Sahib, effectively imposing an “undeclared Emergency” in the country.
Channi’s statement drew sharp reactions from BJP leaders, particularly from MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, who accused the former Punjab chief minister of acting like a traitor. “A former CM is behaving like a traitor and is misleading the entire country through the House,” Bittu said, adding that Channi’s remarks about the National Security Act (NSA) being used against farmers were incorrect and inflammatory. “An ex-CM has spoken about breaking the country and Punjab. Congress and Rahul Gandhi were sitting before him and making him say it,” Bittu continued, expressing the BJP’s strong condemnation of Channi’s comments.
BJP MP Dinesh Sharma also weighed in, asserting that Channi’s comments were in support of terrorists and calling for his expulsion from the Congress party. “Charanjit Singh Channi is speaking in support of terrorists and is working on the instructions of some anti-national elements in Canada. Congress should expel him. If Congress fails to act against him, then it means that they are also affiliated with such anti-national people,” Sharma declared.
During the debate on the Budget, Channi had accused the BJP government of imposing an undeclared emergency, citing the arrest of Amritpal Singh under the NSA as an example. “This too is the 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 an Emergency,” Channi stated.
Channi also claimed that farmers were being labeled as Khalistani when they demanded their rights, further inflaming the debate. His remarks prompted a response from Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, who pointed out that the matter involving Amritpal Singh is sub-judice and not appropriate for parliamentary discussion. “This issue is in court. Serious allegations are against him (Amritpal Singh). It’s not right to talk about it in the Parliament,” Joshi said, criticizing Channi’s understanding of historical contexts of the Emergency.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh took the criticism a step further, accusing the Congress of supporting pro-Khalistan elements. “On Channi’s statement, I would only say that Indira Gandhi’s assassin was a Khalistani and the Congress is supporting Khalistanis. Waah re Congress, Jai Channi. This is an attack on India’s sovereignty,” Singh proclaimed, calling for action against Channi and condemning the Congress party’s stance.