Chandigarh, Aug 4 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday said that Congress has sidelined its leader Charanjit Singh Channi and alleged that the grand old party is not willing to accept a Dalit or a Backward.
Congress has always done votebank politics. They took vote of poor and backwards, but did nothing for them, Saini said.
During a news conference here, he was asked to comment on infighting in the Punjab Congress unit and various posters which have surfaced in some parts of Punjab which target some senior Congress leaders.
While “Go Back Baghel” poster surfaced in Muktsar, another poster surfaced in Ferozepur showing Channi wearing a vest with “RSS” printed on it.
Baghel is AICC incharge for Punjab.
Channi, a prominent leader of Congress from the Dalit community, is former Punjab chief minister and Congress’ sitting MP from Jalandhar.
Replying to the question, Saini said Congress has appointed Channi as campaign committee chairperson.
“Chhutti kar di,” Saini then said saying Channi has been sidelined by the Congress.
This is Congress’ policy, the Congress is not willing to accept a Backward or a Dalit, Saini further said.
“Consider the person who stood by the Congress during a critical time, someone like Channi, who held his ground for the party when it mattered most, only to be sidelined later,” Saini continued.
The Congress has insulted the Dalit, SC community, Saini said in Channi’s reference, adding that party does not leave opportunity to insult the backward community.
Saini accused the Congress and INDIA bloc parties of double standards, saying what they project is remarkably different from their actual conduct.
“Hathi ke dant dikhane ke aur, khaane ke aur (An elephant has different teeth for eating, and showing)” Saini said, asserting the proverb aptly describes the politics of the opposition parties.
Targeting the AAP-led Punjab government over the paper leak issue, Saini said it was extremely unfortunate, and questioned the “silence” of the Bhagwant Mann dispensation and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
In contrast, he said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has demonstrated his commitment to protecting the future of the country’s youth by enacting a stringent anti-paper leak law.
Taking on Congress, Saini said they should tell country’s youth what Congress did to improve situation of the youth when they ruled.
Over the past few months, Saini has been frequently visiting Punjab and taking part in various party-related, social, religious and other events.
In Punjab, the BJP leader has also attacked both ruling AAP and principal opposition Congress on various fronts and exuded confidence that his party will form its own government after the 2027 assembly polls.
Punjab Congress has been struggling with factionalism, despite repeated assertions by the party leadership that efforts are underway to strengthen organisational unity ahead of the 2027 Punjab elections.
The infighting came to the fore when the Congress leadership on July 1 announced its decision to retain Warring as the state unit chief, and appointed Jalandhar MP Channi as the chairperson of its campaign committee.
On Monday, a poster surfaced in Muktsar with a picture of Baghel having caption “Go Back Baghel” while another poster mentioned “Rahul Gandhi listen to the cry of Punjabis. Bring Channi, let’s form Congress government”.
In some events of the Congress in Punjab under its ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ programme, some supporters of Charanjit Singh Channi have raised slogans in his favour when state Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring was addressing party workers.
A section of leaders led by Channi and another senior leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa have opposed the move of continuation of Warring as the Punjab Congress president and sought his removal from the position.
Following the voices of “dissent” over retaining Warring as the Punjab Congress president, Baghel had earlier visited Punjab and had met party leaders here during his six-day long visit. He is again currently on a ten-day long visit to the poll-bound state.
Though the state party leaders had vowed to work together, the internal rift within the state unit is showing no signs of easing. PTI SUN NB NB
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