New Delhi: Former Punjab chief minister and Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi came out in support of Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh in Parliament Thursday, saying that keeping the Khadoor Sahib MP behind bars under the National Security Act (NSA) and denying him the opportunity to present the views of his constituency was also an “Emergency”.
Keeping Amritpal behind bars was also an attack on his “freedom of speech”, he added.
“They speak about the Emergency every day. But what about the undeclared Emergency in the country today? This too is Emergency that a famous young singer was killed and till today his family has not got justice. This too is an Emergency that a man who was elected as an MP by 20 lakh people in Punjab is behind bars by slapping NSA…freedom of speech…he is unable to present the views of the people of his constituency, here. This too is an Emergency,” Channi said.
Recounting instances of “undeclared Emergency” in the country, the Congress MP said: “Farmers are called Khalistanis when they put forward their demands. Manipur has been burning for the past 1.5 years. Journalists are put behind bars for asking questions.”
Channi’s comments sparked an uproar in the house, with the BJP demanding answers from the Congress and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress later distanced itself from Channi’s comments. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh posted on X that Channi’s views were his own and “do not reflect in any way the position of the Indian National Congress”.
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
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 25, 2024
Amritpal Singh had successfully contested the Lok Sabha polls as an Independent while lodged in a prison in Assam’s Dibrugarh, under the NSA. He won from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib, defeating Kulbir Singh Zira of the Congress by nearly two lakh votes.
The Sikh radical, who is chief of the pro-Sikh separatist organisation Waris Punjab De, was charged under the NSA last year. The police had first attempted to crack down on Amritpal and his associates in Punjab in March 2023, arresting hundreds of his supporters. Amritpal had managed to escape at the time, but was later arrested in April the same year. His election affidavit stated that he has 12 criminal cases registered against him.
Speaking to ThePrint, BJP national spokesperson R.P. Singh said, “They are targeting 2027 elections and targeting Panthic votes and by supporting him they are trying to get radical votes. This shows Congress supports terrorists. This is not the first time they have done this. Amritpal is behind the bars for dividing the country and why shouldn’t NSA be imposed on him? He may win the election but he will have to pay for his wrongdoings.”
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Channi vs Ravneet Bittu
While concluding his speech, Channi targeted Union Minister of State Ravneet Bittu, who lost from Ludhiana in the the Lok Sabha elections. Before polls, Bittu had defected from the Congress to the BJP.
Attacking the BJP, Channi said there is no difference between the party and the East India Company. The only difference between them is of colour (‘woh gore the’), and on this, Bittu pointed his finger at Channi.
Channi went on to say that Bittu’s grandfather, former chief minister Beant Singh — who was assassinated in 1995 — was martyred, but “did not die on that day, he died on the day you left the Congress” — referring to Bittu’s defection to the BJP.
Sandhya Rai, then sitting in the Speaker’s chair, tried to stop Channi from making further remarks. Channi then said Bittu was interrupting and troubling him.
In response, Bittu said his grandfather had sacrificed his life for the country, not for the Congress.
After the House reassembled, Channi once again said that the NSA was imposed on farmers, which led to another uproar in Parliament.
Later, Bittu issued a statement criticising Channi: “A former CM is behaving like a traitor and misleading the entire country through the House.”
Union Minister Giriraj Singh said what happened in the House was unfortunate. “Those Khalistanis who killed Indira Gandhi, today Channi supported them openly. This means Congress ka haath Khalistaniyo ke saath. This is an attack on India’s sovereignty in Parliament,” he told reporters.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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What a remarkable thing to say. First, Amritpal Singh was not an MP when he was charged under the NSA. Second, becoming an MP does not end existing legal proceedings against a person. And, third, freedom of speech (probably) does not extend to making threats against persons in constitutional positions such as the Home Minister. Any relief that Amritpal gets in the future will have to come from the courts.