‘I meant Kejriwal…’: Channi seeks to clarify ‘UP, Bihar de bhaiye’ remark

He said he was not referring to migrants who come to Punjab for work but to leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

My statement was only directed at few individuals causing disruption in the State, but it was twisted. My brothers & sisters from UP & Bihar have contributed towards building Punjab. We have been together for generations & I love & respect all of them like my own family members. pic.twitter.com/CLzpzLqkVr

— Charanjit S Channi (@CHARANJITCHANNI) February 17, 2022

“I have talked about people like Durgesh Pathak, Sanjay Singh and (AAP chief) Arvind Kejriwal who come here and create disruption,” Channi said in a two-minute video shared by the Congress on social media. “Those people who come from UP, Bihar, Rajasthan and other states to work, Punjab is as much theirs as it is ours. Hamara unse noh maas ka rishta hai aur pyar hai. We love them from the core of our heart.”

While campaigning with senior party colleague Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Ropar on Tuesday evening, Channi had said: “Punjabian di bahu hai Priyanka Gandhi, eh saadi Punjaban hai, iss karke ikk passe ho jao Punjabion… UP, Bihar aur Delhi de bhaiye aa ke ithe raj karan lagge, vadan na deo ithe (Priyanka is Punjab’s daughter-in-law. She is our Punjaban. So Punjabis, get united. The bhaiyas from UP, Bihar and Delhi want to rule here. But we will not let them enter).”

The statement, which went viral on Wednesday, quickly snowballed into a controversy in the poll-bound state, with both the AAP and the BJP lashing out at Channi, the Congress’s CM face for the February 20 elections.

Addressing a rally in Abohar on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said by calling migrants “bhaiye”, the Congress had not only insulted the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, but also Guru Ravidas and Guru Gobind Singh.

“Where was Guru Ravidas, whose birth anniversary was celebrated yesterday, born? Was he born in Punjab? He was born in Uttar Pradesh’s Kashi and you will not let ‘bhaiya’ of UP to enter here. Will you throw out Ravidassias (followers of Guru Ravidas)? Will you erase Sant Ravidas’ name too,” Modi asked.

The PM further asked where Guru Gobind Singh was born: “He was born in Patna Sahib in Bihar, and you say you will not let people of Bihar enter. Will you then insult Guru Gobind Singh ji?… Will you insult the land where Guru Gobind Singh was born?”

Addressing a rally in Moga, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said: “Main dekhta hu kiski himmat hai jo UP, Bihar ke logo ko nahi aange denge.. (Let me see who dares to stop people of UP and Bihar from coming to Punjab),” Singh said.

After Channi,s remarks went viral, Congress sources said, the party also got feedback the “bhaiya” remark was causing trouble for it not only in several constituencies in Punjab that have a sizeable population of migrant labourers but also in nearby Uttar Pradesh. In view of this, they said, many Congress leaders wanted Channi to withdraw his statement.

“The video of Channi talking about migrants became viral across UP within a few hours. As Vadra was also standing next to him and applauding, it became an issue in UP for her. Although she could not realise what Channi had said at that time. It was later that she realised how it could affect her in UP,” said a leader privy to discussions.

Another Congress leader said: “There are at least three seats in Ludhiana where a sizeable migrant population could harm us. The remark already became a part of the narrative. Some even started talking that if Channi becomes the CM, he would not allow migrants to enter Punjab. This is how these things travel during election times.”

Finally, The Indian Express learnt, Priyanka insisted Channi clear his stand on the issue. Channi then recorded the video and praised migrants, saying “they have put in their sweat and blood” for Punjab’s development.

“My statement has been distorted since yesterday… Migrants are dear to us. Punjabis also go to other states to work. We are also migrants there. Many come to Punjab to work. They work well in fields, factories. They have contributed for the state. I would like to make an appeal to all these people that they should not see themselves as being referred to in my statement, which is for people like Pathak, Singh and Kejriwal. These people are here to create anarchy,” he said.