Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Sunday played down the pro-Charanjit Singh Channi slogans raised at party events over the past two days, and accused the Aam Aadmi Party and television channels of blowing up the issue. He said the ruling party was presenting the slogans as something far more serious, while channels were focusing only on the sloganeering.
advertisement
Warring made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Barnala after supporters of Jalandhar MP and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi interrupted the Congress’s “Har Booth, Congress Mazboot” programme with slogans in Channi’s favour.
AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel was present at the event. Similar slogans were also raised at programmes attended by Baghel in Patiala and Sangrur on Saturday.
Referring to the controversy, Warring said, “The current (AAP) government is presenting the slogans raised in favour of Charanjit Singh Channi as if they were chanted in favour of Pakistan.” He also blamed television channels for showing only the sloganeering and ignoring the rest of the events. “No television channel is showing that a leader from Shutrana joined the Congress on Saturday, or that 40-50 AAP MLAs are likely to switch sides,” he alleged.
Warring said his own speech at the event had been heard by party workers and had received applause, but had not been shown on television. “I gave a speech, and everybody listened to it. The party workers clapped. But no TV channel is showing it,” he said, asking what objection the media and the AAP had if a slogan was raised.
“What happens if a slogan is raised? Channi had been our chief minister. I myself had raised the slogan ‘Ghar Ghar Challi Gal, Channi Karda Masle Hal’ (Go from house to house and say, Channi does resolve problems). I had raised slogans in favour of Partap Singh Bajwa also,” he said.
As he sought to end the row, Warring shouted before the media, “Charanjit Singh Channi Zindabad.” The developments come at a time when the Punjab Congress is dealing with factionalism despite repeated statements from the party leadership that it is working to strengthen organisational unity ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls.
The tensions had become visible after the Congress leadership on July 1 retained Warring as state unit chief and appointed Channi as chairperson of its campaign committee.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
