Assembly polls 2022: Migrants help build Punjab, says Channi on bhaiya row

Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi had stirred a row over his use of word 'bhaiya' for the lead.

“Bakwaas” (nonsense). That was Bihar chief minister (CM) Nitish Kumar’s reaction to Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi’s exhortation on Wednesday asking the people of Punjab to unite and stand against ‘bhaiyas’ from Bihar, UP and Delhi from coming into Punjab.

On Thursday, Channi said he had been misunderstood. "My statement is being distorted. All the migrants who have come to Punjab have put their sweat and blood into the development of the state. I have a close relationship with them," he said.

Priyanka Gandhi reacted to the criticism of his statement, saying it had been misconstrued.

"All that CM Charanjit Channi said was that Punjab should be run by Punjabis. I don't think anyone from UP is interested in coming to Punjab and ruling. You (BJP) have insulted UP farmers, innocent farmers were killed by the son of your minister. The PM is visiting Punjab only when elections are near, but not during farmers' protests. They (BJP and Aam Aadmi Party or AAP) are in Punjab only to fulfil their own desires. Channiji has clearly said that the state needs a strong and stable government that works for its people. I can see a Congress wave in Punjab," she said in Lucknow.

But Nitish’s reaction was scathing. “Do they know how much is the contribution of people of Bihar in Punjab and how many are living (there)? I am stunned how people make such statements,” said Kumar. But more importantly, he seized upon this to paper over the cracks, both in his own party -- the Janta Dal United -- and its s relations with the BJP. He gave a ‘Biharis unite and fight’ call to divert the spotlight from the tensions in the ruling coalition in Bihar.

Channi had his own reasons for saying what he did. It was an appeal to the Punjabi identity and a pushback to Delhi leaders from both, AAP and the BJP, who are fanning out all over Punjab to campaign on the final days before the 20 February scheduled polls.

Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah have both held campaign meetings in Punjab over the last two days. PM Modi said Channi’s remarks were anti Dalit, especially against those who follow Sant Ravidas, who was born in Varanasi. “Whom will you chase out of Punjab? Will you drive out Sant Ravidas, who was born in Varanasi?” the PM asked, rhetorically.

AAP convenor and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has already criticised Channi, saying: “It is very shameful. We strongly condemn comments aimed at any individual or any particular community. Priyanka Gandhi also belongs to Uttar Pradesh so she is also a ‘bhaiya’.”

In a tweet, Union Minister and BJP leader Bhupender Yadav, said: “First Rahul Gandhi said India isn’t a nation. Now Priyanka Vadra cheers CM Charanjit Channi’s call to boycott people from UP and Bihar. The work to divide India has been an ongoing project for Congress’ first family. That is why India is rejecting them state after state.”

Earlier, the Shiv Sena, an ally of the Congress, and itself party to derisive remarks about Bihari and UP migrants in Maharashtra in the past, also lashed out at Channi. Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi highlighted that the migrants come as cheap labour, service providers, businessmen, entrepreneurs, lawmakers and bureaucrats, and they contribute to the economy of states where they migrate. Urging political leaders to stop mocking them, the Sena MP said “more importantly, they are Indians.”

On Wednesday, at an election campaign meeting at Ropar, Punjab, 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).”