CHANDIGARH, Aug. 4 -- Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday accused the Congress of sidelining senior Punjab leader and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, alleging that the party was unwilling to accept leaders from the Dalit and Backward communities.
Addressing a press conference here, Saini was responding to questions on the infighting within the Punjab Congress and the appearance of posters targeting senior party leaders. While one poster in Muktsar carried the slogan "Go Back Baghel" against AICC Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, another in Ferozepur depicted Channi wearing a vest carrying the letters "RSS".
Referring to Channi's appointment as the Congress campaign committee chairman, Saini claimed the move had effectively sidelined the Jalandhar MP. "This has always been the Congress policy. The party takes votes from the poor, Dalits and backward communities but never truly accepts their leadership," he alleged.
Saini said Channi had stood firmly with the party during difficult times but was later marginalised. He further alleged that the party had repeatedly insulted Dalits and backward communities despite claiming to champion their cause.
Targeting the Congress and INDIA bloc, Saini accused them of practising double standards. He also criticised the AAP-led Punjab government over the alleged paper leak issue, questioning the "silence" of the Bhagwant Mann government and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Punjab Congress has been witnessing factionalism ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections despite repeated claims by the leadership of organisational unity. Differences resurfaced after the party retained Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab Congress president while appointing Channi as campaign committee chairman.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.