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Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Raja Warring sought to play down the controversy, saying there is no discrimination within the party.
During a meeting, Channi pointed out that Punjab Congress president, the CLP leader, the women’s wing chief and the state general secretary are all from upper castes. (PTI)
Cracks have surfaced within the Punjab Congress after former Chief Minister and MP Charanjit Singh Channi flagged the lack of Dalit representation in the party’s top state leadership, triggering a sharp political reaction and an open invitation from the BJP for him to switch sides.
The controversy erupted after a video of Channi from a Congress SC Cell meeting held in Chandigarh on Saturday went viral. In the clip, Channi is seen strongly questioning why key organisational posts in the Punjab Congress are held by leaders from upper castes, particularly Jatt Sikhs, despite Dalits forming around 35–38 per cent of the state’s population.
In the video, Channi points out that the Punjab Congress president, the CLP leader, the women’s wing chief and the state general secretary are all from upper castes, asking, “Where should Dalits go? Where will these people go?”
His remarks were seen as an open challenge to the party’s leadership structure in Punjab.
The BJP was quick to seize on the remarks, taking a dig at the Congress and inviting Channi to join the party, claiming his concerns reflected deep-rooted issues within the Congress.
Channi, however, later issued a clarification, saying he believes in the Gurus’ philosophy of “Manas ki jaat sabhai ek pehchaan” and that he has never spoken against any caste or community. He alleged that false propaganda was being spread against him and said he remains grateful to the Congress for giving him key responsibilities, through which he raised issues related to Punjab, farmers and labourers. He added that Punjab is like a bouquet and can only progress if all sections move together.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Raja Warring sought to play down the controversy, saying there is no discrimination within the party. He said Channi holds one of the highest posts as a member of the Congress Working Committee and also serves as chairman of the party’s agriculture committee.
“Dalits are the crown of our heads, but our party is secular. Punjab has stayed away from caste-based politics,” Warring said.
January 20, 2026, 10:57 IST
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