Chandigarh: A day after he waded into a controversy when he asked people of Punjab to stand together and reject the 'bhaiyyas' from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Bihar, Cheif Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday issued a clarification saying that his statement was misconstrued.
"Priyanka Gandhi is Punjab's daughter-in-law, she is the bahu of Punjabis. Bhaiyas from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi cannot come here and rule. We will not allow UP bhaiyas to stray into Punjab," Channi said at an election rally in Punjab.
When Channi was making the derogatory statement, in a video Priyanka Gandhi was seen laughing.
Opposition parties including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were quick enough to hit out at Congress over the Punjab CM's remark, forcing him to issue a clarification.
"My statement is being misconstrued. All migrant workers who came to Punjab till date, have toiled and taken it on path to development. We have only love for them, nobody can change it," news agency ANI quoted him as saying.
"I was talking about people who come from outside and create disruptions here. Punjab is as much of the people of UP-Bihar, Rajasthan and elsewhere, who come here and work, as much as it is ours. So, it is not right to present it in any other manner," he added.
AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal slammed Congress for Channi remarks. "It is very shameful. We strongly condemn comments aimed at any individual or any particular community. Priyanka Gandhi also belongs to UP so she is also a 'bhaiya'," Kejriwal said.
Even BJP latched onto Channi's remarks and accused Congress of playing divisive politics.
"First Rahul Gandhi said India isn't a nation. Now Priyanka Vadra cheers to 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," senior BJP leader and Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said.
In Punjab, Congress is trying hard to retain power but has been facing an uphill task because of the infighting within the party and emergence of AAP in the state. Even its former CM Captain Amarinder Singh has joined hands with the BJP.
Channi's controversial statement comes at a time when Priyanka Gandhi is out of the roads of Uttar Pradesh to muster voters.
Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a swipe at Congress over the issue and said the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, and Guru Ravidas, a 15th century social reformer and a Dalit icon revered in Punjab, were born in Bihar's Patna and Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi.
He asked if the two Gurus would be barred from entering Punjab by the Congress.