New Delhi: The "UP, Bihar ke Bhaiya" comment by Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has put him into trouble. Not only has there been backlash by his political opponents but a first information report (FIR) has been lodged against Channi in Bihar capital Patna.
The FIR was filed at Patna's Kadam Kuan police station by Manish Kumar Singh, National Vice-President of the BJP youth wing.
"The Punjab CM made a controversial comment where he made an inflammatory comment about not allowing people from UP and Bihar to come into the state. Every citizen has the right to live anywhere and this right has been given to us by the Constitution of India. Punjab Chief Minister has insulted the people of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh by his statement. We will protest until Channi apologises to us," Singh said as reported by news Agency ANI.
Channi, during a rally in Punjab on Tuesday, said, "...don't let UP, Bihar ke bhaiya enter Punjab". While he made the comments, Priyanka Gandhi was present with him and could be seen smiling and applauding.
This invoked sharp reactions from his political opponents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a rally in Punjab on Thursday hit out at the Congress party for resorting to "divisive politics."
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also condemned the remarks made by his counterpart Charanjit Singh Channi. Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal condemned the comments made by the CM, and said Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi is also a 'bhaiyya' since she is from Uttar Pradesh.
After facing backlash, the Punjab CM on Thursday said that his 'UP-Bihar Ke bhaiya' remark, was being misconstrued. "My statement is being misconstrued. All migrant workers who came to Punjab till date, have toiled and taken it on the path to development. We have only love for them, nobody can change it," he said.