Chandigarh, Jan 19: An internal discord in the Punjab Congress came to the fore after a video of former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi surfaced on social media in which he could be heard seeking representation for Dalits in the party.
The Jalandhar MP, however, asserted he did not speak against any particular caste or community, and that he was a victim of malicious propaganda on social media.
While speaking during a meeting of the party’s Scheduled Caste (SC) wing here on Saturday, Channi said, “In Punjab, if you accept that there is a population of 35-38 per cent (of Dalits), which is there, then why are we not getting representation.”
He also said, “Punjab (Congress) president is from upper caste, CLP leader is from upper caste, women wing of Punjab Congress from upper caste, Punjab (Congress) general secretary from upper caste? Where do we go? Where will these people go?”
At present, the top posts in the Punjab Congress are held by Jat Sikh faces. (PTI)
