Channi has no knowledge of Bihar, says Nitish Kumar
Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Feb, 2022 11:03 AM
Patna, Feb 18 (IANS) Continuing his attack on Punjab Chief Minister Charanjeet Singh Channi, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar on Friday said that Channi has no knowledge of Bihar.
Nitish Kumar claimed that the Congress party gave a chance to a person who has no knowledge of Bihar and Bihari people.
"Sikh's 10th Guru Shri Guru Govind Singh Maharaj birthplace is in Bihar. A large number of Punjabi community people come from across the world to Patna Sahib and every Bihari welcomes them. We always showed respect to the Punjabi people. We have also organised a grand programme during the 350th lights festival (Prakash Utsav) in 2017 in Patna Sahib. He (Channi) has no knowledge of it," Kumar said.
"We have lots of love and respect for Punjabi people. We have begun a place of worship out of respect for Shri Gurunanak Dev Ji Maharaj in Rajgir and I personally look after the development of the place," he said.
"The contribution of Bihari people in Punjab is immense. When Punjabi people go abroad, the people of Bihar look after their properties and farming. Bihari people have huge contribution in the agriculture sector, construction sector and industries which Channi does not know. I am surprised at how the Congress party made him chief minister of the state. With that statement, he has damaged his own party position in Punjab," Kumar said.
Addressing a rally for the Punjab Assembly polls scheduled to be held on February 20, Channi had said Priyanka Gandhi is the daughter-in-law of Punjab and people of the state should give her a chance. Punjabis should unite and oust the 'bhaiye' who come from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi to rule in the state.
Meanwhile, Channi claimed that his statement has been twisted by the opposition parties and the media.
"My statement was against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Durgesh Pathak and Sanjay Singh who came from outside and are creating a disturbance. My statement is not for the common people of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Rajasthan who come to Punjab for work. Their contribution in the making of Punjab is immense and I have great respect for them," Channi said in his video statement.
"We all are migrant people and we have equal rights on the land of Punjab. A large number of Punjabi people are also working in other states and in other countries," Channi said.
The Chief Minister told the media here that for more than a year since the Central government had brought three agriculture laws for the benefit of farmers, especially small and marginal ones, unfortunately, some farmer unions had been protesting on the Delhi borders.
While the Centre's announcement to repeal three farm laws is seen as a political decision with eye on forthcoming assembly polls in five states, the BJP claims that it has nothing to do with elections as the party has won many states after laws were passed by the Parliament.
On January 12 this year, the Supreme Court had stayed the implementation of the three farm laws after scores of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh pitched their tents on various Delhi borders in protest against the three laws.
A nine-member committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), the consortium of protesting farmers' bodies, will be meeting on Saturday, and it is likely to put forth four main demands. The meeting will also decide whether the SKM will go ahead with the originally announced 'March Towards Delhi' programme on November 26.
Congress legislator and Punjab unit party president Navjot Singh Sidhu on Friday said the minimum support price (MSP) is the bigger issue than farm laws as it is the lifeline of farmers.
Extending his greetings to the people on Prakash Purb of Guru Nanak Dev, the Chief Minister said it was really a matter of great honour to inaugurate this prestigious project which happens to coincide with Gurpurab.
