Political lingo turns colourful in Punjab as Channi calls AAP 'kale angrej'; Intention fair, says Kejriwal

Chandigarh, December 1

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday dubbed the AAP a party of “kale angrej” trying to win the 2022 state assembly elections, prompting his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal to retort that he may be black but his intention is fair.

Amid the ongoing spat between the AAP and Punjab Congress, Channi resorted to the colourful expression while addressing a gathering at Badhni Kalan in Punjab’s Moga district.

“…and now (Arvind) Kejriwal, they say this time Kejriwal (AAP saying they will form next govt). Do no people live in Punjab? Are there no youths in Punjab? Are there no Punjabis in Punjab? Will ‘kale angrej’ come here (the state) and rule?” asked Channi.

He further said these “kale angrej” are trying to take over Punjab after ‘(gore) chitte angrej’ (Britishers) were ousted from the country earlier.

Talking to reporters, Channi elaborated, “We are saying Punjab belongs to Punjabis, you do not create disruptions here. These outsiders ‘kale angrej’ want to rule (the state).”

Reacting to Channi’s remarks, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Punjab CM of abusing him for promising Rs 1,000 a month to women in the state if his party comes to power.

He further said he may be “black” but his “intentions are fair”.

“Channi Sahab has been abusing me ever since I said each woman in Punjab will be given Rs 1,000 per month. (He) Says that Kejriwal’s clothes are bad. Today (he) said Kejriwal is ‘kala’ (black),” Kejriwal said.

“Channi sahib, my complexion is black but my mothers and sisters in Punjab like this ‘kala’ son/brother. They know that my intention is fair,” said Kejriwal in a tweet in Hindi.

Addressing the public gathering earlier in Moga, Chief Minister Channi asserted that Punjab would be ruled only by its people and as the “likes of Kejriwal” have absolutely no knowledge of the problems and the needs of its people.

“Kejriwal just wants to capture power in Punjab by resorting to drama and false guarantees as he has no concern for Punjab beyond that,” alleged Channi.

Reacting to Channi’s “kale angrej” remark, AAP leader Raghav Chadha too accused him of calling Kejriwal as ‘kale angrej’ and said the Punjab CM has crossed “all the boundaries of slander” while sitting in a responsible chair.

“It is a shame,” he said.

“The people of Punjab love Arvind Kejriwal immensely. Channi today called popular leader Arvind Kejriwal a ‘black Englishman’. Even before this, they (Channi and Congressmen) used to insult Arvind Kejriwal every day,” he said.

“By using such derogatory language for a hero of the people, Channi and his associates are insulting all those people including Punjabis who like Arvind Kejriwal as a pro-people leader,” said Chadha in a statement.

While addressing the Moga gathering, Channi also came down heavily on former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and SAD leaders, the Badals, accusing their families of being in “hand-in-glove with the BJP government at the Centre to achieve their motives and ruining Punjab”.

“The Badals implemented the farm laws in the state and then played a leading role in getting the same enforced upon the entire country by giving ill advice to the Narendra Modi government in the Centre,” he said.

“In order to save the ministerial berth of Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the Badal family went to the extent of even campaigning in support of these black laws. Harsimrat didn’t resign on her own from the Union Cabinet but the massive angst of the people forced her to do so,” alleged Channi.

Taking on Amarinder Singh, Channi said that “Captain is also backstabbing Punjab and Punjabis by aligning with the Modi government and justifying the central government notification enhancing the BSF’s jurisdiction in Punjab to 50 km” from the border.

“This notification is a direct attack on the state’s right and the country’s federal structure which will not be tolerated by Punjabis,” he asserted.

Channi earlier announced a slew of development initiatives for holistic growth and people’s prosperity of the Nihalsingh Wala assembly constituency and sought to assure people that funds will not be a hindrance in executing the developmental projects. —PTI