CHANDIGARH – Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday strongly refuted allegations made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a recent Bihar rally, stating that his three-year-old controversial statement regarding outsiders was being “misconstrued.”
Channi’s reaction came hours after PM Modi, without directly naming him, alleged that a Congress CM had publicly declared that he “would not allow Biharis to enter his state.” This statement had originally stoked controversy during the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.
Channi offered a detailed clarification, asserting his respect for migrant workers: “My statement is being misconstrued. All migrant workers who came to Punjab till date have toiled hard. We’ve only love for them, nobody can change it.”
He maintained that his original criticism was directed squarely at political figures from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). “I was talking about AAP leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and others, who had come from outside and looting Punjab. My point has now been proved,” Channi stated, adding that it was not right to present his remarks in any other manner.
