Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday sparked controversy by asking people not to let ‘bhaiyas’ from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar rule Punjab.
As Mr. Channi made the comment during a roadshow in Rupnagar, Congress leader and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was standing next to him, applauding the crowds who were raising slogans. This invited sharp criticism from the Opposition parties.
Appealing to people to vote for the Congress, Mr. Channi urged them to unite and stand together. “Those ‘bhaiyas’, who come from U.P., Bihar and Delhi come here to rule, don’t let them enter,” said Mr. Channi with Ms. Vadra sharing the stage. The term ‘bhaiya’ is often used in a derogatory manner in Punjab to refer to the migrant workers from U.P. and Bihar.
