"Channi doesn't know about Emergency": Union Minister Hardeep Puri

On Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi's statement in LS on Amritpal Singh, Union Minister Puri said, "He didn't speak on the Budget. He spoke on Emergency. I think Channi doesn't know. He should know what the then Congress Government did to our Constitution on 25 June 1975. They murdered the Constitution. They declared Emergency. Channi should read and gather knowledge of the history. You are a former CM of Punjab. You should meet the widows of the victims of 1984 riots..."

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri further said, "A lot of statements were made during the course of the discussion on the #UnionBudget and there was also discussion on Jammu & Kashmir Budget...During discussions, a few people brought in Bhindranwale's ghost and whatnot...They said that nothing was given to Punjab and other states. FM and others have mentioned what has been done for other states...These are new MPs, there is enthusiasm in Punjab...I think he should think and speak on this...As far as I know, there was an attack on the Constitution only once - in June 1975."

Congress Lok Sabha MP and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday triggered an uproar in Parliament after he alleged that there is "undeclared emergency" under BJP-led government's rule and noted that "free speech" of the Waris Punjab De chief and Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha MP Amritpal Singh who is in jail is being curbed by invoking the National Security Act against him.

Speaking during the debate on the Budget 2024, Charanjit Singh Channi said, "They (BJP) speak about Emergency every day. But what about the undeclared Emergency in the country today?...This too is Emergency that a man who was elected as an MP by 20 lakh people in Punjab is behind bars under the NSA. He is unable to present the views of the people of his constituency, here. This too is Emergency."

He made a scathing attack at the BJP led-NDA government and alleged that there is an undeclared emergency in the nation while stating that Sidhu Moose Wala, one of the famous singers of the nation was killed and justice has not delivered to his family.

Stating the data, Channi said, "Today in the country, a financial emergency-like condition is emerging and the BJP is responsible for that. They talk about the 1975 emergency but about today's undeclared emergency in the country? It is also an emergency that Sidhu Moose Wala, one of the famous singers of the nation was killed and justice has not given to his family."

Elaborating about the issues which are evident and due to which he is calling an "imposition of undeclared emergency" in the country, Charanjit Singh Channi said, "It is also an emergency when central agencies work against opposition leaders. It is also an emergency when farmers are declared as Khalistani when they ask for their rights. A concrete barricading has been created to stop them so they cannot arrive in Delhi. This is also an emergency. It is also an emergency that Manipur which has been constantly burning for the last 1.5-2 years is left in the plight condition. It is also an emergency that students who have been protesting for their rights have been declared anti-nationalists?" (ANI)