Will Priyanka Gandhi's clapping on Channi's statement get the Congress locked down in UP-Bihar?
Image Credit source: Tv9
Priyanka Gandhi on Wednesday (Priyanka Gandhi) In the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi (Charanjit Singh Channi) The unnecessary statement like "Uttar Pradesh, Bihar de Bhaiya" was definitely wrong. Punjab's laborers from the two most populous states in India (Punjab) To help farmers in farming, they have been migrating to Punjab every year. They also contribute significantly as laborers in the real estate of the state.
So far there is no evidence that 'bhaiyas' come to Punjab with the dream of driving out the local population and ruling the state. His role in Punjab politics is almost negligible. Most of them do not even take part in voting in the state. The migrant laborers of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar prefer to return to their respective states to elect their representatives at the time of elections.
There is no interference of outsiders in the politics of Punjab.
The influx of North Indians has been seen in Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai. Here Kripashankar Shukla of Uttar Pradesh and Sanjay Nirupam of Bihar had succeeded in getting the 'outsider' voters in their favor in the politics of the state. Although he made his mark in the politics of the state, he remained a minor outsider in the state. The politics of Maharashtra has always been dominated by the local people. All its chief ministers have been natives of the state. Punjab is no different. Sikhs have dominated the politics of the state and till date no non-Sikh has been able to become the chief minister of this state. Not only non-Sikhs, even non-Punjabis don't see a remote chance of coming to the top post in the near future.
It is no surprise that the BJP's Hindutva card does not work in Punjab. Whatever political ground the BJP has got so far in Punjab has undoubtedly been possible only because of the Panthik Sikhs' alliance with the Akali Dal. This alliance is now broken. However, the Hindu political organization is still looking for a Sikh face as the chief minister to strengthen its prospects in the 2022 assembly elections. It is ironic that the Punjab Chief Minister's objectionable remarks were not against the BJP, which is regarded as the most favored political outfit of the 'bhaiyas' of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Kejriwal is the target
Channi's joke was for Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. But he is not 'bhaiya' by any means. He was born and brought up in Haryana and became the Chief Minister of Delhi State. His supporters in Punjab are more Sikhs than non-Sikhs. He is the supreme leader of a party that aspires to gain national recognition, that is why he has fielded his candidates in many states outside his stronghold Delhi. In the capital Delhi, voters of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have been giving their support mainly to the Aam Aadmi Party and the BJP. In view of this division of votes, it can be said that Kejriwal is not the only favorite leader of the people of both the states.
AAP has a solid public support in Punjab. And it was essentially created due to the appeal of the party among Punjabis. If a large population of non-Punjabis is also supporting AAP in this election, then one of the major reasons for this is that the party's attraction is seen a lot among Punjabis including Sikhs.
Is this Priyanka's Punjab?
The Punjab Chief Minister's argument linking AAP with 'Bhaiyya' is as absurd as honoring party leader Priyanka Gandhi as the daughter-in-law of Punjab. Priyanka has lived most of her life in Delhi and was married to the son of a brass metallurgist from Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh. Robert Vadra's ancestors may have been related to undivided Punjab before Partition, but his family's roots are deep in UP.
Surprisingly, instead of immediately correcting the wrong words of Channi, Priyanka praised him. The Congress general secretary seems to have forgotten that just a week ago, his brother Rahul Gandhi was fighting zealously for India's identity as a union of states. According to the views of Rahul Gandhi, India is the sum total of states and does not discriminate against its people on the basis of provincialism or sub-nationalism. Ideologically, the Congress has always stood for equality and respect for the rights of all citizens to live in India. Channi's narrow remarks go against the declared ideology of the Congress.
It is clear that the way Priyanka Gandhi clapped on the divisive statement of the Chief Minister, it has given rise to speculation that she no longer has any hope from Uttar Pradesh. Significantly, in Uttar Pradesh, he has worked hard to revive the dying Congress with many new schemes and ideas. A national party that takes pride in its presence across India, its leaders did not take into account the self-respect of the people of Uttar Pradesh and preferred opportunistic statements to win elections in Punjab at any cost. Surely this has only increased the ideological disorientation in the party. Congress is being condemned from all sides for its double standards.
The cost of this politics for Congress
Unlike regional political organizations, the Congress is such a large party that it cannot afford to bear the malice of the people of the two big states to win elections in the third state. Priyanka is the national leader of a national party. The price of being happy at the audacity of the Chief Minister of your party may be very high.
Regional parties like Shiv Sena, TMC and DMK have increased the party's base by inciting regional sentiments. It is in their politics to fuel the petty narrow sentiments of the people of their state. However, due to their narrowness, regional parties face a crisis of credibility outside their province. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had to struggle hard to reach the voters in Goa. Shiv Sena remains a regional party in Maharashtra, despite its leaders trying to expand the party to other states.
The DMK has no such national ambitions. It seems to be satisfied with its influence in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. If Congress does not want to make itself a regional political party, then Priyanka and Channi should apologize to the people of UP and Bihar. With his statements, he has hurt their sentiments.
(The author is a senior journalist, the views expressed in the article are the personal of the author.)
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