Political maneuvering has gained significant momentum across Punjab as political parties gear up for the upcoming assembly elections scheduled for early 2027. Amidst escalating campaign efforts and grassroots outreach across the state, Congress leader and former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has triggered a fresh political row with his contentious remarks regarding local Hindu clerics. Addressing an audience in Bathinda, the veteran politician claimed that a majority of local priests across Punjab do not possess a strong command over Sanskrit, leading to an increasing reliance on clergy brought in from other states.
Pledge for a Sanskrit University and Scriptural Centers
The controversy unfolded on Monday when Charanjit Singh Channi attended the concluding ceremonial prayers of a Shri Ramayana Path in Rampura Phul, Bathinda. The religious ceremony was organized to inaugurate the local office of former cabinet minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar. Speaking at the gathering, Channi outlined an educational vision, asserting that a return of the Congress administration to power would see the establishment of a state-of-the-art university dedicated to classical learning, complete with specialized research centers for the Shri Ramayana and the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita.
Elaborating on the rationale behind this initiative, the former Chief Minister noted that many shrines and temples in Punjab currently have to invite priests from other regions due to the linguistic shortcomings of local practitioners. According to him, establishing a dedicated Sanskrit university within the state would train local youth, bridging this liturgical gap and eliminating the necessity of hiring religious officiants from outside Punjab. Channi further pointed out that the previous Congress dispensation headed by him had already formally approved the resolution to create this academic institution. However, he alleged that the subsequent Aam Aadmi Party government deliberately stalled the progress and took no constructive measures to implement the plan. He affirmed that work on the university would commence promptly once his party regains authority. Notably, this is not the first instance of Channi facing controversy over public utterances; he previously faced backlash over alleged derogatory remarks regarding women, an incident for which he subsequently tendered an apology.
Sharp Indictment of Law and Order Under AAP Rule
Turning his attention to statewide governance, the former Chief Minister launched a scathing critique against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, asserting that ordinary citizens are currently living under the shadow of narcotics, gangster syndicates, and rampant violence. He accused the ruling establishment of exploiting voter sentiments through generic slogans of political reform, arguing that the ground reality has deteriorated into an environment of extreme insecurity.
Channi contended that voters had not anticipated such negative consequences when embracing calls for governance transformation. Criticizing the prevailing atmosphere of fear, he observed,
"Everyone is afraid to even step outside, killings happen daily, gangsters demand ransom, extortion is sought, and whoever refuses to pay faces gunfire at their home or shop."He claimed that blatant extortion demands, accompanied by brazen shootings targeting non-compliant shopkeepers and residents, have unfortunately turned into everyday occurrences across Punjab.
