The much-publicised 'UP, Bihar ke Bhaiye' remark made by Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday during an election roadshow in Ropar has not only raked up a major controversy but seems to be alienating the Congress Party’s migrant labourers' vote bank in the industrial cities of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Amritsar, Khanna, and Gobindgarh.
Channi had said that 'bhaiya's' from Bihar and UP would not be allowed to enter Punjab as he sought votes for Congress candidates.
According to a study conducted by the Center for Development of Economics and Innovation Studies of the Punjabi University, 70 percent of the workforce in Punjab's industrial cities is from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and other states. The majority of the labourers are residing in Punjab and are registered voters. They play a significant role in the electoral politics of these urban constituencies.
Although Channi later said he was referring to the AAP leadership, Congress party insiders maintain that the Chief Minister’s remark has the potential to adversely affect the fate of its candidates in at least 30 constituencies of the mentioned cities. The migrants are known to vote en block following the directive of their team leaders or labour contractors with whose help they find jobs in Punjab.
Talking a tough stand against the remark, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has demanded an apology from Channi. "The Punjab Chief Minister does not know how much the Biharis have worked in the development of the state. Our people not only worked hard but have provided affordable labour to the industry in Punjab," Nitish said.
Congress Member of Parliament Manish Tewari compared the 'Bhaiya' remark to the "black issue" in the US and said that it is reflective of an unfortunate systemic and institutionalised social bias against migrants.
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has also criticised the Punjab Chief Minister for his sectarian remark. He questioned Priyanka Gandhi who stood by the side of Channi and clapped at the remark.
BJP's social media in-charge Amit Malviya, too, condemned the remark of the Punjab Chief Minister and said that Channi was doing decisive politics.
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