Channi says Punjab pandits weak in Sanskrit, needs outsiders - Read Full Report Here

Former Punjab Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi has made a controversial statement regarding pandits, which is expected to trigger a major political slugfest in the state. In a recent address, Charanjit Singh Channi claimed that the pandits in Punjab have a weak grasp of the Sanskrit language. Due to this deficiency, he asserted, the state is often forced to bring in priests and religious scholars from other states to perform rituals and temple duties. This remark by the former Chief Minister has created a stir in political circles and is likely to become a focal point of debate in the coming days, with various social and religious organizations potentially reacting to the assessment.

Preparations for the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab have already commenced across the political spectrum. According to political analysts, elections in the state are expected to be held early in the year 2027. Keeping this tentative election timeline in mind, all major political parties have stepped into the field, actively reaching out to the electorate and consolidating their support bases. However, amidst these rising pre-poll political activities and tensions, the statement by Congress leader and former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has added a new dimension of controversy, giving rival political parties fresh ammunition to target the opposition.

Charanjit Singh Channi made this controversial remark during a public event held in Bathinda district. The occasion was the culmination of a Sri Ramayan Path, organized on the sidelines of the inauguration of the local office of former cabinet minister Gurpreet Singh Kanger in Rampura Phul, Bathinda, while former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi participated in this religious event on Monday. During his address to the gathering at the venue, he made a significant policy announcement, stating that if the Congress party forms the government in Punjab after the next assembly elections, a dedicated university will be established in the state.

Elaborating on the proposed educational institution, Channi stated that this university would feature specialized study centres dedicated to the academic exploration of the holy texts of Sri Ramayan and Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Continuing his speech, he explained the rationale behind establishing such a centre of learning in Punjab. He claimed that the majority of pandits currently practicing in Punjab don't have a strong foundation or command over the Sanskrit language. Because of this linguistic gap, many temples across the state are compelled to invite priests from other states. He argued that the establishment of a Sanskrit university would directly address and reduce this reliance on external priesthood.

It's pertinent to recall in this context that former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has previously found himself embroiled in controversies due to his public remarks. On an earlier occasion, Charanjit Singh Channi faced severe allegations and intense backlash for making an objectionable comment against women. That particular remark had also sparked massive political uproar and widespread condemnation from opposition parties, while however, in the face of mounting pressure and criticism, Charanjit Singh Channi had formally issued an apology regarding that incident, which eventually allowed the matter to subside. Now, his latest comments regarding Sanskrit scholars have once again thrust him into the eye of a political storm.

During the same event, former CM Charanjit Singh Channi didn't limit his critique to religious education alone, but also launched a scathing attack on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government in the state. He claimed that the previous Congress government led by him had already officially passed a proposal aimed at setting up a university in the region. However, following the transition of political power and the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party government in the state, the current administration failed to take any concrete steps or advance the project, effectively shelving the crucial proposal meant for educational development.

Reiterating his party's future commitments with absolute confidence, Channi claimed that once the Congress party returns to power in Punjab following the upcoming assembly elections, the stalled construction and establishment work of this proposed university will be initiated immediately without any further delay, while he assured the public that the party remains committed to fulfilling its promises regarding cultural and educational infrastructure development across the state.

Shifting his focus to the prevailing law and order situation in the region, Charanjit Singh Channi launched a fierce critique of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government, making serious allegations regarding governance, while he stated that the state of Punjab is currently plagued by widespread drug abuse, rampant gangsterism, and open hooliganism. Directing his attack at the ruling AAP administration, he noted that for some time now, a herd-mentality-like sentiment had gripped the public regarding the absolute necessity of bringing about a change in governance.

Concluding his sharp critique, Channi remarked that the ordinary citizens of Punjab had never anticipated the kind of negative transformation they're witnessing today—a reality where daily acts of violence and hooliganism have become routine. He stated that the current conditions have deteriorated to such an extent that every resident now feels a sense of fear simply when stepping out of their homes. He highlighted that daily murders, extortion calls from gangsters demanding protection money, and incidents of criminals casually firing gunshots at the houses or shops of those who refuse to pay extortion have become an everyday affair, leaving the citizens of Punjab living in constant terror.