‘Attempts being made to create rifts’: Punjab Congress chief Raja Warring on ‘fallout’ with former CM Channi

Chandigarh, July 10, 2026
Punjab Congress President Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday denied reports of a fallout with senior leader and former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi while claiming that certain efforts are being made to create a rift between them.

Talking to IANS, Raja Warring said: “There is no ‘Channi versus Warring’. Channi ‘sahab’ is much older than me. He is also my elder brother. Attempts are being made to create a ‘versus’ situation; otherwise, there is nothing like that.”

“I am learning a lot of things from Channi sahab and even other senior leaders because what is learnt with experience cannot be learnt otherwise. I am not that big a leader to speak something which is ‘versus’ him (Channi),” he added.

Further, Raja Warring said that he will not be attending the upcoming meeting between Congress General Secretary in-charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel and former Chief Minister Channi.

“I think it is a good thing that I will not be present in the meeting. Because when there are grievances, many things are said to each other. And once a word comes out of one’s mouth, it cannot be taken back. So, whatever happens, Baghel sahab will listen, and whenever the next meeting takes place, I will sit with him and give my response to all of them,” the Punjab Congress chief said.

“If I have made any mistake, which can happen while working, I will accept it and apologise,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Raja Warring denied reports of certain sections in the state Congress refusing to accept his leadership.

“Tell me the name of one senior leader, someone who matters, who has said that they are not ready to accept my leadership as president. Has Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Aruna Chaudhary, or Partap Bajwa said that they do not accept my presidency? Please tell me who has said that? All this is being speculated in the media,” he told reporters.

“If some random person says that he or she does not accept me as Punjab Congress President, then the person’s post needs to be verified because the state has a huge population and I may not be liked by everyone,” he added.(Agency)