The BJP on Thursday seized former Punjab chief minister and Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi’s remarks in the Lok Sabha favouring the release of Sikh separatist Amritpal Singh and accused the party of backing anti-national forces.

During the discussion on the budget, Channi sought to portray the incarceration of Singh, elected as an MP from Punjab’s Khadoor Sahib, as an example of an undeclared emergency in the country.

“They (BJP) speak about the Emergency every day. But what about the undeclared emergency in the country today?... This too is an emergency that a man who was elected as an MP by 20 lakh people in Punjab is behind bars after the NSA (National Security Act) was slapped on him,” Channi told the Lok Sabha. “He is unable to present the views of the people of his constituency here. This too is an emergency,” he added.

“Farmers are called Khalistanis when they put forward their demands. Manipur has been burning for the past 1.5 years. Journalists are put behind bars for asking questions. This too is emergency,” he said.

The BJP slammed the Congress, demanding action against Channi for favouring the release of a Khalistani separatist. “Indira Gandhi’s assassin was a Khalistani and the Congress today is supporting a Khalistani…This is an attack on India’s sovereignty...,” rural development minister Giriraj Singh said outside Parliament.