Chandigarh: Former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar on Wednesday faced flak over a TV interview, with Dalit activists burning his effigy and another leader seeking his expulsion from the party for using "objectionable language" against the community. Jakhar, however, said his statement was twisted and taken out of context. If anybody's sentiment is hurt, he expresses regret, Jakhar said.
According to video clips, Jakhar appeared to be indirectly referring to Charanjit Singh Channi, who was the state's first Dalit CM, and questioned the party leadership for its choice. He, however, did not name anyone. "The leadership has to know where to keep everybody in place," he said in the interview.
Reacting to it, former Congress MLA Raj Kumar Verka on Wednesday accused Jakhar of using "objectionable language" against the Dalits and demanded that he be expelled from the party. "You should seek an apology," Verka told Jakhar citing his interview with a news channel. He said the Congress should "throw Jakhar out of the party immediately".