Chandigarh: Amid the continuing leadership crisis in the Punjab Congress, former chief minister and Punjab Congress campaign committee chairperson Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday met Congress general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal in New Delhi and asserted the dissident camp had no intention of embarrassing or belittling anyone in the party.The meeting was also attended by Congress functionaries Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rana Gurjeet Singh and Pargat Singh. The meeting came a day after Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel met Venugopal and submitted his report on the six-day consultations he held with party functionaries in Punjab. Leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa met Venugopal separately. These meetings followed discussions on the Punjab situation between Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Venugopal.Ever since the party decided to retain Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief, the Channi-led faction had been demanding Warring’s removal, arguing that a change in the state leadership was necessary to restore organisational unity and improve the party’s prospects in the 2027 Punjab assembly elections. During Baghel’s recent visit to Punjab, the dissident leaders reiterated their demand, while Baghel assured them their concerns would be conveyed to the party high command.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Channi said the leaders presented their views before the party leadership but reiterated their commitment to the organisation.“We were called here today, and we have presented our point of view. However, one thing is absolutely clear: We stand with the party. We respect the party high command. Rahul Gandhi is our leader; we love him. All our workers and leaders stand firmly with the party and will continue to do so,” said Channi. He clarified he had no intention of embarrassing anyone or belittling anyone. “We simply want to take the party forward in Punjab, and we have presented our case. The high command has listened. The final decision always rests with the high command; whatever decision they make, we will accept it and move forward accordingly. We are never against the party, nor have we ever tried to embarrass it. We will abide by whatever decision the party takes,” Channi said.
