Sangrur, Jan. 20 -- Facing backlash over his remarks on Dalit representation, Jalandhar MP and former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday accused political rivals of attempting to tarnish the Congress party's image.

Speaking at Thikriwala village in Barnala after paying tribute to freedom fighter Sardar Sewa Singh Thikriwala, Channi sought to project a unified front. He defended his tenure as CM, asserting that his policies, such as the waiver of electricity bills and universal distribution of school uniforms, were designed for the collective benefit of all Punjabis, regardless of caste.

"Punjab is like a bouquet of diverse religions and castes. My vision has always been to develop the state by taking every community and section...