1 month ago
Channi Skips Rahul Gandhi Speech, Leads Faridkot Protest
Charanjit Singh Channi is a member of the Indian National Congress from Punjab.
On July 21, 2026, he did not go to the Parliament in New Delhi when Rahul Gandhi spoke.
Instead, he went to Faridkot, a town in Punjab, to lead a protest about a pharmacy exam that some people think was cheated.
This shows that there is a fight inside the party about who should lead.
The party is trying to fix the problem before the next elections.
The protest was about the health and education ministers in Punjab.
The party leaders are trying to keep everyone together.
The fight is between Channi and the current state party president, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.
Charanjit Singh Channi, Punjab Congress MP, was absent from Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha speech on July 21, 2026.
He instead led a Congress dharna in Faridkot outside Baba Farid University over alleged pharmacy officer exam paper leaks.
Channi’s absence highlighted factional tensions between his camp and state Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.
The Punjab unit retained Warring as president while appointing Channi as campaign committee chair, sparking internal disputes.
Party leaders, including KC Venugopal and Bhupesh Baghel, have attempted to reconcile the rift ahead of upcoming state elections.
- Who
- Charanjit Singh Channi, a Congress MP from Jalandhar, Punjab, and other party leaders
- What
- Channi skipped Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha speech and led a protest in Faridkot over alleged pharmacy exam paper leaks
- Where
- New Delhi (Lok Sabha) and Faridkot, Punjab, outside Baba Farid University
- When
- Wednesday, July 21, 2026
- Why
- To protest alleged exam paper leaks and assert his leadership amid factional disputes within Punjab Congress
Key facts
- Event
- Channi skips Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha speech, leads Faridkot protest
- Date
- July 21, 2026
- Location
- New Delhi (Lok Sabha) and Faridkot, Punjab
- Key Figures
- Charanjit Singh Channi, Rahul Gandhi, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring
- Issue
- Alleged pharmacy officer exam paper leaks
Quotes
A leader supporting Channi
Congress MP or senior leader supporting Channi
“"The event was planned beforehand. Also, the issue of pharmacy exam leak is an important one on which Congress needs to keep a sharp attack on Aam Aadmi Party government."”
indianexpress.com
“"all is well"”
rediff.com
thehansindia.com
Sources
Curious Case Of Charanjit Channi: Skips Rahul Gandhi Speech, Holds Protest In Punjab
Charanjit Singh Channi skips Rahul Gandhi Lok Sabha speech, attends party rally in Faridkot instead
Channi skips Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha speech amid Punjab Congress rift
Channi conspicuous by his absence in Parliament
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