Targetted As I'm Dalit: Punjab Minister After Row Over Improper Messages

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
the sacking Charanjit Singh Channi for allegedly sending inappropriate messages to a woman officer, the Punjab minister said Tuesday he was
being targeted as he raised issues concerning the Dalits in the state.Mr Channi, who had been accused by the woman official some weeks back,
was speaking to the media for the first time after he returned from abroad.Trying to play down the mater, the minister said he had sent the
message to the woman by "mistake"."I am always been respectful to woman There are two private secretaries in my office, three block
presidents in my constituencies who are women and I have always called them with respect," he said, adding that the woman had accepted his
apology.The matter was over after that, he said, blaming the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) of raking up the issue
"I am being targeted as I am a Dalit and have been raising issues concerning the Dalits in the state."Mr Channi said he had already given
his clarification to the satisfaction of the CM."The CM is supreme We work under the directions of the chief ministerif he takes any
decision against me it is accepted to me," he said.Meanwhile, the SAD reiterated its demand of sacking the minister
Party general secretary Daljeet Singh Cheema said the act of the minister had put a question mark on his morality.