Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has demanded the Prime Minister to order a probe into Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal regarding his alleged links with Khalistani leaders in Punjab. 

AAP founder member and poet, Kumar Vishwas shared a video that has now gone viral and provided Mr. Kejriwal's political rivals with ammunition amid the heated campaign for Assembly polls in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Vishwas accused Mr. Kejriwal of being power-hungry.

Mr. Channi shared a copy of the Election Commission’s letter withdrawing the bar on broadcasting recent remarks of Mr. Vishwas. His remarks against Delhi Chief Minister has triggered controversy in poll-bound state Punjab. 

Chief Minister Channi in his letter to the Prime Minister urged that “Politics aside, people of Punjab have paid a heavy price while fighting separatism. Hon'ble PM needs to address the worry of every Punjabi," he stated. 

In the video, Mr. Vishwas was recounting an old conversation with the AAP convener. "One day, he (Kejriwal) become the CM of Punjab or first PM of an independent nation (Khalistan)... he wants power at any cost," he is heard saying.

AAP has responded its founder member Vishwas’s remarks. Party has tweeted a clip from an interview of Mr Kejriwal. "They are saying Delhi's Chief Minister is planning to bifurcate India and becoming the Prime Minister of one part. Is this believable,", Delhi Chief Minister said. 

Taking a dig at Mr. Vishwas, the party added, "He is a comic-poet, he says anything. (Prime Minister) Modi and (Congress leader) Rahul ji took it seriously."

AAP senior leader Raghav Chadha tweeted a strongly-worded statement, calling the comments "malicious, unfounded, fabricated and inflammatory".

In an elections rally in Punjab, Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned Delhi Chief Minister. Mr. Modi alleged that Mr. Kejriwal and his party have the "same agenda" as Pakistan -- "to break India... to join hands with separatists to get power". The allegations, he said, should be taken seriously by every voter and citizen.

On Thursday, Mr. Arvind Kejriwal has come downy heavily on Punjab Chief Minister for his "UP, Bihar, Delhi de bhaiye" remark.

During a poll rally with Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Punjab, Mr. Channi had said: "Priyanka Gandhi is Punjab's daughter-in-law, she is the bahu of Punjabis. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi de bhaiye cannot come here and rule. We will not allow UP bhaiyas to stray into Punjab.", Mr. Channi stated. 

Mr. Kejriwal condemned the Channi remarks and called it "shameful". "It is very shameful. We strongly condemn comments aimed at any individual or any particular community," Mr. Kejriwal said.

However later, Punjab Chief Minister has issued a clarification regarding his statement and said that his statement was twisted. "I only meant people like Durgesh Pathak, Sanjay Singh, and Arvind Kejriwal (Aam Aadmi Party leaders ) who come from outside and cause disruptions," he said in a video statement.