Embroiled in MeToo controversy with the rival political parties demanding his expulsion from the Punjab Cabinet for allegedly sending an “inappropriate” message to a female IAS officer, Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday gave the issue a casteist colour.

“I am being targeted as I am a Dalit and have been raising issues concerning the Dalits in the state,” said Channi who was speaking to the media for the first time after his return from abroad to playing down the matter, the Minister said that he had sent the message to the woman “by mistake”.

“I am always been respectful to women...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 officer had accepted his apology.

He maintained that the matter was over after that, while blaming the SAD of raking up the issue.

Channi said that he had already given his clarification to the satisfaction of the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh. “The CM is supreme...We work under the directions of the Chief Minister...If he takes any decision against me, it is accepted to me,” he said.

Meanwhile, the SAD reiterated its demand of sacking the Minister, while asking him not to play the “dalit card” to absolve himself of the shameful involvement in sexual harassment of a senior IAS officer.

Dubbing the sexual harassment incident of a senior IAS officer as a “disgrace” on the face of the Congress Government, senior SAD leaders — Gulzar Singh Ranike, Sohan Singh Thandal and Pawan Kumar Tinu — on Tuesday demanded an immediate dismissal of the Cabinet Minister and a case registered under 345 of the Indian Penal Code.

The three SAD leaders, in a hard hitting statement, lamented that the MeToo incident in the state, involving a senior IAS officer, has become an absolute “mockery” by the condescending attitude demonstrated by state Congress president Sunil Jakhar and the Chief Minister. “Asha Kumari, being a woman, had showed not only apathy but complete lack of reason, logic and compassion to the lady officer and the women in general,” they said.

Pointing that the invaders, plundering through Punjab, were put to sword by the brave Dalits to save women, SAD MLA Tinu said that the situation has reached where a Cabinet Minister is trying to hide under the garb that since he is a Dalit he is being targeted.