'Bid to defame Punjab and Punjabis...' CM Mann fumes over US deportation flights landing in Amritsar

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has raised strong objections to the decision to land a second aircraft carrying Indian citizens deported from the United States in Amritsar, alleging that the move is a deliberate attempt to "defame Punjab and Punjabis."

"There is a conspiracy to defame Punjab and Punjabis. The first plane landed in Amritsar... Now, a second plane (carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US) will land in Amritsar. The MEA should tell the criteria based on which Amritsar was selected to land the aircraft. You select Amritsar to defame Punjab," Mann said.

To recall, on February 5, a US Air Force aircraft carrying Indian citizens who "illegally immigrated" to the US had landed in Amritsar. A total of 104 Indian nationals were on board the aircraft. Opposition parties had then slammed the Narendra Modi government both inside and outside Parliament, alleging that the deported Indians were brought in an "inhuman manner" on a US military plane and claiming that they were "ill-treated and handcuffed"

The Punjab CM linked the deportations to broader diplomatic relations between India and the US, questioning the timing of the repatriations. "At the time when PM Modi and (US President) Trump were meeting, they (US authorities) must have been putting shackles on our people. Is this the gift Trump has given?"

Mann also expressed security concerns over the landing of US military planes in Amritsar, given its close proximity to Pakistan. "America's military planes are landing in Amritsar, and an enemy country, Pakistan, is right next to it. Lahore is 40 km from there... What kind of foreign policy is this?"

He questioned why the deportation flights were not directed to other Indian cities, arguing that the decision unfairly paints Punjab as the hub of illegal migration. 

"Sheikh Hasina landed in Hindon. Ghaziabad. Why can these (Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US) be landed in Hindon? They should be landed in the national capital; we will bring our people from there... Amritsar is being chosen deliberately to portray that only Punjabis are illegal migrants... Why is Ahmedabad or Ambala not chosen?"

Accusing the BJP-led central government of attempting to tarnish Punjab’s image, Mann continued, "BJP always conspires to defame Punjab. They don't let international flights operate from Amritsar, claiming that it is not suitable for it, so why are flights coming in from the US now?"

The Punjab CM issued a strong demand to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to reroute the deportation flight before it lands. "I will strictly oppose this... I demand to the MEA and the MHA that the plane is still onboard, change the route and make it land in Delhi, Hindon or Ahmedabad," he said.

ANI