CM Slams Centre’s Decision to Land Plane Carrying Deported Indians at Amritsar, Calls It a Plot to Defame Punjab
Terms Move as BJP’s Attempt to Tarnish Image of Punjab and Punjabis; Criticizes Modi Over Handling of Illegal Immigration Issue
Amritsar, February 15
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has strongly opposed the decision of the Government of India (GoI) to land a plane carrying deported Indians at Amritsar airport, calling it a deliberate attempt by the union government to malign the image of Punjab and its people. Speaking to the media on Friday, the Chief Minister condemned the move, stating that it is part of a broader conspiracy by the BJP-led central government to defame the state.
A Conspiracy Against Punjab?
Interacting with reporters, Bhagwant Singh Mann questioned why Amritsar was chosen as the landing site for the deportees when there are hundreds of other airports across the country. He accused the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of targeting Punjab and Punjabis by repeatedly landing such flights in the state without any justification.
The Chief Minister revealed that he had already raised this issue with the MEA and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), but received no satisfactory response. “One plane landed a few days ago, and now two more are being sent to Amritsar without any rationale,” he said. Mann expressed concern over the selective targeting of Punjabis, despite their significant contributions to India’s freedom struggle, with over 90% of martyrs, prisoners, and exiles hailing from Punjab.
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Illegal Immigration: A National Problem
Mann emphasized that illegal immigration is not just a Punjab-specific issue but a national problem. However, he alleged that the central government is disproportionately projecting Punjab as the epicenter of the issue, leading to the wrongful perception that only Punjabis are being deported from countries like the United States.
The Chief Minister also criticized the decision to land a U.S. military aircraft in Amritsar, which lies just 40 kilometers from the international border with Pakistan. He pointed out the double standards of the central government, which had previously rejected Punjab’s demand for international flights citing security concerns. “If former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s flight could land at Hindon airport and Rafale jets could land in Ambala, why can’t these planes be diverted elsewhere?” Mann asked.
Modi’s Foreign Policy Under Fire
Training his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi , Mann mocked him as a “self-proclaimed global leader” who has failed to secure the rights and dignity of Indian citizens abroad. He highlighted the irony of Modi shaking hands with former U.S. President Donald Trump while Indians were being deported in chains on an American military plane.
“The chained deportees are nothing but a ‘return gift’ from Trump to Modi,” Mann quipped, accusing the central government of abandoning its citizens during their time of need. He lamented that instead of ensuring a dignified return for these individuals, the government has humiliated them, leaving them feeling abandoned by the system.
Call for Dignified Treatment
The Chief Minister stressed that these deported individuals, who are sons and daughters of the soil, deserve to be treated with respect and compassion. He argued that the government should have sent its own aircraft to bring them back and ensured their safe and honorable return.
“Instead of standing by them in this hour of crisis, the Modi government has turned its back on them. This is shameful and unacceptable,” Mann said. He reiterated that Punjabis have always stood against regressive policies of the union government, which is why the BJP harbors animosity toward the community and is bent on tarnishing its reputation.
A Plea for Justice
Concluding his remarks, Mann urged the central government to stop using Punjab as a scapegoat and address the larger issue of illegal immigration as a national challenge. He called for accountability and fairness in dealing with Indian citizens abroad, asserting that the current approach only reflects the failure of the government’s foreign policy.
The Chief Minister’s strong words reflect growing tensions between the Punjab government and the union government over issues of federalism, representation, and the treatment of vulnerable citizens. As the debate unfolds, the plight of deported Indians remains a pressing concern that demands urgent attention and resolution.
