Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly criticized the Centre on Friday over the deportation of Indian citizens who allegedly migrated illegally to the United States. He claimed that the decision to have deportation flights land in Amritsar is a deliberate attempt to tarnish Punjab’s image by suggesting that only Punjabis are involved in illegal migration.
Mann revealed that a second plane carrying deported Indian nationals would arrive in Amritsar on Saturday, following the first flight that landed on February 5. He expressed concern over the proximity of Amritsar to Pakistan, an adversary of India, stating that this situation poses a national security threat.
“There is a clear conspiracy to defame Punjab and its people. The first plane landed in Amritsar, and now a second will follow. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) must explain the reasoning behind selecting Amritsar as the landing point for these flights. It seems like Amritsar is being chosen to portray that only Punjabis are illegal migrants,” said Mann.
He further questioned why other cities, such as Ahmedabad or Ambala, were not chosen for the deportations. He compared the situation to when Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina landed in Hindon, Ghaziabad, and suggested that the deported individuals could have been landed in Delhi or the National Capital instead.
Mann also pointed out the apparent contradictions in the Centre’s approach, noting that the government had previously cited the unsuitability of Amritsar’s airport for international flights, yet it was now being used for such landings.
“I will strongly oppose this. I demand that the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs change the flight’s route and have it land in Delhi, Hindon, or Ahmedabad instead,” Mann added.
In a broader critique, he accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of deliberately plotting against Punjab to discredit the state. The controversial deportation follows a US Air Force flight on February 5 that carried 104 Indian nationals who had allegedly migrated illegally to the US. The deported individuals were reportedly treated poorly during their journey, with opposition parties claiming they were “ill-treated and handcuffed.”
Mann’s comments reflect growing discontent over the handling of the deportation process, as many feel it has been managed in a way that unfairly targets Punjab.
