New Delhi: A political controversy has emerged following Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s return from Paris, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) alleging that he was made to wait for almost three hours at Delhi airport and later handed a challan worth Rs 50,000.
The allegations were raised by Baltej Pannu, media in-charge of the Punjab AAP unit, in a video statement. He questioned the circumstances surrounding the chief minister’s reported delay and claimed that airport officials referred to pressure from senior authorities before issuing the penalty.
Pannu did not, however, clarify what violation the challan was linked to. The allegations have not been independently established, and further information from the concerned authorities is needed to determine the circumstances of the incident.
AAP raises concerns over treatment of Punjab CM
According to Pannu, Mann had travelled to Paris to showcase Punjab’s food products at a major international food festival. The visit was intended to provide a platform for promoting the state’s products and strengthening their presence in international markets.
Pannu also raised concerns about the arrangements made during the chief minister’s overseas trip. He alleged that the Consul General in Paris did not meet Mann, despite what the AAP leader described as expectations regarding official protocol.
The controversy intensified after Mann’s reported arrival in Delhi. Pannu claimed that officials kept the chief minister waiting while citing baggage-related checks and delays. He alleged that the situation remained unresolved for nearly three hours before the reported challan was issued.
The AAP leader argued that the treatment was inappropriate for the head of an elected state government and called for an explanation of the events at the airport.
Overseas visits become part of Centre-state dispute
Pannu also used the incident to renew the party’s criticism of the BJP-led Union government. He alleged that Punjab had faced repeated difficulties in obtaining clearance for the chief minister’s foreign visits.
According to him, permission had been denied on at least four occasions. He claimed that overseas engagements could help Punjab attract investment, expand business opportunities and introduce local products to international buyers.
The AAP leader further linked the party’s concerns to disputes over funds for Punjab and the Centre’s handling of the farmers’ protest. He accused the Union government of adopting an approach that, in the party’s view, was detrimental to the state’s economic and political interests.
The BJP-led government’s position on the specific allegations raised by Pannu was not included in his statement.
Official clarification awaited
The reported ₹50,000 challan remains a key unanswered aspect of the controversy. Pannu alleged that officials cited pressure from above, but he did not provide documentary evidence establishing who ordered the penalty or the grounds on which it was imposed.
A response from airport authorities would help establish whether Mann was formally detained, why his departure was allegedly delayed and what prompted the reported fine.
For now, the matter has become another point of confrontation between the AAP government in Punjab and the Centre. The allegations made by the ruling party in the state, along with the lack of a detailed official explanation in the account provided, leave several questions about the incident unanswered.
