Chandigarh (National Times): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday lashed out at the Central government, accusing it of deliberately portraying Punjab in a bad light over the recent deportation of illegal immigrants from the United States.
Addressing the Punjab Assembly’s special session, CM Mann questioned why all three deportation flights landed in Amritsar, despite carrying immigrants from multiple states.
“Three flights arrived in India, and all of them landed in Amritsar. These flights came via Gujarat due to restrictions on using Pakistani and Afghan airspace for military aircraft. However, the number of Gujaratis and Haryanavis on these flights was higher than Punjabis,” he pointed out.
Mann alleged that the Centre deliberately chose Amritsar as the arrival point to create a false perception that Punjabis were the majority of illegal immigrants. “They wanted the headlines to read that deportation flights landed in Amritsar, making it seem like Punjab alone was responsible. This is a clear attempt to tarnish Punjab’s image,” he said.
He further accused the Union government of hypocrisy, highlighting how Sheikh Hasina’s military aircraft was permitted to land at Hindon Air Force Base when she sought political asylum. Additionally, Mann criticized PM Narendra Modi for meeting Donald Trump while Punjabi immigrants were being handcuffed and deported from the US.
“Is this what Punjab gets in return? This is unacceptable. Punjabis don’t plead; we demand our rights,” Mann declared, delivering a sharp rebuke to the Centre over its handling of the issue.
The deportation of illegal immigrants remains a heated topic, particularly in Punjab, where many youths migrate abroad seeking better opportunities. Mann’s strong remarks have reignited the debate over the Centre’s role in shaping the narrative around deported immigrants.
