BJP Dismisses Punjab CM’s Allegations on Deportation Flights as “Useless Topic”

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has criticized the central government over the arrival of another aircraft carrying illegal Indian immigrants deported from the United States.

Mann has alleged that the BJP-led Centre is intentionally “defaming” Punjab by selecting Amritsar as the landing site for these flights.

A deportation flight carrying 119 Indian nationals is expected to land at Amritsar Airport at around 10 PM.

Among them, 67 belong to Punjab, while the rest are from other states, including Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir.

This follows a previous flight that deported 104 Indian migrants, who were sent back to India in chains and shackles on a US military C-17 aircraft.

Punjab CM Questions Centre’s Intentions

Mann has raised concerns about why Amritsar was chosen as the destination for these flights, suggesting political motives behind the decision.

“A second plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US will land in Amritsar tomorrow. The Ministry of External Affairs should tell the criteria based on which Amritsar was selected to land the aircraft. You select Amritsar to defame Punjab. So, at the time when PM Modi and US President Donald Trump were meeting, they (US authorities) must have been putting shackles on our people. Is this the gift Trump has given?” Mann questioned.

He further alleged that the BJP government “always discriminates against Punjab” and that this is part of a “conspiracy” to tarnish the state’s image.

BJP Refutes Allegations

The BJP has rejected Mann’s claims, arguing that he is using the issue for political gains.

“Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should avoid doing politics on such sensitive issues. AAP leaders do not care about the security of the country; they only do politics,” BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal said.

BJP national spokesperson RP Singh also responded, stating that Amritsar was chosen due to its geographical proximity to flights arriving from the US.

“Amritsar is the nearest international airport for flights entering India from the US. That is why US aircraft carrying illegal immigrants are landing there. Mr Bhagwant Mann, stop politicizing the issue and promoting conspiracy theories due to your lack of knowledge,” Singh posted on social media.

Disproportionate Focus on Punjabis?

Mann has argued that illegal immigration is not limited to Punjab, yet media coverage and government actions suggest otherwise.

“Did you see any interviews of the deportees from Gujarat on national television? Only the interviews of Punjab’s youths were shown. Even tomorrow, you will go there to take their interview. We strongly object to the plane being made to land in Amritsar,” he asserted.

The Punjab CM insists that the Centre is deliberately projecting Punjab as the primary contributor to illegal immigration. “It is a deliberate attempt so that it appears that only Punjabis migrate illegally,” Mann claimed.

No Response from the Centre

Mann expressed frustration over the Ministry of External Affairs’ silence on his repeated appeals.

“Is this politicizing, you tell me? We are political people, and we have won on that basis. We are not an NGO. If caring about the honor of our youths and children is politics, then I will do it 24×7,” he stated.

He also questioned why deportation flights were not directed to other major airports, pointing out that planes carrying foreign dignitaries and defense equipment land at airports in states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

External Affairs Minister Defends Deportations

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar defended the government’s stance, stating that every country is obligated to take back its nationals if they are found living illegally abroad.

He also clarified that these deportations are conducted under standard US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) procedures that have been in place since 2012.

BJP Dismisses Conspiracy Claims

BJP state general secretary Anil Sarin dismissed Mann’s allegations as baseless. “The people who have been deported and are coming to India, there is no doubt that most of them are from Punjab. In the first plane of about 100 passengers, 33 were from Punjab and in the plane of 119 coming today, 66 are from Punjab,” Sarin said.

He criticized Mann’s statements, arguing that the real issue lies in illegal immigration networks.

“The issue is who sent these people to America illegally. By spending lakhs of rupees, these people pay travel agents to go abroad illegally. Punjab government should tell what action has it taken against those travel agents. I strongly condemn the way Punjab CM spoke about the Prime Minister.”

Opposition Joins the Debate

Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab Minister Gulzar Singh Ranike also weighed in, claiming that bringing these flights to Amritsar was part of a larger conspiracy to malign Punjab.

“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,” Ranike said.

The debate over deportation flights has sparked intense political friction, with both AAP and BJP holding strong positions.

As the controversy unfolds, questions remain about the long-term implications for Punjab and the broader issue of illegal immigration in India.