Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has strongly criticized the central government over the deportation of Indian citizens who allegedly migrated illegally to the United States, claiming that Amritsar is being deliberately chosen to portray that only Punjabis are illegal migrants.
On Friday, CM Mann revealed that a second plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US would land in Amritsar on Saturday. He also pointed out the proximity of Pakistan, India’s adversary, to Amritsar, raising security concerns.
“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. The MEA should tell the criteria based on which Amritsar was selected to land the aircraft. You select Amritsar to defame Punjab. At the time when PM Modi and (US President) Trump were meeting, they (US authorities) must have been putting shackles on our people. Is this the gift Trump has given? America’s military planes are landing in Amritsar, and an enemy country, Pakistan, is right next to it. Lahore is 40 km from there. What kind of foreign policy is this?” CM Mann said.
He questioned the Centre as to why cities like Ahmedabad or Ambala were not chosen for the landings.
“Sheikh Hasina landed in Hindon, Ghaziabad. Why can these (Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US) be landed in Hindon? They should be landed in the National Capital; we will bring our people from there. Amritsar is being chosen deliberately to portray that only Punjabis are illegal migrants. Why is Ahmedabad or Ambala not chosen? BJP always conspires to defame Punjab. They don’t let international flights operate from Amritsar, claiming that it is not suitable for it, so why are flights coming in from the US now?” he added.
“I will strictly oppose this. I demand to the MEA and the MHA that the plane is still onboard, change the route and make it land in Delhi, Hindon or Ahmedabad,” CM Mann concluded.
Notably, a US Air Force plane carrying 104 Indian nationals who had allegedly “illegally immigrated” to the US arrived in Amritsar on February 5. Opposition parties have condemned the deportation, alleging that the Indians were brought back “inhumanely” on a US military plane, claiming they were “ill-treated and handcuffed.”