New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has accused the central government of deliberately choosing Amritsar as the landing point for a second flight carrying deported Indian immigrants from the US, alleging a deliberate attempt to defame Punjab.
Mann criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government for alleged discrimination against Punjab, stating, “The BJP-led Centre always discriminates against Punjab. It does not let go of any chance of defaming Punjab.” He questioned why the first flight, which carried a comparable number of deportees from other states, didn’t land in Ahmedabad.
“It is being said that out of the 119 illegal immigrants, 67 hail from Punjab and that’s why the plane will land in Amritsar. If that’s the case, then why didn’t the first plane last in Ahmedabad? … They (referring to BJP-led central government) are trying to defame Punjab. BJP always tries to defame Punjabis and Punjab,” Mann said.
VIDEO | A US plane carrying 119 illegal immigrants is likely to land at Amritsar airport on February 15, the second such batch of Indians deported by the Trump government as part of a crackdown it resolved to carry out when it was sworn in last month. The plane is expected to… pic.twitter.com/vFcwxYghoq
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 14, 2025
The Chief Minister also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who held talks with President Trump earlier on Friday, about whether the deportation flight was a “gift” from the US.
A second batch of 119 illegal Indian immigrants is expected to arrive in Amritsar on February 15, following the first batch of 104 deportees who arrived last week on a US military aircraft. The deportees were handcuffed during the flight, sparking controversy.
Of the 119 deportees, 67 are from Punjab, 33 from Haryana, eight from Gujarat, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Goa, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, and one each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
The Trump administration has intensified its crackdown on illegal immigrants since taking office in January, leading to the deportation of several Indians who entered the US through illegal means known as “donkey routes”.
This incident has sparked political debate, with Punjab’s Chief Minister alleging a deliberate attempt by the central government to tarnish the state’s image. The handcuffing of deportees during the first flight also raises human rights concerns and adds to the controversy surrounding the issue.
