Chandigarh MP, Akali Dal Also Slam Centre Over Deportation Flights

by The_unmuteenglish

Chandigarh, 15 February 2025 – Chandigarh Congress MP Manish Tewari backed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s criticism of the Centre on Saturday, questioning why deportation flights carrying Indian migrants from the US were consistently landing in Amritsar.

“The central government could have landed the plane anywhere in the country but chose Amritsar to humiliate Punjab,” Tewari said.

He challenged the Centre’s decision, asking, “Why are these planes landing in Punjab? What message are you trying to send? Are you suggesting every illegal immigrant to the US is from Punjab? The chief minister is absolutely correct. There were people from Gujarat and Haryana as well. This flight could have landed in Delhi or anywhere else—why always Amritsar?”

Tewari warned that the move would have repercussions. “Delhi does not understand that Punjab does not take humiliation lightly, and there is always a cost when it is humiliated,” he said.

Earlier, Mann had questioned why the second flight carrying deported Indian nationals, scheduled to land in Amritsar on Saturday night, was not directed to Ahmedabad or another airport.

Of the 119 deportees on board, 67 were from Punjab. A similar flight on February 5 carried 104 deportees, including 30 from Punjab, while the rest were from Haryana and Gujarat.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former state minister Gulzar Singh Ranike also criticized the Centre, calling the decision a deliberate attempt to tarnish Punjab’s image.

“It is Punjab’s misfortune that successive central governments have tried to defame us,” Ranike said. “Amritsar is a border district. Landing these flights here is a conspiracy to portray Punjabis as illegal migrants.

Meanwhile, we have long demanded more international flights from Amritsar, but the Centre does not approve them. Yet, when it comes to these flights, they are sent here deliberately.”

Ranike called for a firm response, urging the Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister to ensure future deportation flights land in other states.

“People from all over India migrate abroad, not just Punjabis. This is a well-planned conspiracy, and India should take a stand against it,” he said.

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