Controversy Erupts Over U.S. Deportation Flights to Amritsar

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticizes the Indian government for choosing Amritsar as the landing destination for deported Indian migrants from the U.S., suggesting a conspiracy to defame Punjabis. Mann questions the motives behind not selecting other cities and demands an explanation from national authorities.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has launched a scathing attack on the central government over the deportation of Indian citizens allegedly involved in illegal migration to the United States, citing the choice of Amritsar as a landing site as a deliberate attempt to defame Punjabis.

Mann expressed concerns on Friday, noting that the decision to use Amritsar—proximity to the hostile border with Pakistan—as the landing site for the second plane slated to arrive from the U.S. raises security and political questions. He questioned why other cities, such as Ahmedabad, were not selected and demanded clarity from the Ministry of External Affairs.

The controversy thickened as opposition parties criticized the treatment of deported individuals aboard a U.S. military aircraft, accusing the government of mishandling the crisis on both humanitarian and diplomatic fronts.