Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was allegedly detained for three hours at Delhi airport upon his return from Paris and fined ₹50,000. This claim was made by Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) media in-charge Baltej Pannu in a video statement.
Pannu did not clarify the reason for the fine. However, he claimed that airport officials cited “heavy pressure from above.” He linked the incident to the central government’s withholding of permission for the Punjab Chief Minister’s foreign trips, the non-release of state funds, and the handling of the farmers’ protest, alleging that the Modi government was creating obstacles to Punjab’s progress.
AAP accuses the central government of insulting Punjab
Baltej Pannu strongly condemned the central government’s alleged anti-Punjab policies. He said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government leave no opportunity to insult Punjab and Punjabiat. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was deliberately detained at Delhi airport for three hours upon his return from Paris and subsequently issued an absurd fine of ₹50,000. This is a direct attack on Punjab’s identity and dignity.”
Pannu accused the central government of ignoring Punjab’s rights, saying that efforts have been made to weaken Punjab at every level by keeping farmers stranded at Delhi’s borders for a long time and not releasing the state’s due funds.
He said, “Whether it’s forcibly keeping farmers stranded at Delhi’s borders for a year and a half or withholding funds due to Punjab, the central government has consistently tried to obstruct Punjab at every level.”
Allegations of withholding permission for Chief Minister’s foreign trips
The AAP leader claimed that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s foreign trip permissions have been withheld at least four times. According to him, the central government fears that if the Chief Minister goes abroad, he will bring in investment and put Punjab on the path to progress.
Referring to Mann’s visit to Paris, Pannu said that the Chief Minister went there as per the instructions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He claimed that the Chief Minister’s objective was to launch Punjab’s famous products at the world’s second largest food festival.
According to Pannu, the High Court had directed proper protocol for the Chief Minister, but despite this, even the Indian Consul General in Paris did not visit him. He termed this as the alleged narrow-mindedness of the central government.
‘Detained for three hours on the pretext of baggage arrival and checking’
Baltej Pannu alleged that the Chief Minister was deliberately detained for three hours at the Delhi airport after returning from Paris. He claimed that during this time, officials told him that his baggage was arriving and that the baggage was being checked.
Pannu dismissed these claims as false and said that this was an insult to Punjab.
He further stated that when Bhagwant Mann was allowed to leave after three hours and was about to load his luggage into his car, the officials approached him. According to Pannu, the officials claimed they were under “enormous pressure from above” and subsequently issued a challan of ₹50,000.
The AAP leader claimed that the officials’ admission of pressure was proof of a higher-up directive. However, his statement did not specify the official reason for issuing the challan.
AAP asks – Has this happened to any other Chief Minister?
Pannu questioned whether any Chief Minister of an Indian state has ever been detained at an airport for three hours in this manner or insulted by issuing a challan of ₹50,000.
He alleged that this was happening to Bhagwant Mann because he is a Punjabi, the Chief Minister of Punjab, and is continuously working for the betterment of the state.
The AAP leader linked the entire incident to the identity and honour of Punjab and accused the central government of creating obstacles in the development of the state.