With India expecting the landing of a second batch of 119 illegal immigrants from the US, the Opposition is up in arms against the Centre for the manner in which the Indians are being deported and also why Punjab particularly has been chosen for the landing of US plane with deportees.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann criticised the central government directing another aircraft carrying illegal Indian immigrants deported from the United States to Punjab. He accused the BJP-led Centre of intentionally attempting to ‘defame’ Punjab by selecting Amritsar as the landing destination for these flights.

Mann said, “A second plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US will land in Amritsar tomorrow. The Ministry of External Affairs should tell the criteria based on which Amritsar was selected to land the aircraft. You select Amritsar to defame Punjab. So, at the time when PM Modi and US President Donald Trump were meeting, they (US authorities) must have been putting shackles on our people. Is this the gift Trump has given?” asked the Punjab Chief Minister. 

To this, BJP national spokesperson  RP Singh replied, “Amritsar is the nearest international airport for flights entering India from the US. That is why US aircraft carrying illegal immigrants are landing there. @BhagwantMann Sir, stop politicising the issue and promoting conspiracy theories due to your lack of knowledge.”

On the other hand, Congress MP P Chidambaram called the arrival of the next flight from the US as a ‘test for Indian diplomacy’.

Taking to his X account, he wrote, “All eyes will be on the US aircraft which will land today in Amritsar bringing back illegal immigrants. Will the deportees be handcuffed and their legs tied with ropes? It is a test for Indian diplomacy.”

Also read:

Second batch of 119 illegal immigrants from US to reach India today