Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly criticised the central government over the landing of planes with deported Indian from the United States in Amritsar, Punjab.

Interacting with the media on February 14, 2025, the Punjab Chief Minister claimed that Amritsar was being deliberately chosen for the arrival of deportation flights to portray "Punjabis as illegal migrants".

His statement came hours before a second plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly entered the US illegally is set to land in Amritsar later today.

He also raised concerns about Amritsar’s proximity to Pakistan, calling it a potential security risk.

"There is a conspiracy to defame Punjab and Punjabis. The first plane landed in Amritsar. Now, a second plane (carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US) will land in Amritsar," the chief minister said.

"The Ministry of External Affairs should explain the criteria based on which Amritsar was selected for these landings. You select Amritsar to defame Punjab. At the time when Prime Minister Modi and (US President) Trump were meeting, they (US authorities) must have been putting shackles on our people," he added.

"Is this the gift Trump has given? America's military planes are landing in Amritsar, and an enemy country, Pakistan, is right next to it. Lahore is 40 km from there. What kind of foreign policy is this?" Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann questioned.

He questioned why other locations such as Ahmedabad were not chosen.

"Sheikh Hasina landed in Hindon, Ghaziabad. Why cannot these (Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US) be landed in Hindon? They should be landed in the National Capital; we will bring our people from there," he said.

"Amritsar is being chosen deliberately to portray that only Punjabis are illegal migrants. Why is Ahmedabad or Ambala not chosen?" the chief minister reiterated.

"The BJP always conspires to defame Punjab. They do not allow international flights to operate from Amritsar, claiming it is not suitable, so why are flights arriving from the US now?" CM Bhagwant Mann added.

"I will strictly oppose this. I demand that the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs reroute the plane while it is still airborne and make it land in Delhi, Hindon, or Ahmedabad," Mann stated.

On February 5, 2025, a US Air Force plane carrying 104 Indian nationals who were deported for allegedly entering the US illegally landed in Amritsar, Punjab.

Opposition parties criticised the government both inside and outside Parliament, alleging that the deported individuals were brought back in an "inhuman manner" on a US military aircraft and claiming that they were "ill-treated and handcuffed."

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