Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was allegedly made to wait for three hours at Delhi airport after returning from Paris, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claiming that he was later issued a challan of Rs 50,000. The party has accused the BJP-led Centre of deliberately targeting Mann, although the reason for the alleged fine has not been specified by AAP. The incident took place late on October 19, according to AAP's Punjab unit. The controversy has added to the ongoing political confrontation between the Punjab government and the Centre over Mann's recent visit to France.
Why was Bhagwant Mann allegedly detained at Delhi airport?
AAP Punjab state media in-charge Baltej Pannu alleged that Mann was kept at Delhi airport for three hours after arriving from Paris. According to Pannu, officials repeatedly cited delays involving the chief minister's luggage, saying it was still arriving or undergoing checks.
Pannu claimed that Mann was eventually allowed to leave but was stopped again when he was about to depart in his vehicle. Officials allegedly told him they were under “tremendous pressure from above” before issuing the Rs 50,000 challan.
AAP has not specified the exact grounds on which the challan was issued. The allegations about the delay, the pressure on officials and the circumstances surrounding the fine have not been independently established in the information provided.
What did AAP say about the Bhagwant Maan detention?
The AAP leadership described the alleged episode as an attempt to humiliate Punjab's elected chief minister. Pannu accused the BJP-led government at the Centre of targeting Mann because of his political position and alleged that the action was an affront to Punjab's dignity. Pannu also questioned whether a sitting chief minister had previously faced a similar situation at an airport. He argued that the alleged treatment of Mann was part of a broader pattern of confrontation between the Centre and the AAP government in Punjab.
The party linked the episode to several other disputes, including disagreements over funds due to Punjab and the handling of farmers' protests at Delhi's borders. AAP further alleged that the Centre had repeatedly denied Mann political clearance for overseas visits. Pannu claimed that the government was concerned that international trips could help the chief minister attract investment and funding for Punjab.
What is the controversy over Mann's Paris visit?
The airport episode follows a dispute over Mann's visit to France, where he travelled to attend a food trade fair. The Centre had initially denied political clearance for the trip, prompting the Punjab government to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The court set aside the Centre's decision, observing that the government had not explained the political angle or viewpoint behind its decision.
Pannu also claimed that the High Court had directed that Mann be accorded due protocol during the visit. He alleged that the Consul General in Paris did not meet the chief minister despite the court's observations. The dispute over the foreign visit has since become another point of friction between the AAP government in Punjab and the BJP-led Centre.
What did SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia claim?
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) general secretary Bikram Singh Majithia also commented on the controversy. In a post on X, Majithia cited sources to claim that Mann and his wife had been questioned for hours over allegedly carrying more luggage or money than permitted. He further claimed that they were unable to provide an explanation and were eventually allowed to leave, taking into account Mann's position as chief minister.
Majithia also alleged that instructions had been issued to verify the bags of the entire Chief Minister's Office staff. These claims have not been independently verified in the information available. The precise circumstances of the airport checks and the official reason for the reported challan remain unclear.
A fresh flashpoint between AAP and BJP
The allegations have opened another front in the political battle between the AAP government in Punjab and the Centre. While AAP has portrayed the incident as an attempt to undermine the state and its leadership, the circumstances surrounding the reported detention and fine remain central to the controversy.