BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over his visit to Paris on his birthday, accusing him of neglecting the state's worsening drug menace and law-and-order situation. Sirsa questioned Mann's decision to travel abroad amid tensions in Mansa following the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota and accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of failing to prioritise Punjab's concerns.
In a video message, Sirsa said, "Punjab is burning. Drug smugglers are killing anti-drug activists in broad daylight and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is travelling to Paris along with his wife to celebrate his birthday".
The BJP leader also questioned the purpose of the visit, alleging that Mann was using MARKFED's participation in an international food exhibition to justify his travel.
He claimed that neither the French government had invited Mann nor had the Centre initially granted political clearance for the trip.
"The excuse he is making is that MARKFED has put up a stall there. I want to see that. Why couldn’t he see the same in Punjab?" Sirsa said.
He further accused the AAP leadership of mismanaging the state and said Mann should have visited Jhota's grieving family in Mansa instead of travelling abroad.
Sirsa also criticised the chief minister for proceeding with the visit while protests and unrest continued over the activist's killing.
SIRSA QUESTIONS EXPENSES
Raising questions over the financial and administrative aspects of the trip, Sirsa asked whether the Paris visit was an official engagement or a birthday getaway funded by Punjab's taxpayers.
"Bhagwant Mann’s Paris visit raises serious questions. Is this an official business trip or a birthday getaway at Punjab's taxpayers' expense? The Punjab Government is paying for the visit, but why is the Chief Minister’s wife part of the official delegation? What rules permit this, and why should Punjab’s taxpayers bear the cost?" he said.
He also sought clarity on the formal invitation for the visit and questioned whether the chief minister's presence was necessary for MARKFED's participation in SIAL Paris 2026, an international food trade exhibition.
HIGH COURT CLEARS MANN'S FRANCE VISIT
The criticism came a day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowed the state government's plea challenging the Centre's decision to deny political clearance for Mann's visit to France from October 15 to 21.
The visit is linked to Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd. (MARKFED) participating in SIAL Paris 2026, being held from October 17 to 21.
The state government had argued that the Centre's decision was arbitrary, stating that the invitation had been submitted with its application and that the necessary administrative approvals had been obtained.
Punjab Additional Advocate General Ferry Sofat said the Centre had cited security concerns and the absence of an invitation while opposing the clearance.
The state maintained that the Indian Mission in France had been consulted and that MARKFED would bear the entire expenditure.
Speaking to reporters in Phillaur, Mann welcomed the court's decision and questioned why he had to approach the judiciary to travel for official engagements connected with Punjab's interests.
UNREST, TENSION IN PUNJAB
The controversy unfolds amid mounting pressure on the Punjab government over alleged drug-related violence.
The Union Home Ministry has sought detailed reports from the state on Jhota's killing, the death of Bikramjit Singh in another alleged drug-related attack and the suspected suicide of Gulzar Singh, who had raised concerns over drug availability.
Jhota was allegedly shot dead after questioning a medical shop owner over the sale of addictive substances in Mansa. His killing triggered protests, with his family refusing to cremate his body in protest.
The Centre has also sought an action-taken report on its Vision Document on Narcotics Control (2026-2029).
With the High Court clearing Mann's visit and the opposition intensifying its attack over the state's drug problem, the political confrontation between the BJP and the AAP government is likely to continue.
The detailed court order is awaited, while the state government's response to the Centre's queries on the recent incidents remains a key aspect to watch.
- Ends
With PTI inputs