US Deportation Flights: Why Only Punjab?

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

Flights carrying deported Indian nationals from the US have landed in Amritsar, sparking a controversy. Opposition leaders are questioning the decision to choose Punjab as the landing spot for these flights. Two more flights are scheduled to arrive on February 15 and 16, further escalating tensions. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has criticized the central government’s decision. The BJP has dismissed the criticism as unnecessary, while opposition parties allege it’s a plot to defame Punjab.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

The landing of US deportation flights in Amritsar has ignited a fresh political controversy. With two more flights scheduled to arrive on February 15 and 16, opposition leaders have accused the central government of deliberately choosing Amritsar as the landing point for the deportation (Deportation) of Indian nationals. This decision is fueling tensions and raising questions about the government’s motives. The first flight landed on February 5, carrying 104 deportees.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has strongly criticized the government’s decision, alleging a political motive behind the move. He questioned why these flights aren’t landing in Haryana or Gujarat, suggesting a deliberate attempt to target Punjab. “The government of India wants to defame Punjab by ensuring that aircraft coming from the USA land in Amritsar. Why don’t these planes land in Haryana or Gujarat? It is clear that the BJP is targeting Punjab. These flights should land in Ahmedabad instead,” he stated.

Congress MLA Pargat Singh echoed similar concerns, calling the repeated landings in Punjab “unfortunate.” He questioned why flights aren’t landing in other states, raising the issue with PM Modi.

Senior journalist Kanwar Sandhu questioned the logic behind the decision, arguing that flights should ideally land in Delhi. He pointed out that the flight trajectory indicates it originated from the south and carried deportees from multiple states, not just Punjab. He suggested Amritsar should be the landing point only if the majority of deportees are from Punjab.

However, BJP Punjab chief Sunil Jakhar dismissed the criticism, calling it an unnecessary controversy. He emphasized that the deportees are all Indian nationals, and the focus should be on the humanitarian aspect of the issue. Jakhar suggested that political parties should collaborate to resolve the underlying issues that lead people to risk illegal routes.

Amid the growing political heat, the Punjab government recently ordered the formation of a four-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a “comprehensive and effective investigation” into human trafficking and illegal Immigration.

During his visit to the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the issue of illegal immigration and human trafficking. He affirmed India’s willingness to take back citizens who are verified and residing illegally in the US, while emphasizing the need to dismantle the trafficking networks exploiting vulnerable families.

Aakhir Tak – Key Takeaways to Remember

The landing of US deportation flights in Amritsar has triggered a political controversy. The opposition accuses the central government of deliberately targeting Punjab for deportations. The BJP dismisses this as unnecessary politicization. Read full story here to learn about key takeaways and deeper insights into Immigration.

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