AMRITSAR: A U.S. aircraft carrying 116 Indian nationals deported from the United States landed at Amritsar’s international airport late Saturday night, marking the second such deportation flight to arrive in the city. The first flight had brought 104 deportees on February 5.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann voiced strong criticism of the central government, expressing concern over the arrival of U.S. military planes in Amritsar. He suggested that the continued landing of such flights could negatively affect the image of Punjab and its residents.
The CM raised questions as to why these deportation flights weren’t directed to other international airports, such as those in Delhi or Gujarat, instead of Amritsar.
Of the 116 deportees, 65 are from Punjab, with the remaining individuals coming from states such as Haryana, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir.
The Punjab government has arranged temporary accommodations for those deported from other states to help facilitate their onward travel to Delhi. Meanwhile, the deportees from Punjab are being transported back to their hometowns by road.
