Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has alleged that he was harassed by Customs officials at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport for nearly two hours after returning from Paris. Mann linked the incident to the Aam Aadmi Party’s demand for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Mann alleged that the action was intended as retaliation for AAP’s stand against the Chief Election Commissioner. He also referred to senior Customs official Manish Kumar as Gyanesh Kumar’s brother.
According to reports, Customs officials inspected the baggage accompanying Mann and his wife, Gurpreet Kaur, after their return from Paris earlier this week and a penalty of ₹50,000 was subsequently imposed. The AAP claimed that Mann had to wait for over two hours at the airport before being allowed to leave.
The BJP’s official social media accounts have also claimed that expensive designer shoes, a belt and other accessories were found in the luggage and the allegations have triggered a political exchange between the AAP and BJP, with the Punjab government’s ruling party accusing central agencies and officials of targeting its leadership.
Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s assertion that the National Democratic Alliance would form the next government in Punjab, Mann said the decision rested with the people of the state.
“Amit Shah cannot decide who will form the government. It is the three crore Punjabis who will decide,” Mann said.
The Chief Minister also responded to the BJP’s promise to dismantle the illicit drug trade in Punjab within two years if it comes to power. He referred to the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP government’s tenure from 2007 to 2017, alleging that major drug cartels had flourished during that period.
Referring to Shah’s statement about narcotics worth ₹20,000 crore being seized at ports, Mann said the AAP had maintained that drugs entered the country through ports under the Centre’s control.