Punjab CM Detained for 3 Hours at Delhi Airport, Then Fined Absurd ₹50,000 Challan Under Pressure From Above: Baltej Pannu
From Holding Farmers at Delhi Borders for 18 Months to Withholding Punjab’s Funds, Centre Has Tried to Choke Punjab at Every Opportunity: Baltej Pannu
Modi Govt Fears CM Bhagwant Singh Mann Will Bring Investment to Punjab, Denies Him Foreign Visit Permissions: Baltej Pannu
Modi Govt Doesn't Want Punjab to Progress or Have Chief Minister Who Works for Its People: Baltej Pannu
CHANDIGARH; October 20, 2026:
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu questioned the Centre’s treatment of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann during his recent Paris visit, revealing that the Chief Minister was detained for 3 hours at Delhi Airport upon his return and subsequently issued a ₹50,000 challan while officials citing “tremendous pressure from above”. He linked the incident to the Centre’s repeated denial of foreign visit permissions to the Punjab CM, the withholding of Punjab’s funds and its handling of the farmers’ protest, asserting that the Modi government was creating obstacles to Punjab’s progress.
AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu strongly condemned the Modi government’s anti-Punjab moves, stating, “PM Modi and his government leave no opportunity to undermine Punjab and Punjabi identity. Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann was deliberately detained at Delhi Airport for 3 hours on his return from Paris, after which an absurd challan of ₹50,000 was also issued to him. This is a direct attack on Punjab’s identity and dignity.”
Listing the Centre’s anti-Punjab policies, Baltej Pannu stated, “Whether it is forcibly keeping farmers at Delhi’s borders for 1.5 years or withholding funds rightfully due to Punjab, the Central government has continuously tried to choke Punjab at every level.”
He further stated, “So far, permission for CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s foreign visits has been denied at least 4 times because the Modi government fears that if the Chief Minister travels abroad, he will bring investment and funds from there and put Punjab on the path of progress.”
Referring to CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s visit to Paris, France, the AAP Punjab Media In-charge said, “When CM Bhagwant Singh Mann travelled to Paris, France, in accordance with the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Central government once again demonstrated its narrow-mindedness. He had gone there to launch Punjab’s famous products at the world’s second-largest food festival. The High Court had clearly directed that CM Bhagwant Singh Mann be accorded his due protocol, but such was the ill intent of the Centre that even the Consul General in Paris did not come to meet the Chief Minister.”
Baltej Pannu added, “The Central government’s resentment and humiliation of Punjab did not stop there. When Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann returned from Paris and arrived at Delhi Airport, he was deliberately detained for 3 hours. Excuses were made that ‘your luggage is still arriving’ and ‘your luggage is still being checked’. These were outright lies and an insult to Punjab.”
He stated, “After three hours, when CL Bhagwant Singh Mann was allowed to leave and was about to depart after placing his luggage in the vehicle, officials came running after him and said that they were under ‘tremendous pressure from above’. They then issued a challan of ₹50,000. The officials themselves admitted that they were under pressure, which proves that the entire episode was carried out under orders from above.”
Raising questions over the treatment meted out to the Chief Minister, Baltej Pannu asked, “Has any Chief Minister of an Indian state ever been detained at an airport for three hours in this manner? Has any Chief Minister of a state ever been disrespected by being issued a challan of ₹50,000? This is happening solely because Bhagwant Singh Mann is a Punjabi, is the Chief Minister of Punjab, and is working day and night for the betterment of Punjab.”
Concluding his statement, the AAP Punjab Media In-charge asserted, “The Modi government is terrified of Punjab’s progress. The Central government does not want Punjab to progress in any field or for the people of Punjab to have a Chief Minister who works for their welfare. The Central government is creating obstacles of every kind and putting up all sorts of hurdles.”
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