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Congress MP Gurjit Singh Aujla on Saturday dismissed Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's recent criticism of the Centre over the deportation of Indian citizens from the US, calling it a mere attempt to grab headlines and lacking substance.
Speaking to ANI, Aujla defended Punjab's reputation, emphasizing the significant contributions of NRIs to the state's economy and the well-being of Punjabis abroad. "What Bhagwat Mann said was merely to create headlines. It was all meaningless. The flight should have been landed in Delhi. Punjab is not getting defamed in any way. Punjab has a lot of NRIs, and they contribute to our economy in a big way. Punjabis are living a happy life abroad," he said. The Congress MP questioned the state government's efforts to address large-scale emigration and create job opportunities, urging both the BJP and AAP governments to focus on improving law and order and employment prospects in Punjab to curb the ongoing exodus. "What are the governments doing to stop such large-scale emigration? What has the state government done to employ our people, and what is the state's law and order? Because the people of Punjab are economically well-off, they prefer to go to the US. Indians have emigrated in large numbers to Europe and UAE as well. This shows the condition of our country. The BJP and AAP government should look into it," Gurjit Aujla said. Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann came hard on the Centre over the deportation of Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the United States, and said that Amritsar is being chosen deliberately to portray that only Punjabis are illegal migrants. .CM Mann claimed on Friday that the second plane carrying Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US will land in Amritsar on Saturday. He also highlighted that Pakistan, an enemy country of India, is very near to Amritsar, posing a threat. He questioned the Centre as to why Ahmedabad or any other place was not chosen. "Sheikh Hasina landed in Hindon, Ghaziabad. Why can these (Indian citizens who allegedly illegally migrated to the US) be landed in Hindon? They should be landed in the National Capital; we will bring our people from there. Amritsar is being chosen deliberately to portray that only Punjabis are illegal migrants. Why is Ahmedabad or Ambala not chosen? BJP always conspires to defame Punjab. They don't let international flights operate from Amritsar, claiming that it is not suitable for it, so why are flights coming in from the US now?" he added. "I will strictly oppose this. I demand to the MEA and the MHA that the plane is still onboard, change the route and make it land in Delhi, Hindon or Ahmedabad," CM Mann said. (ANI)
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