Congress questioned why deportees were flown specifically to Amritsar. Congress MLA Pargat Singh alleged Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann reacted only after Congress highlighted the flights. Mann claimed Punjab is experiencing \”reverse migration\”, with youth returning from abroad for govt jobs. Punjab health and family welfare minister Dr Balbir Singh of AAP termed deportation of Indians in handcuffs and shackles \”unfortunate\” Punjab BJP vice-president and ex-MLA Arvind Khanna blamed AAP govt’s policies and linked the deportations to broader issues in Punjab, such as unemployment and drugs. SAD functionary Bikram Singh Majithia swiped at Mann, accusing him of \”playing to the gallery\” and indulging in \”dirty politics\” when US authorities are forcing Sikh youth to return without their turbans. He urged MEA to take action against US authorities for deportation of Indian youth without turbans, and urged PM Modi to take steps to stop the deportments. The matter has become a hot-button political topic in Punjab.
