Third Flight Expected on February 16; Punjab CM Questions Centre’s Intentions
A special flight carrying 119 deportees from the United States, including 67 individuals from Punjab, is set to land at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar, around 10 PM tonight, according to senior police officials.
A third flight carrying 157 deportees is also scheduled to arrive on February 16, sources confirmed. Earlier, on February 5, a US military aircraft had landed in Amritsar with 104 deportees aboard.
While it remains unclear whether the deportees are being flown in by a US aircraft or an Indian government-arranged flight, officials have ensured tight security arrangements at the airport. Immigration officials, police personnel, and representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs will be present to oversee the arrivals.
Apart from the 67 individuals from Punjab, the incoming flight will also carry:
- 33 deportees from Haryana
- 8 from Gujarat
- 3 from Uttar Pradesh
- 2 each from Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Goa
- 1 each from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir
- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has criticized the central government for choosing Amritsar as the primary destination for these deportation flights, alleging a deliberate attempt to defame Punjab.
“This move gives the misleading impression that most deportees are from Punjab,” Mann stated, adding that he had lodged a protest with the Ministry of External Affairs but was yet to receive a response.
He further questioned the criteria for selecting Amritsar as the landing airport, pointing out that the February 5 flight, which carried 33 deportees from Gujarat, did not land in that state.
“If the Centre’s argument is that Amritsar was chosen because the majority of today’s deportees are from Punjab, then why didn’t the previous flight land in Gujarat when it had the highest number of deportees from there?” Mann asked.
Accusing the BJP-led central government of targeting Punjab, Mann asserted that illegal immigration is a national issue and should not be projected as a Punjab-specific problem.
Authorities have stated that enhanced security measures are in place at the airport to ensure a smooth repatriation process. Police teams, immigration officials, and MEA representatives will coordinate the deportees’ arrival and necessary documentation procedures.
With another flight arriving on February 16, the issue of illegal immigration and deportations remains a significant political and social concern, raising questions about India’s immigration policies, border control measures, and international relations.