Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Claims Political Retaliation at Delhi Airport

On October 23, 2026, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann publicly accused the BJP-led central government of political retaliation, claiming he was unjustly detained at Delhi airport upon his return from France. Mann stated that he was held for two hours, during which officials informed him they were 'under pressure from above' regarding his treatment.

Mann's allegations stem from a series of events leading up to his trip. He noted that he had to seek permission from the High Court after the Centre initially denied him clearance for his visit to France. Upon his return, he was subjected to a security check at the airport, where nothing objectionable was found in his luggage. Despite this, he was reportedly asked to pay a ₹50,000 challan, which he described as arbitrary and indicative of the pressure officials were under.

During the assembly session, Mann highlighted the involvement of customs officials, pointing out that the head of Customs at Delhi airport is related to the Chief Election Commissioner, suggesting a conflict of interest. He expressed concerns over how political vendettas are executed against individuals, particularly those in opposition.

The Punjab Assembly responded to Mann's claims by passing a resolution demanding an independent inquiry into alleged electoral irregularities. Mann accused the BJP of manipulating electoral rolls, alleging that the party was adding votes in its favor while deleting opposition votes. He called for the scrapping of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, asserting that recent elections in several states were marred by vote theft.

In the midst of these developments, the assembly witnessed significant unrest as Congress MLAs protested, demanding Mann's resignation. They criticized the government for failing to address issues related to law and order, drug control, and gang violence, leading to a walkout by Congress members as tensions escalated within the House.