New Delhi [India], February 15 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ajay Alok slammed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for his remarks on the treatment of Indians being deported from the United States, stating that while they may be considered illegal immigrants by the US, they remain "brothers of India."
"Bhagwant Mann should understand that Punjab is a part of this country. If a flight comes from America, the first state is Punjab. When you cross Lahore, we come to Amritsar. Punjab is not a separate country and will not cause any security threat." Alok told ANI.
Adding that while the United States considers the 119 people being sent on the second deportation flight to India as 'illegal immigrants,' the BJP leader considers them as 'brothers of India.'
"Soldiers of the country protect the borders of the nation. He has created a fuss over this nonsense. They are illegal immigrants to the US, but for us, they are the brothers of India. Your brothers of India are having trouble landing on their Indian soil," the BJP leader added.
Alok also attacked Arvind Kejriwal following a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) inquiry being ordered to probe the alleged irregularities in the renovation of 'Sheesh Mahal', the official residence of former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
"CVC's inquiry has been ordered directly on Sheesh Mahal. The amount of money spent on it is 3.5 crore rupees, for furniture, electrical fittings and marble, where they are spent. If they are genuine expenses, this public's money has been lost," the BJP leader told ANI.
Earlier today, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann assured that the deportees would be treated properly and that all arrangements had been made.
The CM said the deportees will stay in Amritsar for a few hours before being taken to their respective states.
"Our kids are the ones who are coming here anyway, so from here, no one can go hungry; we will make arrangements. We have also made accommodation arrangements for them. They will stay here for a few hours and then go to their respective states as the Ministry of External Affairs has already booked the flights," Mann said in a press conference in Amritsar today.
A total of 119 deportees are going to land in the city. This is the second such flight of deportees to be carried out after US President Donald Trump's inauguration.
Meanwhile, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has directed the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to investigate allegations that building norms were violated to construct a lavish mansion covering 40,000 square yards (8 acres) at 6 Flagstaff Bungalow, Kejriwal's residence.