‘When deportees are from whole country, why was Amritsar chosen?’: In Punjab, questions raised over US flight landing in state

“The Centre has always given Punjab step-motherly treatment. People (deportees) from other states are more than those from Punjab. By leaving the national capital and choosing Amritsar for landing this aircraft, it raises a question mark,” Arora added.

The aircraft carried 104 Indians from Haryana, Gujarat, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Chandigarh. Sources said the highest number of deportees – 33 each – were from Gujarat and Haryana, followed by 30 from Punjab. Two deportees each are from Uttar Pradesh and Chandigarh, while three are from Maharashtra.

Nitin Chawla, director of Ludhiana-based Kapri Immigration Consultants, echoed Arora’s concerns. “Why was Amritsar chosen? I fail to understand. They could have landed at Delhi or any other international airport. Why is a narrative being set up against our state?” Chawla asked.

Ajaypal Singh Brar, the president of Ferozepur-based NGO Misl Satluj, condemned the deportation, saying that using a military aircraft like the C-17 — much more expensive than a civilian flight – was a deliberate attempt to humiliate India before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US.

Brar also criticised the decision to land the flight in Amritsar, calling it a “face-saving move”. “Had the flight landed in the national capital, it would have been a major embarrassment for a government that claims to have strong ties with the US administration,” he said. “I feel that it is an effort to tarnish the image of Punjabis by falsely portraying them as the primary group involved in illegal immigration. Deported individuals belonged to various states across India, but the government and media are selectively pushing a narrative that unfairly targets Punjab,” he added.

Brar urged the youth in Punjab to avoid illegal immigration routes and instead focus on creating opportunities for themselves within the state through business and employment. He also criticised both the present and past governments for failing to provide meaningful jobs and a conducive environment for economic growth in Punjab, saying this has forced many youngsters to seek risky alternatives abroad.