New Delhi: In a major development on Tuesday, the Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia responded to the demand for a probe into Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann allegedly being deplaned in Germany with reports claiming he was "drunk".
Reacting to this, the Union Minister said that it is up to Lufthansa airlines to provide the details of the incident and based on that he would look into the matter. "This was international soil. We'll have to make sure we verify the facts. It's up to Lufthansa to provide data. I'll certainly, based on the request sent to me, look into it," said Scindia while responding to a bunch of questions by media over what action the Centre will take in the matter.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) supremo Sukhbir Singh Badal had on Monday alleged that CM Mann was deplaned from Lufthansa flight because of being in an inebriated state.
“Disturbing media reports quoting co-passengers say Pb CM @BhagwantMann was deplaned from Lufthansa flight as he was too drunk to walk. And it led to a 4-hour flight delay. He missed AAP’s national convention. These reports have embarrassed & shamed Punjabis all over the globe,” Badal tweeted.
Also read: CM Bhagwant Mann deplaned in Germany due to excess alcohol consumption, alleges Pratap Bajwa
However, AAP had been refuting any such claims saying that all these allegations are "baseless, bogus and fake". Mann returned from his eight-day trip from Germany on Monday where he had gone to attract investments. An anonymous passenger on the flight has told media that the flight was delayed by four hours as CM Mann was "so drunk that he could not even stand on his feet".
Hours after this, leaders from across the political spectrum blamed Mann and AAP for remaining silent. “Shockingly, Pb govt is mum over these reports involving their CM @BhagwantMann @ArvindKejriwal needs to come clean on this issue. Govt of India must step in as this involves Punjabi & national pride. If he was deplaned, GoI must raise the issue with its German counterpart,” tweeted Sukhbir Badal.
Similarly, Punjab's Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa wrote to Scindia requesting him to initiate a probe to verify the facts regarding the deplaning of Mann.
"If it (the news of the Punjab CM being drunk) were true, it is certainly a bad reflection on the office Bhagwant Mann is holding. Therefore, I would request you to kindly initiate an inquiry for verification of this news from Lufthansa Airlines as it involves not only an individual but the office he represents and such a conduct needs to be deprecated".
Kejriwal defends Mann
Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal, meanwhile, Mann amid the allegations. Speaking to reporters in Vadodara in poll-bound Gujarat, Kejriwal said the Opposition is slinging mud at Mann and spreading lies as they cannot find a fault in his work.
"What Mann Saheb had done in the last six months, no government in Punjab had done in the last 75 years. After 75 years, Punjab has got a 'kattar' honest and hard-working chief minister," he said. He said the Opposition is indulged in mudslinging as it has failed to pick fault in Mann's work. "All this is a lie, all nonsense. The Opposition is trying to stop Mann but people are watching. They are happy with his work," Kejriwal said.
Queried on the arrest of AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan, the Delhi chief minister said anyone who committed a mistake should be punished.
He targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party for holding press conferences on this issue. "I have never seen a more useless party than the BJP. It has CBI, ED, Income Tax, and the police at its disposal. Despite this, they hold press conferences daily to accuse people. If we ever form a government at the Centre, we will send accused people to jail and not hold press conferences," he said. Khan was nabbed by the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) on September 16 in connection with a graft case. (With PTI inputs)
