Denial of France tour to Bhagwant Singh Mann is a blow to Punjab - Harchand Singh Barsat

Chandigarh, August 3, 2024: Aam Aadmi Party, Punjab's State General Secretary and Chairman of Punjab Mandi Board, Harchand Singh Barsat, has strongly condemned the denial of permission to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to visit France by the Central BJP government.

He said that by not allowing Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to visit Paris Olympics, the Central government has not only insulted the 3 crore people of Punjab but also hurt their sentiments, as most of the players in the Indian hockey team are from Punjab. This is equivalent to putting a stop to the fundamental rights of a constitutionally elected person.

Barsat said that stopping AAP leaders from going abroad is not new. Earlier, the Modi government had also denied permission to AAP's national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Sh. Arvind Kejriwal to visit Singapore to study the education system there.
Despite the Indian hockey team, which has a majority of Punjabi players, being on a winning streak in the Paris Olympics, the denial of permission to Bhagwant Singh Mann to visit Paris to boost the morale of the hockey team is another example of discrimination against Punjab.

Barsat said that earlier, the Central government had also discriminated against Punjab by not including Punjab's tableau in the Republic Day parade, not providing compensation to farmers and laborers affected by floods, stopping Punjab's farmers and laborers from going to Delhi, stopping Punjab's rural development fund and health mission fund, and not providing any help to Punjab in the central budget. This shows the hatred of the Prime Minister and the Bharatiya Janata Party towards Punjab and Punjabi people.

He said that due to these actions of the Central government, people are fed up with the BJP and its graph is declining day by day. He appealed to the Prime Minister to stop discriminating against Punjabis.