Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann deplaned in Germany, delays flight by 4 hours? AAP denies claim

After allegations were levelled against the Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for being deplaned from a flight in Germany, AAP has now refuted the claims. As per various media reports, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was recently deplaned from a flight for being intoxicated. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was deplaned in Frankfurt for Delhi-bound Lufthansa flight as he was "too drunk to walk". Mann, who was on a trip to Germany from September 11-18, delayed his departure as he was reportedly in 'an inebriated state'.

As seen on flight tracking website Flightaware, Lufthansa 760 flight from Frankfurt to Delhi was delayed for 4 hours. It was scheduled to take off from Germany at 1.40 PM but took off at 5.34 PM and landed in Delhi at 4.40 AM, a delay of 3.45 hours. 

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.1/2 pic.twitter.com/QxFN44IFAE

— Sukhbir Singh Badal (@officeofssbadal) September 19, 2022

AAP refutes claim

Officials in the Chief Minister's Office claimed that the Chief Minister could not board the flight because of an emergent health concerns. However, his party, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), has strongly denied the rumours, saying Mann was not deplaned at the Frankfurt airport. The party termed it false and frivolous propaganda by political rivals. 

Political battle

Levelling serious allegations against CM Mann, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said Mann's deplaning led to a 4-hour flight delay and he further slammed the Punjab government over their silence on the issue and sought clarifications on the incident. A co-passenger in a message said, "the CM was not steady on his feet as he had imbibed excessive alcohol and had to be supported by his wife/security". 

"Disturbing media reports quoting co-passengers say Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was deplaned from a 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 and shamed Punjabis all over the globe," tweeted Badal.

"Shockingly, Punjab government is mum over these reports involving their CM Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal needs to come clean on this issue. The government of India must step in as this involves Punjabi and national pride. If he was deplaned, the government of India must raise the issue with its German counterpart," he added.

With agency inputs