Former Delhi minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj reacted to the incident in a post on X, saying that just as Ravana’s arrogance was destroyed on Dussehra, the arrogance of the central government should also be broken.
Mann had travelled to Paris to attend SIAL Paris 2026, an international food trade exhibition being held from October 17 to 21. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had granted him permission to visit France after the Centre denied approval for the trip.
AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu linked the incident to what he described as repeated attempts by the Centre to block Mann’s foreign visits. In a video posted on X, Pannu said officials initially cited delays in the arrival or checking of luggage. However, when Mann’s luggage was about to be loaded into his vehicle and he was preparing to leave, officials issued the challan, allegedly stating that they were under considerable pressure from higher authorities.
Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa offered a different explanation for the fine, claiming that Mann had brought more liquor bottles than permitted.
“Ask him what the fine was imposed for. According to my information, I have already told you that a passenger can bring two bottles, but he had brought eight to 10 bottles. That is why he was fined. The law is equal for everyone, even if that person is the Chief Minister,” Bajwa said.
AAP also accused the Centre of discrimination against the Punjab Chief Minister over his participation in the Paris exhibition. Pannu said Mann had attended SIAL Paris to promote Punjab’s products in international markets. According to Pannu, despite the High Court’s directions, the Indian Consul General in Paris did not come to meet Mann.
The dispute over Mann’s visit began when the Union Ministry of External Affairs denied him permission to travel to France, citing threats from radical groups. The Punjab government subsequently approached the High Court, challenging the Centre’s decision. It argued that the visit was not political in nature but was intended to advance the state’s commercial and agricultural interests.
On October 16, the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted Mann permission to travel to France, allowing him to attend the international food trade exhibition.
Pannu also accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government of obstructing Punjab’s development. He alleged that the Centre had kept farmers at Delhi’s borders for one-and-a-half years, withheld funds legitimately due to Punjab and denied permission for the Chief Minister’s foreign visits at least four times.
The AAP leader further alleged that the Centre feared foreign visits by Mann could attract investment to Punjab. The competing claims over the airport incident, the alleged fine and the circumstances surrounding the Paris visit have brought the dispute between the AAP-led Punjab government and the Centre into focus.
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