The Opposition on Monday targeted Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging that he was deplaned from a Delhi-bound flight at Frankfurt airport as he was 'drunk', a charge denied by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party as baseless.
Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that Mann was deplaned from a 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,' he tweeted.
However, AAP Chief Spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang called the allegations baseless and bogus, and accused the rival parties of indulging in a negative propaganda to defame the chief minister.
"The allegations are baseless, bogus and false," Kang said and alleged that Opposition parties were spreading canards against the chief minister as they cannot digest the fact that he was working hard to get investments into the state.
A spokesperson of Lufthansa airline said, 'Our flight from Frankfurt to Delhi departed later than originally planned due to a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft change.'
Mann returned from his eight-day trip from Germany on Monday where he had gone to attract investments.
Badal, in another tweet, also expressed shock that the state government is silent over the issue.
'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 and national pride. If he was deplaned, GoI must raise the issue with its German counterpart,' he said.
Congress leader and Leader of Opposition of Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa sought an inquiry into the matter.
If the reports about deplaning of Mann were right, Bajwa said it would be an embarrassment for the whole nation.
