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Thenewsdose.com 

Chandigarh, July 11,2025,UPDATED:2.25PM 
A day after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed disapproval over his remarks concerning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann reiterated his statements on the floor of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday, asserting that Punjab continues to face discrimination at the hands of the Centre.

Speaking during a discussion on a resolution moved in the House to oppose the deployment of Central forces at Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) dams, Mann repeated his earlier criticism of the Prime Minister’s international engagements. He said his comments were made in his capacity as an Indian citizen who is entitled to question the foreign policy priorities of the BJP-led Union Government.

“I again say that the PM visits countries like Magnesia, Galvesia, and Tarvesia—places with populations less than 10,000—where he claims to receive their highest civilian honours. The number of people in these countries is no more than what we see gathered around a JCB machine at work in India,” said Mann, underlining that the Prime Minister must focus on the welfare of India’s 1.4 billion citizens.

While the MEA had earlier termed Mann’s remarks “regrettable and irresponsible,” stating they undermine India’s relations with friendly nations, Mann stood his ground in the Assembly. Without directly naming the Prime Minister, he said, “They call him Vishwaguru, but he wasn’t even invited to the US President’s swearing-in ceremony.”

Questioning the Centre’s narrative, he added, “If he can claim to stop the Russia-Ukraine war, then why can’t he resolve the disputes between Indian states? They must not forget that India gets its food from Punjab and Haryana, and yet, they continue to pit us against each other.”

Mann also invoked the recent controversy over actor Diljit Dosanjh’s film, which features a Pakistani actress, alleging a targeted campaign against Punjab artists and culture. “They should not play games with us. Aap tan Pakistan ja ke biryani kha aaye si (You yourself went to Pakistan and had biryani),” he remarked. Concluding his address, the Chief Minister asserted, “Punjab’s soil is fertile—but hatred will not grow here.”