SAD Claims 'Heavily Drunk' Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Was Deplaned In Germany, AAP Denies Charge

Lufthansa Group in a statement said the flight departed late due to “a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft change”.

New Delhi: Amid the reports of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was removed from a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Delhi because he was drunk, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) termed the allegations as “baseless”, with chief spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang stating that the Punjab CM returned to New Delhi on schedule, as reported by India Today. "Chief Minister returned as per his schedule. He took a returning flight on September 18 from Germany. He had to land in New Delhi on the 19th of September. The allegations being levelled by the opposition are baseless, rubbish, and a false propaganda," Kang told India Today.

Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal has also reacted on his Twitter saying, "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."

"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.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Congress also took to social media and quoted a passenger on the Delhi-bound Lufthansa flight in Frankfurt as saying that the Chief Minister was drunk.

Mann "was not steady on his feet as he had imbibed excessive alcohol and had to be supported by his wife and security personnel accompanying him," the passenger was quoted as saying.

Malwinder Singh Kang, the AAP spokesperson, said: "The Chief Minister returned on September 19 as scheduled. All these social media reports are propaganda. The opposition is rattled because Mr Mann is effectively getting some investment from his foreign trip...you can also check with Lufthansa airlines."

However, Lufthansa Group in a statement said the flight departed late due to “a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft change”.

The airline's statement said: "Our flight from Frankfurt to Delhi departed later than originally planned due to a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft change. For data protection reasons we do not provide any information regarding individual passengers."