Drunk Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann deplaned, caused flight delay, says opposition; AAP denies

Senior leaders of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) have accused Mann of "shaming Punjabis" referring to alleged reports that he was removed from a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Delhi as he was intoxicated.

Taking to Twitter, SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “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. Shockingly, Pb govt is mum over these reports involving their CM.”

An NDTV report said that Mann was supposed to take the Lufthansa flight scheduled at 1:30 pm on Sunday, but it was already delayed and left only at 4:30 pm. Mann took a different flight in the early hours of Monday.

However, the opposition claimed that the flight was delayed by four hours because of Mann as he boarded the plane in a drunken state, and time was lost in removing him from the flight.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has hit out at the opposition over allegations against Mann and called them baseless.

Chief spokesperson Malwinder Singh Kang stating that the Punjab CM returned to New Delhi on schedule.

"Chief Minister returned as per his schedule. He took a returning flight on September 18 from Germany. He had to land at New Delhi on 19th of September. The allegations being levelled by the opposition are baseless, rubbish and a false propaganda," Kang told India Today.

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

“Our flight from Frankfurt to Delhi departed later than originally planned due to a delayed inbound flight and an aircraft change,” the statement read.

It added, “For data protection reasons we do not provide any information regarding individual passengers.”

However, Congress tweeted the news report that quoted a passenger on the same Delhi-bound Lufthansa flight as saying that the Punjab CM was drunk and staggered.

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.

Mann visited Germany from September 11 to 18 to attract investments and tie-ups, according to the state government.