Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has leveled serious allegations against the brother of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, claiming that he was deliberately harassed at the Delhi Airport. During a session in the state assembly on Friday, Mann recounted his experience returning from Paris, where he was detained for three hours, subjected to a rigorous search of his belongings, and issued a penalty of 50,000 rupees.
Mann identified the official behind this action as Manish Kumar, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer currently serving in the Delhi Customs department, who is the brother of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. The Chief Minister characterized the incident as a calculated act of political vendetta orchestrated by the BJP-led central government to undermine his position.
Following these revelations, the Punjab Legislative Assembly passed a resolution demanding an independent investigation into the state's voter list revision process and the conduct of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. During the debate, several assembly members even called for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner. Notably, members from the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal, and the BJP were absent during the passage of this resolution.
The relationship between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs Punjab, and the BJP at the center has been marked by persistent political friction. Chief Minister Mann stated that customs officials repeatedly insisted on searching his luggage despite his protests. Even after the search yielded nothing incriminating, the imposition of a fine was perceived by the Chief Minister as a targeted attempt to humiliate him.
This incident has ignited a fresh political controversy in India, raising questions about the neutrality and conduct of constitutional authorities. By linking the airport incident directly to the family of the CEC, Mann has escalated the confrontation between the state government and the central election body. Political observers suggest that this development could further strain the already fragile relationship between the Punjab administration and the central government, potentially leading to a prolonged legal and political standoff.
