Chief minister Mann ignoring demand for direct Canada-Amritsar flights: Punjabi diaspora

The Punjabi diaspora has criticised chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s recent push for direct flights from Mohali airport to countries, including US and Canada, saying that it has reversed the gains made towards the long-pending demand to start air service from Amritsar airport to these destinations.

Chief minister Mann on Monday directed the state civil aviation department to immediately tie up with the Union ministry of civil aviation and airport authority of India for starting direct international flights from Mohali airport, especially to Canada, US and the UK, citing that this initiative would facilitate the Punjabi diaspora settled abroad to visit their native places in Punjab in a seamless manner.

“We have no objection over the start of flights from Mohali airport but it must not be done at the cost of Amritsar airport which is situated in the sacred city for the diaspora,” Avtar Singh, a community activist based in Birmingham, UK, said.