Chandigarh/New Delhi, July 11 —Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took a sharp swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent foreign visits, accusing him of neglecting domestic issues while collecting honours abroad. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded strongly, terming Mann’s comments “irresponsible” and distancing the Government of India from his remarks.
“Pradhan Mantri ji has gone to Ghana? Has he come back from Ghana? Will he return today?” Mann quipped while addressing a press conference in Chandigarh on Thursday, following a state cabinet meeting. “We don’t even know which countries—Magneshia, Galveshia, Tarveshia—he’s been visiting. But he hardly stays in the country where 140 crore people live.”
Mann ridiculed the significance of international recognition received by Modi in smaller nations. “The countries he visits have a population of just 10,000, and he gets the biggest award there. Over here, 10,000 people gather just to watch a JCB machine operate,” he said. Mimicking a crowd, Mann added, “JCB chal rahi hai, JCB oye.”
He also criticised the prime minister for what he called a lack of media accountability. “He has not held a single press conference in 11 years,” Mann said.
The MEA issued a formal response, without naming Mann, stating that the Government of India “disassociates itself from the unwarranted remarks made by a high state authority” and raised concern that such statements could harm India’s relations with friendly nations.
Prime Minister Modi returned to India on Thursday following a five-nation tour that included Brazil, Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, and Namibia. The trip focused on bolstering India’s diplomatic and economic engagement with the Global South.
While Mann’s remarks have sparked sharp political reactions, they also reflect the growing friction between regional leaders and the Centre ahead of a politically significant year.
