Harsimrat Kaur slams Bhagwant Mann's France trip as Punjab protests over Jhota murder
Synopsis
With Punjab streets still tense over the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota, SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has gone after CM Bhagwant Mann for flying to France for a trade expo — a trip the Centre tried to block but the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowed. The episode revives a familiar charge: that Mann disappears abroad precisely when Punjab needs him most.
Key Takeaways
Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal publicly attacked Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on 19 October 2026 over his ongoing trip to France .
The criticism comes amid state-wide protests over the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota .
The Punjab and Haryana High Court allowed Mann's travel after the Ministry of External Affairs denied political clearance, citing security concerns.
Mann's delegation — which includes Chief Secretary K.A.P.
Sinha — is attending SIAL Paris 2026 , a food industry exhibition at Paris Nord Villepinte , from 17–21 October .
Badal alleged Mann misused public funds for the trip and drew a parallel with his absence during Punjab's floods last year.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Monday, 19 October 2026, sharply criticised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for travelling to France while the state faces widespread protests over the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota. Badal accused the Chief Minister of abandoning the people of Punjab at a critical moment and misusing public funds for an international trip.
What Harsimrat Kaur Said
In a post on X, Badal pulled no punches, writing: 'By leaving for France at this critical time, Punjab CM Guru Dokhi Bhagwant Mann has shown us his priorities. While Punjab is burning with protests over anti-drug crusader Parvinder Singh Jhota's death, the CM did not find the time to meet the victim family nor give any assurances nor suspend the guilty police officers.'
She further alleged a pattern in Mann's conduct: 'Every time Punjab is under turmoil, be it now, or be it the floods last year, Bhagwant Mann finds an easy solution — to abandon the state and its people and flee abroad, just like he has done right now.' Badal also alleged that Mann was 'misusing public money for his international trip, and perhaps he had gone to settle 'black money' earned via massive corruption in the last 4.5 years,' though she offered no evidence for the corruption claim.
The Court Order and Centre's Objection
The visit itself has a contentious legal backdrop. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday permitted Mann to travel to France, overriding a denial of political clearance by the Centre. The Ministry of External Affairs had refused clearance, citing a security threat to the Chief Minister and the absence of a formal invitation from the French government.
The Punjab government had moved the High Court after the Centre blocked the proposed trip, which was scheduled from 15 October to 21 October. The delegation also includes Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Ravi Bhagat.
Purpose of the France Visit
According to the state government's petition, the visit is linked to SIAL Paris 2026, a major international food industry exhibition held at Paris Nord Villepinte from 17 October to 21 October. The delegation's stated aim is to promote Punjab's agricultural and food-processing products in international markets and explore trade opportunities — objectives the state government argues are in the public interest.
The Jhota Murder: Why Punjab Is on Edge
The protests rocking Punjab are centred on the killing of Parvinder Singh Jhota, an anti-drug activist whose death has sparked public outrage and demands for accountability. Critics, including Badal, have called for the suspension of police officers allegedly linked to the case and for the Chief Minister to personally meet Jhota's family. The Mann government has not publicly responded to Badal's specific demands as of the time of this report.
Political Context
This is not the first time Mann's travel has drawn criticism during periods of internal crisis. His absence during last year's floods also attracted opposition fire. The latest episode sharpens an ongoing contest between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and a resurgent SAD, which has been seeking political traction in the state ahead of local polls. Badal's remarks represent a broader opposition narrative that Mann's administration has prioritised optics over on-ground governance.
Whether the France trip yields tangible trade outcomes for Punjab's farmers will likely shape how this controversy is ultimately judged.
Point of View
And his administration's handling of the Jhota murder. The Centre's denial of political clearance for a Chief Minister's trade trip is itself unusual and deserves scrutiny; it risks looking like partisan interference in state governance. The real accountability gap is not the France visit but the absence of visible action on the Jhota case — no family meeting on record, no officer suspensions announced. AAP's Punjab experiment is increasingly defined by these optics failures, which the opposition has become adept at weaponising.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Harsimrat Kaur Badal criticising Bhagwant Mann's France visit?
Harsimrat Kaur Badal argues that CM Bhagwant Mann chose to travel to France for a trade expo while Punjab is gripped by protests over the murder of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota. She accuses him of failing to meet the victim's family, give public assurances, or suspend the police officers allegedly involved.
Why did the Centre deny political clearance for Mann's France trip?
The Ministry of External Affairs denied political clearance citing a security threat to CM Mann and the absence of a formal invitation from the French government. The Punjab government challenged the denial in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which subsequently allowed the visit.
What is the purpose of CM Bhagwant Mann's visit to France?
The visit is aimed at promoting Punjab's agricultural and food-processing products and exploring trade opportunities abroad. The delegation is attending SIAL Paris 2026, an international food industry exhibition at Paris Nord Villepinte, held from 17 to 21 October 2026.
Who is Parvinder Singh Jhota and why is his death causing protests in Punjab?
Parvinder Singh Jhota was an anti-drug activist whose murder has sparked widespread protests across Punjab. Demonstrators are demanding accountability, including the suspension of police officers allegedly linked to his death and a direct response from the Chief Minister.
Has Bhagwant Mann faced similar criticism for travelling during past crises?
Yes. According to Badal, Mann was also absent from Punjab during the state's floods last year, a charge that drew similar criticism at the time. The opposition has repeatedly used his foreign travel during domestic crises as a political line of attack.
