Chandigarh (TIP)- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday, July 10,  launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), questioning the Centre’s stance on foreign policy and the recent row over a Pakistani actor’s role in Diljit Dosanjh’s film.

Responding to the MEA’s criticism, Mann said, “Don’t we have the right to ask the PM what foreign policy is? Who has supported us? Then why are you moving around?” He accused the Prime Minister of frequently visiting countries without clear diplomatic reasons or outcomes. “PM is going to nations that we don’t even know the names. Taking honours from such small nations. Same number of people gather here while a JCB is on work here,” he said mockingly.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday strongly criticised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over his recent remarks ridiculing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign visits, calling them “irresponsible and regrettable”.

Without naming Mann, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We have seen some comments made by a high state authority about India’s relations with friendly countries from the Global South. These remarks are irresponsible and regrettable and do not behove the state authority.”

Mann further ridiculed the government’s publicity around such visits, saying, “Ads coming that Modi has stopped a war between two nations. Then why can’t the PM resolve issues between Punjab and Haryana?”

Referring to PM Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan in 2015, Mann said, “The PM goes to countries at times without even invitation he landed in Pakistan to eat Biryani. We can’t go to Pakistan, but the PM can go.”

Addressing the controversy surrounding Diljit Dosanjh’s upcoming film, which features a Pakistani actor, Mann questioned the selective outrage. “Now there is a controversy about Diljit Dosanjh film a Pakistani actor worked in this was made much before and now they are saying ‘Gaddar’. At times, they say Gaddar or at times Sardar,” he remarked.