Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday alleged that discontinuation of international flights from Amritsar and their diversion to Delhi was a deliberate attempt on part of the Union Government to make the Indira Gandhi airport a profitable venture.

This reflected the step-motherly treatment meted out by the Union Government to Punjab, he said on the sidelines of a function here in Moga district.

The Amritsar international airport was incurring heavy losses following discontinuation of flights to Toronto, he said.

“It is a deliberate attempt on part of the Centre to make the Indira Gandhi international airport in the national capital a profitable venture at the cost of Sri Guru Ram Dass international airport in Amritsar,” Badal said.

The Amritsar airport had a tremendous potential for earning huge revenues as the city was a tourist hub, he said.

“The sole aim behind all such gimmicks is to give a severe blow to the economy of the State which is not at all acceptable,” the Chief Minister said.

comment COMMENT NOW