India, Oct. 18 -- Chief minister Bhagwant Mann's France visit has set off a political controversy in Punjab, with the Opposition alleging that he left for a foreign tour at a time when the state faces a grave drug crisis and the family of an anti-drug activist awaits justice.

Some opposition leaders also alleged Mann was taking his wife along on the trip to celebrate his birthday. Mann turned 53 on Saturday.

The tour is in connection with participation of the Punjab State Cooperative Supply and Marketing Federation Ltd. (MARKFED), the apex cooperative of the state, in the international food trade show, SIAL 2026, in Paris from October 17 to October 21. The MARKFED was allotted a stall in the India Pavilion by the Agricultural and Proces...