Ferozepur/Chandigarh, Aug. 18 -- A political controversy erupted on Monday after the Opposition accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of staging a "publicity stunt" during the state-level Independence Day celebrations in Ferozepur, alleging that elderly participants were falsely portrayed as beneficiaries of the Punjab government's health insurance scheme and made to dance as part of the health department tableau, a charge denied by the government.

Chief minister Bhagwant Mann was among the dignitaries present at the event. The tableau, intended to showcase the benefits of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, a health insurance scheme offering free healthcare coverage up to Rs.10 lakh, featured senior citizens performing bhangra alongsid...