CHANDIGARH: A day after the external affairs ministry disapproved of his criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Friday again raked up the issue, this time in the state assembly, and asked him to "address the concerns" of 140 crore Indians.

On MEA's reaction, Mann asked whether he did not have a right to question about a foreign policy.

The MEA on Thursday disapproved of Mann's criticism of Modi's foreign visits, terming his comments "irresponsible".

Without naming Mann, it said the government of India "disassociates" itself from the "unwarranted" comments made by a "high state authority" that undermined India's ties with friendly countries.

Participating in a debate over the resolution against the deployment of CISF personnel at the Bhakra-Nangal project during the second day of the Punjab assembly here, Mann again asserted that the prime has no time to address the concerns of 140 crore Indians but has time to tour abroad.

"The MEA has reacted. Don't we have a right to ask the PM about foreign policy? Do the countries which he visits support our nation afterwards? When our relation with Pakistan turned bad, did any country stand by us," he asked.

"He visits the countries ‘“Magneshia, Tarveshia, Garveshia' (sic), do not know where these countries are. Pradhan Mantri sahib got the biggest award there. What is the population there? It is 9,500. I said that many people gather just to watch the JCB machine here," Mann said.

On Thursday, Mann had criticized Modi for celebrating a foreign honour from a country with a population of just 10,000 while "neglecting" the nation's pressing issues.

"Pradhan Mantri ji has gone to Ghana? Has he come back from Ghana? Will he come back today? He will be welcomed upon his return in the country.

"... He is not staying in the country where 140 crore people live. The countries which he is visiting have a population of 10,000. And he got the biggest award there. Over here, 10,000 people gather to watch the JCB machine (earth moving machine)," Mann had said.

Modi returned to India on Thursday after a five-nation tour of Brazil, Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina and Namibia.

During the debate on Friday, Mann also said, "Where 140 crore people live, you stay there and resolve their problems. If you can stop the war between Russia and Ukraine, there was an advertisement in this regard also. If you can stop a war between two nations, then why cannot he end a (river water) dispute between two states of Punjab and Haryana." He went on to add: "Here he will not see this. We are brothers. Haryana is our younger brother. They want us to fight." Later while speaking to the media, Mann again asked, "Do not I have a right to question about a foreign policy that what are you going to do there? What have you done there? Tell us. Don't we have a right?" "I asked about the foreign policy that wherever you go, why Adani's business starts there. It means he takes him out there. Why do not you accept that you go there to get someone business? Don't we have the right to ask? We will ask. I will ask him in the future also," said Mann.

Replying to a question on gangsters, Mann accused the Centre of patronizing them by keeping them in jails in Gujarat.

Asked whether a gangster lodged in Sabarmati jail in Gujarat be brought to Punjab on a production warrant, Mann, while apparently referring to Lawrence Bishnoi, said that he will be brought to the state as per law.

He said strict action will be taken against those involved in organised crime and drugs adding that no leniency will be adopted against them.