SAS NAGAR, March 15: — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday expressed deep disappointment over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state, asserting that the Union Government failed to address critical demands regarding MSP and farm loan waivers. Speaking on the sidelines of the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit, the Chief Minister stated that instead of providing a special economic package, the Home Minister utilized the platform to speak ill of Punjabis.
The Chief Minister declared that the Centre continues to discriminate against the state by withholding vital financial resources. He noted that the Modi Government has stalled Rural Development Fund (RDF) and GST payments, while the promised ₹1,600 crore in flood relief remains unreleased. Mann affirmed that while central leaders visit for “disaster tourism,” the actual financial assistance to the state has been non-existent.
“We expected Amit Shah to speak about MSP, loan waiver or a special package for Punjab, but he left after merely abusing Punjabis,” the Chief Minister stated. He further maintained that the state is forced to use its own funds for security measures, such as anti-drone systems, because the Centre has defaulted on its responsibility to secure the international border against drug smuggling.
Mann also raised concerns regarding the custody of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, asserting that the BJP government in Gujarat is providing him shelter in jail and preventing his transfer to Punjab for investigation. He declared that while Punjab has launched the nation’s largest campaign against narcotics, the Centre has failed to act on massive drug seizures at Gujarat’s Mundra Port.
