Chandigarh, Sept. 27 — The Punjab Assembly accused the BJP-led Centre of reneging on its flood relief promise with lawmakers staging a protest against the central government, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ₹1,600 crore aid announcement for the state remains “a hollow assurance,” with no funds released more than two weeks after it was made.
Holding placards and shouting slogans, AAP legislators staged a protest inside the House, calling the Centre’s conduct a “betrayal of Punjab.” “We needed ₹20,000 crore, but we got a ‘jumla’ (empty promise) of ₹1,600 crore, and not even a single rupee of that has reached Punjab,” they said during the stormy session.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government issued a direct warning to New Delhi, declaring that Punjab would not be placated by symbolic gestures. “Punjab will not beg for charity; it will fight for its rights. This is not just a matter of relief, but a question of Punjab’s dignity,” the Assembly declared in a unanimous message.
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema accused the Prime Minister of turning his visit to Punjab into “a mere photo opportunity.” “The Prime Minister failed to even offer condolences to the family that lost three members in the floods,” he remarked, while also charging the Congress with siding with the BJP instead of standing with Punjab in its moment of crisis.
Water Resources Minister Brinder Kumar Goyal tabled a resolution in the Assembly, describing the Centre’s promise as “a cruel joke on farmers and flood victims.” He said, “Punjab asked for ₹20,000 crore in relief, but what we got was a ‘rattle’ of just ₹1,600 crore. Worse, even that announcement of September 9 has not been acted upon.” The resolution demanded immediate release of the promised ₹1,600 crore and called for a special package of at least ₹20,000 crore.
State Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian termed the Centre’s approach “an insult to Punjab,” recalling that the Chief Secretary had submitted a detailed account of losses to the Prime Minister. “Our report mentioned 1.91 lakh hectares of destroyed crops, damaged roads, ruined homes, and widespread devastation. Yet the Centre announced only ₹1,600 crore, which is still stuck on paper,” he said.
The government stressed that the scale of destruction is far greater than acknowledged, estimating that Punjab would need at least ₹60,000 crore to compensate farmers, restore infrastructure, and rehabilitate flood-hit families.
The Assembly session, led by CM Mann, concluded with a sharp message to New Delhi: Punjab’s demand for flood relief is not negotiable. “The Centre must recognize the true extent of devastation and release the promised aid without delay,” the resolution stated.
