In a sharp critique of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, state Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) working president Ashwani Sharma has accused the administration of failing to fulfil its legal obligation of providing 100 days of work to the rural poor under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
Allegations of Denied Livelihoods and Dignity
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Sharma launched a scathing attack, claiming that over the last nearly four years, the Bhagwant Mann-led government has not provided the statutory 100 days of employment to lakhs of people from weaker and deprived sections. He stated that this failure not only stripped away the guaranteed employment but also metaphorically "snatched bread from the plates of the poor," severely hurting their dignity and self-respect.
Sharma explained that he chose to hold a press conference on December 29 to present MGNREGA-related facts to the public because his attempts to raise the issue in the Punjab Assembly's special session on Tuesday were thwarted. He alleged that the speaker allotted limited time, and the ruling party members repeatedly disrupted the proceedings.
Unanswered Questions on Funds and Social Audits
The senior BJP leader posed a series of pointed questions to the state government. He demanded to know why, when the Narendra Modi-led Union government had sent funds for 100 days of employment for every registered worker in Punjab, the state administration failed to provide the full quota of work.
Sharma further highlighted a critical lapse in governance, questioning why mandatory social audits under MGNREGA were not conducted in 6,095 gram panchayats in the 2024-25 period and in 7,389 gram panchayats in 2025-26. "Whose corruption is being hidden by not conducting these audits?" he asked.
Inaction on Corruption Cases and Political Patronage Alleged
Deepening his allegations, Sharma sought answers on why no action has been taken so far in 10,653 corruption cases that were detected by the special audit unit. He accused the government of protecting the guilty.
The BJP leader claimed that MGNREGA workers and their organisations have consistently accused AAP legislators, Members of Parliament, and local leaders of being involved in corrupt practices. Despite these serious accusations, Sharma alleged, the state government has taken no visible action.
"The inaction on the part of the Chief Minister and his government shows that through corruption in MGNREGA, the AAP leaders and MLAs have deprived the poor of their livelihoods," Sharma asserted. He concluded that if Chief Minister Mann had satisfactory answers to these charges, he would have responded, and his silence reveals the government's failure in safeguarding the employment guarantee of the poor.
