Political Clash Erupts Over Punjab Flood Relief Funds
Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of "telling lies" about the ₹1,600 crore flood relief package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The controversy erupted after Mann's remarks in Dinanagar on Wednesday, where he questioned the central government's assistance for flood-affected areas.
BJP Leader Challenges CM to Provide Proof
In a hard-hitting post on social media platform X, Sharma directly challenged the Chief Minister's claims. "Bhagwant Mann Ji, you too have now begun telling lies, influenced by Kejriwal's style," Sharma wrote. The BJP leader presented a concrete challenge to the Punjab government, asking them to provide documentary evidence of their claims.
Sharma specifically demanded that the Chief Secretary of Punjab write an official letter to the Central Government stating that the ₹1,600 crore has not been received. "Send me a copy of that letter as well, so that I can take up the matter with the Centre," Sharma added, putting the ball firmly in the state government's court.
Previous Promises Come Under Scrutiny
The BJP leader didn't stop at the flood relief controversy. He went on to question the AAP government's track record on fulfilling other promises. Sharma pointed to two key unfulfilled commitments: the promise of giving ₹1,000 per month to women and providing compensation to all flood-affected families.
"If the chief secretary does not send such a letter, then your allegations stand exposed as false – just like your promise of giving Rs 1,000 per month to women or your claim of providing compensation to all flood-affected families," Sharma stated, drawing parallels between the current dispute and past unkept promises.
Central Ministers Provide Additional Details
Adding more context to the financial assistance discussion, Union Minister of State for Railways & Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu revealed that the Centre has already provided a cheque of ₹587 crore to Punjab specifically for houses damaged during the floods.
In a video message, Bittu indicated that more information regarding central assistance would be shared by Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is currently visiting Punjab. Chouhan is scheduled to hold a press conference in Jalandhar on Thursday after his visit to Ransinh Kalan village in Moga district, where he will interact with farmers and villagers affected by the floods.
The political confrontation highlights the ongoing tensions between the BJP-led central government and the AAP-led Punjab administration, with flood relief becoming the latest battleground. As both sides exchange allegations, the focus remains on the actual ground situation and the delivery of promised assistance to flood-affected communities across Punjab.
