Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday accused the BJP-led central government of creating a financial crisis for non-BJP-ruled states by withholding funds. He claimed that the party was spreading false information regarding the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
Speaking to the media, CM Mann said that Punjab had received ₹5,012 crore under the SDRF, of which ₹3,820 crore has already been spent. He alleged that the BJP is misleading the public by claiming the state received ₹12,000 crore, inflating the pending ₹1,200 crore by adding an extra zero.
The Chief Minister highlighted the recent floods in Punjab, stating that the disaster caused massive damage to life and property. According to initial assessments, the estimated losses stand at approximately ₹13,800 crore. The central government has announced a grant of only ₹1,600 crore for the state, which Mann called insufficient. He said the state government has ordered a special survey to accurately assess the damage, noting that final figures are yet to be confirmed.
Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit, Mann added that Gandhi crossed the Ravi river, which is just 800 meters from the Pakistan border, and that such a move unnecessarily put his security at risk.
