Chandigarh— Punjab BJP State Working President Ashwani Sharma on Tuesday accused Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and the Aam Aadmi Party government of taking undue credit for funds released under the Central Finance Commission.
Sharma said the ₹332 crore “historic grant” announced by the state government is entirely a tranche of the 15th Finance Commission, routinely issued by the Centre under fixed norms. He claimed the Punjab government has no authority to alter or influence these allocations, which are transferred directly to Panchayats based on population and predetermined parameters. Calling it a “misleading attempt,” Sharma said the state leadership is trying to project Central assistance as its own achievement.
He also shared district-wise figures already disbursed through the commission. These include ₹10.64 crore for Amritsar, ₹3.75 crore for Barnala, ₹7.74 crore for Bathinda, ₹3.70 crore for Faridkot, ₹3.64 crore for Fatehgarh Sahib, ₹17.57 crore for Fazilka, ₹15.77 crore for Ferozepur, ₹27.63 crore for Gurdaspur, ₹28.52 crore for Hoshiarpur, and ₹23.23 crore for Jalandhar. He added that other districts have received their shares under the same mechanism.
Sharma further criticised the Bhagwant Mann government for failing to release the long-pending honorarium of Sarpanches. He alleged that the responsibility has instead been pushed onto Panchayat bank accounts, many of which lack independent revenue sources. This, he warned, could push local bodies into financial trouble and increase the risk of corruption.
Calling the move “publicity-driven politics,” Sharma said that funds from the 16th and 17th Finance Commissions will continue to reach Punjab in the coming years, and accused the state government of repeatedly attempting to claim Central funds as its own effort. He said the BJP will continue to “expose the truth” to ensure that the people of Punjab are not misled.
