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Punjab is currently facing the worst floods since 1988. Thousands of families were uprooted, lakhs of acres of crops were destroyed and the lives of farmers, labourers, small businessmen were disrupted. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas and announced a relief package of Rs 1,600 crore for the state. But the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of Punjab has launched a scathing attack on this help. They have called it a “cruel joke” and “insult” to the people of Punjab.
The Prime Minister had announced the package after conducting an aerial survey
PM Modi reached Gurdaspur and conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas. After this, he announced the relief package. Apart from the assistance amount of Rs 1,600 crore from the Center, an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh was announced to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured.
But the AAP government says that this help is nominal. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government had already demanded a relief package of at least Rs 20,000 crore from the Centre.
‘It was just a photo-op’- Cheema
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema termed the Prime Minister’s announcement as inadequate and insulting. He said, “This visit of the Prime Minister was just a photo-op. For weeks our state was fighting an unprecedented natural disaster and now the Prime Minister has given a relief package, which is nominal.”
He further said, “The losses suffered by our farmers, labourers, poor people, businesses and infrastructure are in thousands of crores of rupees and look at the audacity of the Central Government, only Rs 1,600 crore was given.”
Cheema further said that the state government has already announced compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre to the farmers and Rs 4 lakh to the families of the deceased. But given the large scale of the disaster, concrete and immediate help from the Center is necessary.
More than Rs 60,000 crore dues
Finance Minister Cheema also alleged that the Central government is holding back the dues of Punjab. He said, “It has been our long-standing demand that the Central government release GST compensation and other dues, which is more than Rs 60,000 crore. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, but there was no response. Instead of providing necessary help, the Central government is politicizing the humanitarian crisis.”
Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The people of Punjab have supported the country in every crisis. Now in our time of need, we hope that the Central government will also stand with us.”
‘It is a slap on the face of the people of Punjab’- Aman Arora
Cabinet minister and AAP state president Aman Arora rejected the Prime Minister’s announcement in even harsher words. He said, “The Prime Minister came, saw and left with nominal help. While our farmers stand in the midst of the destruction of their lives. Their houses, crops, livestock, everything washed away. The Centre’s response is not only inadequate but a clear insult. Rs 1,600 crore is a slap on the face of every citizen who lost everything.”
Arora said that a total of 4.80 lakh acres of agricultural land has been affected, with paddy crop suffering the most damage. He said, “The soul of Punjab, our agriculture, has been broken. Crops were destroyed only 15-20 days before harvesting. Now there is no chance of sowing again. Farmers have lost their entire season’s income.”
‘Like rubbing salt on the wound’
Cabinet ministers Hardeep Singh Mundian, Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Harbhajan Singh, Barinder Kumar Goel, Lal Chand Kataruchak and Laljit Singh Bhullar also criticised the Centre’s relief package. He said it was “insignificant” and “rubbing salt on the wound”.
“It is a mere formality and an insult to the millions who lost their homes, livelihoods and crops in one of the worst floods Punjab has ever seen,” he said.
