Punjab's Flood Fund Fiasco: Jakhar Accuses CM Mann of Deceiving Public Over Disaster Relief

A political firestorm has erupted in Punjab as State BJP President Sunil Jakhar has launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of a monumental deception regarding the utilization of crucial disaster relief funds. Jakhar's fiery allegations suggest the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has misled the public, diverting substantial amounts meant for flood-affected victims.

Addressing the media, Jakhar pulled no punches, claiming that while the Chief Minister repeatedly boasted about the state government disbursing funds to flood-hit farmers, the reality paints a starkly different picture.

According to Jakhar, only a paltry Rs 133 crore has been disbursed directly to affected farmers, a mere fraction of the Rs 806 crore released by the Central government from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

"The Chief Minister is consistently misleading the people of Punjab by asserting that the state government is distributing relief funds to the flood-affected.

The truth is, the Central government has already provided Rs 806 crore to the state's SDRF. The question remains: where has the rest of the money gone?" Jakhar asserted, demanding transparency and accountability from the AAP administration.

Jakhar meticulously detailed his accusations, pointing out that of the Rs 806 crore, the state government had initially claimed that Rs 133 crore was distributed.

He also highlighted an additional Rs 32 crore earmarked for paddy damage and Rs 11.5 crore for cotton damage. Even with these figures, a significant chunk of the Central funds remains unaccounted for in terms of direct disbursement to the victims. The BJP president further alleged that the state government had diverted Rs 500 crore from the SDRF for other purposes, specifically to make payments to power utility PSPCL, leaving legitimate flood relief efforts underfunded and many victims without aid.

The BJP leader didn't stop there, questioning the very integrity of the Chief Minister's claims.

"If the state government is indeed providing relief from its own coffers, why is it failing to offer a coherent explanation for the substantial funds received from the Centre? The Chief Minister should unequivocally apologize to the people of Punjab for this deceit," Jakhar demanded, underscoring the severity of the alleged mismanagement.

Jakhar also contrasted Punjab's situation with neighboring states like Himachal Pradesh, which faced similar deluges but received prompt financial assistance from the Central government.

He criticized the Punjab government for its perceived apathy and slow response, arguing that while the Centre was swift in its aid, the state government failed to ensure it reached the intended beneficiaries effectively and transparently.

The political rhetoric intensified as Jakhar further accused the Chief Minister of political opportunism, suggesting Mann utilized public platforms to propagate false narratives about flood relief instead of genuinely assisting those in need.

This ongoing dispute has placed significant pressure on the Bhagwant Mann-led government to provide clear answers regarding the allocation and disbursement of the vital disaster relief funds.