Centre ignoring flood-hit Punjab border villages; Dhaliwal writes a letter and demands urgent financial relief
Punjab News: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Chief Spokesperson MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has expressed deep concern over the long-pending issues of Punjab’s border regions and strongly criticised the central government for not providing any assistance despite repeated natural calamities and heavy losses. Addressing the media, Dhaliwal said that the people of the border belt have endured immense suffering, during times of war, cross-border tension, and more recently, devastating floods, but the Centre has consistently failed to support them.
Dhaliwal revealed that he has written an official letter to the Prime Minister of India, urging the immediate revival and release of funds under the Border Area Development Programme (BADP). He has also sent copies of this letter to the Union Home Minister and the Governor of Punjab, appealing for immediate intervention. “Border areas face unique and severe challenges. This year floods too caused huge damage to lives, crops, and infrastructure, yet the Centre has not released a single rupee for relief,” Dhaliwal said.
He pointed out that the Central Government had announced financial aid during the floods, but those funds were never released. “Despite repeated requests, the Centre has shown no willingness to support Punjab’s border residents,” he added.
Dhaliwal emphasised that several key developmental needs of border villages, including roads, irrigation, disaster management, and essential infrastructure, needs to be addressed. “If the Central Government releases BADP funds today, we can transform the border villages. We only ask for what rightfully belongs to our people,” he said.
Praising the efforts of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Dhaliwal said the Punjab Government has been consistently supporting border residents, and it is now the Centre’s responsibility to do the same. He also announced that he, along with border-area sarpanches, will soon meet the Governor of Punjab to push for immediate release of Central funds.
“Punjab has always protected the nation. It is time for the central government to stand with Punjab’s border villagers,” Dhaliwal asserted.
