BJP Misleading Punjabis in the Name of Relief Package; Even PM’s Meagre ₹1600 Crore Package Has Not Been Released Yet: Neel Garg
Punjab E News: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) senior spokesperson Neel Garg launched a sharp attack on the central government and Punjab BJP leadership over their handling of the flood devastation in Punjab and relief funds for state. Garg accused the Centre of not only failing to provide a relief package to flood-hit Punjab but also adding insult to injury by spreading lies and misleading the people.
He said that Punjab BJP working president had falsely claimed during a press conference that the recent floods in Punjab were the result of the Mann government’s failures. Questioning the BJP’s logic, Garg asked, “If that is the case, then who is responsible for the devastation in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir?”
Neel Garg completely rejected BJP’s repeated claim that Punjab had received ₹12,000 crore in relief funds. He pointed out that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had already clarified this on the floor of the Assembly, while BJP leaders avoided accountability by holding a “fake assembly session” outside the House. Garg explained that since the Disaster Relief Fund was created, the Centre has allocated only ₹6,000 crore in total, of which ₹4,800 crore has already been spent. The Punjab government, therefore, has only ₹1,200 crore remaining, which the BJP is exaggerating to mislead the public.
The AAP spokesperson also dismissed Union Minister Ravneet Bittu’s false claim that Punjab did not receive a relief package because its ministers failed to meet central ministers. Citing facts, Garg reminded that Minister Kuldeep Dhaliwal was the first to meet Shivraj Chouhan, and later, during the Prime Minister’s visit on September 9, Cabinet Ministers Aman Arora, Lal Chand Kataruchakk, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, and Hardeep Singh Mundian met the PM as well. Furthermore, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann himself met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and also wrote a detailed letter to the Prime Minister seeking an appointment, but no time was granted.
Neel Garg further revealed that even the Prime Minister’s so-called ₹1600 crore “relief package” for Punjab has not yet been received. He explained that this amount was misrepresented by including allocations meant for national highways, annual central schemes, and an advance installment of the SDRF fund, creating deliberate confusion.
Garg urged the BJP leadership to remember that Punjab is an integral and important state of the country and should not be disrespected. He demanded that BJP Punjab leaders stop parroting the lines of its central leadership and work instead to secure genuine aid for Punjab in this time of need.
