SAYS, PEOPLE ARE DROWNING IN FLOODS WHILE PM IS CRACKING JOKES
Punjab E News (September 10): Punjab Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister S. Hardeep Singh Mundian, on Wednesday, flayed Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi for his “Hindi Nahi Aati” taunt when the state delegation urged for enhanced relief assistance for flood-ravaged Punjab. He said the remark was nothing short of an attempt to stifle the voice of Punjab.
In a statement issued here, S. Hardeep Singh Mundian said, “while people of Punjab are battling for survival in devastating floods, the Prime Minister found it appropriate to indulge in mockery.” Modi’s visit to flood-affected Punjab yesterday was merely a PR exercise with no intent whatsoever to provide real relief to the suffering people, he added.
The Cabinet Minister pointed out that during the PM’s visit, separate protocols were applied for Punjab Cabinet Ministers vis-à-vis BJP leaders. “We were forced to disembark from our vehicles far away from the venue, while BJP leaders were allowed to drive right up to the spot in their private cars. Our phones were taken away outside, but BJP leaders and security personnel freely used theirs inside without restriction,” he added.
He said that while the Prime Minister is the leader of the entire nation, it was baffling to note the protocol imposed upon them which barred anyone from shaking hands with him. “We were categorically instructed beforehand that no one should shake hands with the Prime Minister,” he added.
S. Hardeep Singh Mundian said Punjab officials gave the Prime Minister a detailed briefing through PowerPoint presentations and videos about the devastation caused by floods. During the interaction, the Prime Minister himself admitted that Punjab had suffered far greater damage than Himachal Pradesh. However, when Mundian folded his hands and urged Modi to announce a higher relief package instead of merely Rs.1600 crore, the Prime Minister brushed aside his plea with a mocking remark saying, “Aapko Hindi Nahi Aati, maine 1600 crore dene ki ghoshna to ki hai.” When Mundian pointed out that the relief amount was meagre compared to the scale of loss, Modi again quipped “issko hindi sikhao” and BJP leaders present there echoed the Prime Minister, asking Mundian to remain silent.
The Minister questioned whether, in a similar situation in a southern state, the Prime Minister would also attempt to silence voices raising critical concerns with such a dismissive jibe of “hindi sikhao.”
Expressing deep anguish, the Cabinet Minister said that at a time when Punjab is enduring its worst floods in four decades, instead of standing with Punjab and Punjabis, leaders of the state BJP chose to please their political master by trying to suppress Punjab’s voice.
The Revenue Minister further revealed, “when I was appealing to the Prime Minister to increase the relief amount, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu was pressing my hand, signalling me to stop speaking. This clearly shows that he does not wish well for Punjab,” said S. Hardeep Singh Mundian, adding that BJP’s Punjab working president Ashwani Sharma, who was also present on the occasion, remained a mute spectator.
