Calling the Rs 1,600-crore flood relief package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “cruel joke” on the flood-affected people of Punjab, farmer unions and Opposition parties have accused the Central government of ignoring the state in this dire crisis.
Terming the flood relief package for Punjab as “miserably meagre”, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said it is “a drop in the ocean”. The people of Punjab had great expectations from the PM, but he disappointed everyone, he said.
The Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa, said the PM’s package amounted to less than 8 per cent of the damages. “The Centre must also immediately release the Rs 60,000-crore pending funds that rightfully belong to Punjab under GST compensation, RDF and other central schemes. These withheld funds, if released without delay, will provide Punjab the financial strength to stand back on its feet and rebuild lives, livelihood and infrastructure,” he said.
AICC secretary and Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh said “it is not a relief for Punjabis, but humiliation”. “Once again, Modi has shown his bias and stepmotherly treatment towards Punjab,” he said.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal requested the Prime Minister to enhance the financial assistance. He said he is shocked why the state government has refused to spend even one rupee from the Rs 12,000 crore lying with it under the Disaster Management Fund head. “This makes it clear that the state failed to present its case to the Centre. It owes an explanation to the people for this criminal negligence,” said Badal.
Bhartiya Kisan Union Dakounda state general secretary and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha leader Jagmohan Singh said the Sanyukt Kisan Morcha, along with farmers’ unions and other allies, would wage a fierce struggle to get full compensation for houses, crops, livestock and the people who have lost their lives. “At least 2,000 villages have been hit by floods, and the damage comes to around Rs 80 lakh per village,” he said.
Bharatiya Kisan Union Lakhowal state president Harinder Singh Lakhowal said the Centre should waive farmers’ loans and implement the crop insurance scheme for all crops.
Sarwan Singh Pandher of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha said the relief package announced by the PM was much less than expected, reflecting the Centre’s stepmotherly treatment towards Punjab. “We had demanded Rs 70,000 per acre for damages, apart from relief for farm labourers,” he said.
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