Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, today demanded that the Mann government immediately release 20,000 per acre compensation without any assessment or Girdwari to farmers whose crops have been destroyed by the recent floods. He said the remaining 30,000 per acre can be released after proper assessment, ensuring a total package of 50,000 per acre for the affected farmers.
Bajwa said the devastation was so widespread that preliminary relief should not be delayed in the name of paperwork. “The fields of Punjab are under water and sand, farmers are staring at ruin, and yet the AAP government is telling them to wait for surveys and Girdwaris. Farmers need urgent relief today, not bureaucratic excuses. 20,000 per acre should be paid instantly,” Bajwa stressed.
The Congress leader noted that 4 lakh acres of fertile farmland have been inundated, and demanded that the state government act with urgency. “This ₹800 crore immediate relief is not a big demand — it is the minimum lifeline that Punjab’s farmers deserve right now,” he said.
Bajwa further pointed out that the Union Government has released 1,582 crores under SDRF as per Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, but CM Bhagwant Mann has failed to distribute the funds. “Why is the money lying idle when Punjab’s farmers are in tears? Why is relief being held back in the name of assessment? The truth is simple — the government does not care,” he said.
Bajwa added that as per CAG report there was a corpus of 9,041 crore rupees under SDRF on March 31, 2023. Why CM Mann is not uttering a single on it. Attacking Mann, Bajwa said that the money was siphoned off by AAP for PR and advertisements.
The LoP also slammed the CM for avoiding a meeting with the Prime Minister after the floods. “A real CM would have stood before the PM, demanded additional compensation, and fought for Punjab’s rightful share. But Bhagwant Mann chose to remain absent, abandoning the people of Punjab in their worst crisis,” Bajwa said.
Bajwa also exposed the contradictions within the AAP government: Finance Minister Harpal Cheema claiming “not a single penny left,” Cabinet Minister Aman Arora saying “funds are present but shackled,” and CM Mann himself insisting that “substantial funds are available.” “Three leaders, three statements, three lies. The reality is that Punjab’s people are being betrayed every single day,” he added.
He said that after immediate compensation to farmers, the remaining funds must be fairly distributed for livestock losses, repair of damaged houses, and restoration of infrastructure. “But instead of standing with the people, AAP is busy in advertisements, PR, and excuses,” Bajwa remarked.
“Punjab is demanding justice. Farmers must be given 20,000 immediately without any assessment or Girdwari, and the remaining 30,000 after assessment. Anything less is an insult to their suffering,” Bajwa concluded.