'Not received a penny yet': Punjab CM lashes out at Centre for delay in financial aid for flood-relief

New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged delay in the disbursement of financial aid to the flood-affected areas of Punjab. At a press conference in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister then compared the state's delayed disbursement with Afghanistan's aid, and accused the ruling government of being biased.

"If there is a crisis in Afghanistan, financial help is sent to the country instantly. Here, he visited after so many days and announced a package of Rs 1600 crores. But we have not received a penny yet. What is the enmity with Punjab?", Mann added. The Chief Minister said that Punjab is considered the Food Bowl of India, which makes a significant contribution to filling the country’s stomach. But the BJP-led central government discriminated against Punjab in a delicate situation like floods and made a joke in the name of a relief fund.

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Mann's jibe comes days after Afghanistan was hit with an earthquake of 6.0 magnitude on September 1, which killed nearly 1400 people. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar declared on X, that India airlifted 21 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Kabul.

On September 9, PM Modi conducted an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged areas of Punjab and conducted a review meeting with officials. He then announced an additional financial aid of Rs 1,600 along with the already allocated Rs 12,000 crore. Meeting the victims of the disaster, the PM assured that the Centre would work closely with the state government to provide aid to the affected people.

Rival parties such as the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress criticised the flood-relief fund. Some called it "too little", while the others termed it as "Ooth k muh mein jeera".

Punjab ministers also made a scathing attack on the Centre, claiming that Punjab had sought Rs 80, 000 crore, along with Rs 60, 000 crore of pending dues to recover.