Leader of Opposition Bajwa claimed that the state government always said that it did not have money, but the CAG report has proved that till March 31, 2023, there was Rs 9,041 crore in the treasury of Punjab.
source ANI
Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Pratap Singh Bajwa has made a serious allegation against the Aam Aadmi Party of delaying compensation to flood-affected farmers. Bajwa said that before coming to power, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal had promised the people of Punjab that compensation of Rs 50 thousand per acre would be given in flood-affected areas. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had also announced to give Rs 20 thousand per acre as immediate relief and the remaining Rs 30 thousand after the survey. But till now the farmers have not received this amount.
Farmers should be given relief immediately
Bajwa said our demand is that 4 lakh acres of crops have been destroyed. Rs 800 crore should be given to farmers immediately at the rate of Rs 20,000 per acre. He described the recent floods as the most devastating since 1988, in which more than 1,400 villages in 21 districts were submerged and more than 3.54 lakh people were affected. Questioning the central assistance, Bajwa referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Punjab. He said when PM Modi came to Punjab, people said that you have given only 8 percent (Rs 1,600 crore) of the total loss. PM Modi replied that we send Rs 12 thousand crore every year for relief, which is in your treasury.
Demand for action in embezzlement case
Bajwa claimed that the state government always said that it did not have money, but the CAG report has proved that till March 31, 2023, there was Rs 9,041 crore in the treasury of Punjab. Now the Chief Secretary has said that we have got only Rs 1,500 crore, so it is a big amount. Take out whatever money is kept. If embezzlement has happened, then legal action should be taken against those responsible.
Bajwa also raised questions on the use of the State Disaster Relief Fund, where out of Rs 1,582 crore received from 2022-23 to 2025-26, only Rs 648 crore was spent, the rest remained lying. Bajwa demanded that there should be a high-level investigation into this matter. He said the CAG report proved that this money was in their treasury.
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