AAP misleading people over relief package: Punjab BJP

Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma on Wednesday accused the AAP government of running away from its responsibilities and misleading the people on central flood relief.

He said despite witnessing one of the worst floods in decades, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government had failed to achieve desired results.

The Pathankot MLA pointed out that the Ministry of Home Affairs had confirmed to Mann that Rs 12,589.59 crore was lying in the account of the Punjab Government under the head of the ‘State Disaster Response Fund’ (SDRF) for immediate relief and rehabilitation. He said he would like to know where the money had gone and why it was not being used for the benefit of the flood-affected people.

“Contradictory statements on the availability of the money by CM Mann, his ministers Harpal Cheema and Hardeep Mundian and the Chief Secretary have raised serious doubts in the minds of the people about whether the funds have been diverted, misused or have been kept idle when people desperately needed them,” he said.

Sharma added that PM Modi was concerned about Punjabis and that’s why the Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) visited the flood-hit areas from September 3 to 6.

“Shockingly, the Punjab Government has still not submitted a detailed memorandum of damages, thereby blocking further release of central funds,” he added.

Demanding transparency and accountability from the CM, Sharma said, “Every Punjabi has the right to know where is the SDRF? Why has it not been used for relief and rehabilitation?”