Expected Amit Shah to speak on MSP, loan waiver: Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann slammed Union Home Minister Amit Shah for failing to address Punjab’s key concerns during his visit to the state, saying people had expected the announcement of the MSP for crops, farm loan waiver and a special economic package from him.

The Chief Minister said the BJP-led Centre had “consistently discriminated” against Punjab by withholding its rightful funds, ignoring farmers’ demands and failing to act on major drug seizures outside the state, while attempting to defame Punjab.

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The Chief Minister asserted that despite such challenges, the Punjab Government was taking decisive steps to curb drugs, strengthen the economy and attract investment, adding that the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit had received an overwhelming support from industry leaders exploring new opportunities in the state.

Mann said farmers and people of Punjab had hoped for concrete decisions addressing their concerns.

“We expected Amit Shah to speak about MSP, loan waiver or special package for Punjab, but he left after merely abusing Punjabis,” alleged Mann.

The Chief Minister again criticised the Centre for withholding Punjab’s “rightful funds”.

“The (Narendra) Modi government has withheld Punjab’s RDF and GST funds, and has still not released ?1,600 crore flood relief compensation,” he said.

He added that during the devastating floods, leaders from the Centre only visited Punjab for what he termed “disaster tourism.”

Raising the issue of gangster violence, the Chief Minister said the Union government had sheltered Lawrence Bishnoi.

“Punjab gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has been given shelter by BJP government in a Gujarat jail, and he isn’t even being allowed to be brought to Punjab,” he claimed.

The Chief Minsiter further said that preventing smuggling from across the international border was primarily the responsibility of the Centre.

“Stopping drug smuggling from across the border is the Centre’s responsibility, yet our government is installing anti-drone systems with its own funds to curb drugs,” said Mann.

He added that the state government installed anti-drone technology along the 550-km-long border with Pakistan to stop cross-border smuggling despite receiving no support from the Centre.

“In Gujarat, lakhs of tonnes of drugs are being seized but no action is taken, while Punjab has launched the country’s biggest campaign against drugs,” he said.

He said the entire nation knew that around 3,000 kg of drugs were seized at Mundra Port in Gujarat but no meaningful action had been taken against those responsible.

Questioning the BJP’s claims regarding the upcoming Assembly elections, Mann said the party lacked the organisational strength to contest alone.

“From where will the BJP bring 117 candidates to contest alone in Punjab?” he said, adding that it would “likely try to induct leaders from other parties to contest elections”.