Modi announces Rs 1,600 cr for flood-hit Punjab; Oppn, farmers call it ‘cruel joke’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced a financial assistance of Rs 1,600 crore for flood-ravaged Punjab, supplementing the Rs 12,000 crore already allocated to the state as disaster relief.

The announcement came following an aerial survey and a review meeting in Gurdaspur—among the worst-hit districts—where he also met a number of flood victims. He also announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh to next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured.

“Conducted an aerial review of the floods in Punjab. The authorities are working round-the-clock, assisting those impacted. Our thoughts are with the people in this challenging time,” Modi said in a post on X. Children orphaned due to the floods will be supported under the PM CARES for Children Scheme. Damaged houses will be rebuilt under the PM Awas Yojana-Gramin while schools will be restored through the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. With Punjab battling one of the worst floods in decades, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had demanded Rs 20,000 crore immediate relief and the release of Rs 60,000 crore pending dues.

The PM held the meeting in Gurdaspur with officials and elected representatives. Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and Punjab ministers Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and Hardeep Singh Mundian were among those present. Chief Secretary KAP Sinha shared the details of the damage.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was not part of the meeting as he was indisposed and is admitted to hospital.

Opposition parties and farmer organisations rejected the relief package as “meagre”, calling it a “cruel joke” with the border state. Congress state president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said the assistance was “a drop in the ocean”, arguing that the losses suffered by farmers were long-term and far more severe.

AAP state president Aman Arora said, “This meagre amount, in comparison to the losses suffered, is an insult to the state and its people, who have played the most important role in nation building, ensuring food security and protecting the borders of the country.

Farmer bodies, including BKU-Dakaunda, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee and SKM (Non-political), demanded a relief package of Rs 1 lakh crore, loan waiver and long-term relief plan.

Meanwhile, BJP leaders observed with keen interest which Punjab leader would be seen with the PM. Union Minister and the BJP’s Sikh face in Punjab, Ravneet Singh Bittu, accompanied Modi from New Delhi for the aerial survey and meetings.

BJP state chief Sunil Jakhar led the party’s briefing to the PM and introduced him to several flood victims. He was joined by working president Ashwani Sharma and party’s national general secretary Tarun Chugh.

Visuals from the recent visit of Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan showed Bittu and Jakhar driving tractors alongside in flood-hit areas, symbolising solidarity with farmers.