Chandigarh (National Times): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is facing backlash after it was revealed that a minister had been assigned a department that did not exist for nearly 20 months.
The controversy erupted after a Punjab government notification, issued on Friday, acknowledged that the Department of Administrative Reforms, allocated to Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, was “non-existent”. Following this revelation, Dhaliwal has now been officially assigned only the NRI Affairs Department.
Dhaliwal’s Response: ‘I Fulfilled My Duties’
Breaking his silence on the matter, Dhaliwal defended himself, stating: “I am a soldier of the party and have carried out every duty assigned to me.” However, when asked how he held a portfolio that never existed, he responded: “The Chief Minister can answer that better.”
Opposition Slams AAP Government
The controversy has given fresh ammunition to opposition parties, who have criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration for what they call a “mockery of governance”.
Senior BJP leader Subhash Sharma ridiculed the government, stating: “This exposes the mental bankruptcy of the AAP government. A non-existent department was assigned, and neither the government nor the minister realized it for 20 months.”
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring also took a jibe at AAP, sharing a news clipping on social media with the sarcastic caption: “What a ‘Badlaav’!” (What a change!)
Cabinet Reshuffle and the Department Mix-Up
The mix-up traces back to May 2023, when Dhaliwal was relieved of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare portfolio in a cabinet reshuffle but retained the NRI Affairs Department. However, it now appears that the Administrative Reforms Department assigned to him never actually existed.
As criticism mounts, all eyes are on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who is yet to issue an official response to the controversy.
