Chandigarh, September 26, 2025: On the opening day of the special Punjab Assembly session on floods, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched a sharp attack on the opposition, accusing them of exploiting a natural disaster for political gain. He said those who lack substance are trying to turn people’s suffering into an opportunity to hurl abuse at him.
Taking a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit, Mann said Gandhi arrived in Punjab with Z-plus security during peak flooding. “The Ravi river was in full flow. Had anything happened, they would have claimed Rahul Gandhi was pushed into Pakistan,” he remarked.
The Chief Minister also criticized the Centre, pointing out that over the last 25 years, Punjab had received only ₹6,090 crore from the State Disaster Fund, while the majority of resources came from the state’s own budget. He alleged that Union ministers merely staged photo opportunities, lifting their trousers for pictures before leaving without offering real help.
On accusations of mishandling relief funds, Mann clarified that corporate donations under CSR rules cannot be deposited in the CM Relief Fund, and MPs can contribute only up to ₹20 lakh. He said the state had created a new society under the Finance Minister to handle additional resources transparently.
Mann also dismissed claims that the release of 4,000 cusecs from BBMB could have prevented large-scale flooding, calling it an impractical argument. Displaying a letter from Haryana, he revealed that the neighboring state had formally refused to accept Punjab’s excess water, despite its chief minister expressing willingness to help.
The day’s proceedings were disrupted when AAP legislators protested against what they called inadequate central aid, forcing a 20-minute adjournment. They displayed posters mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flood relief announcement of ₹1,600 crore as a “jumla.”
Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema joined the criticism, accusing the Prime Minister of neglecting Punjab during his Pathankot visit, where he skipped meeting a family that had lost four children in the floods. “The Prime Minister has shown his disregard for Punjab. People will respond to the BJP at the right time,” Cheema declared.
With heated arguments from both sides, the session underscored the growing political fault lines over flood management and the state’s demand for greater central support.
