Chandigarh, September 26, 2025: Punjab Assembly witnessed a heated session on Friday as legislators debated the devastating floods that have affected the state. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains accused the Congress of politicizing the disaster instead of focusing on relief and planning for the future.
Bains praised the efforts of local leaders, artists, social workers, and religious figures who assisted flood-affected communities. “Times of crisis show who genuinely stands with the people,” he said, referring to the absence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann due to illness, and added that the Congress attempted to make political gains out of the situation. “Illness can affect anyone; it should not be politicized,” Bains remarked.
The minister also criticized the BJP for its lack of support during the crisis. He noted that the Chief Minister had been trying to secure a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the past ten days, but no appointment was granted, even as the Prime Minister recently visited Tamil Nadu. Bains warned that if political theatrics continue, it will waste valuable public resources.
Reflecting on Punjab’s history of challenges, Bains said the state has faced numerous setbacks caused by outsiders, insiders, and natural calamities alike. From the 1947 Partition and the 1984 riots to the 1988 floods and recent natural disasters, the people of Punjab have repeatedly endured hardships. He noted that religious sites were attacked, acid was thrown in Amritsar, and now the floods have left large areas devastated. Over five lakh acres of crops have been destroyed, underscoring the state’s reliance on agriculture for prosperity. Bains added, “Homes that previously kept out even a bit of mud are now filled with it.”
