Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab had spent elsewhere the ₹ 1,600 crore announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the flood-hit state last year.
Saini said he had earlier watched a video on social media in which Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann had promised compensation for every loss suffered by people during the devastating floods, down to a single hen.
Keeping their financial security and future in mind, the government also introduced a provident fund (PF) facility to ensure regular monthly savings for rural watchmen. the state government had not granted permission While Haryana had offered to send veterinary doctors and medicines. Saini said that when the present government assumed office in 2014, a chowkidar was receiving a monthly honorarium of ₹ 3,500. This was increased to ₹ 7,000 per month in September 2018 and subsequently raised to ₹ 11,000 per month in February 2024.
Saini said this while interacting with the media at Haryana Niwas in Chandigarh, after transferring funds under various government welfare schemes. Referring to the livestock disease outbreak in Punjab during the disaster, the CM said local residents had sought help to treat the affected animals. “Mann had also said he did not need to look towards the Centre for funds,” Saini said. “However, when floods hit Punjab, Mann did not have money to compensate farmers,” Saini said. Offering to arrange the venue himself, Saini said that it cannot be a one-sided affair where someone makes false claims and then walks away. The CM said that if the Congress has any grievance regarding the electoral process, it should present its case before the Election Commission of India, while the doors of the courts are also open. Questioning why the Congress is unwilling to approach these forums, he said that merely making allegations from home for public consumption would serve no purpose.
Saini also took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his debate challenge, inviting the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha to Haryana to face questions from the BJP Yuva Morcha president.
