BJP working president in Punjab Ashwani Sharma Wednesday said that the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government abandoned its responsibility and continued to mislead the people on flood relief and rehabilitation. Addressing mediapersons in Pathankot Wednesday afternoon, Sharma said, “The MHA confirmed to Mann that Rs 12,589.59 crore is in the account of the Punjab government as State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) for immediate relief and rehabilitation. Where is this money and why has it not been used for the flood-affected people?” he asked. He added that contradictory statements on the availability of Rs 12,589.59 crore by Mann, his ministers Harpal Cheema and Hardeep Mundian, chief secretary raise serious doubts if the funds were diverted, misused, or kept idle when people desperately needed them. “PM Narendra Modi is serious about Punjab, that is why, without waiting for the receipt of a memorandum from the Punjab, the Inter-Ministerial Central Government Team (IMCT) visited affected areas in the state for on-the-spot assessment of damages. But the state government is yet to submit a detailed memorandum of damages, thereby blocking further release of central funds as per the laid norms,” he said. He demanded full transparency and accountability from the CM and his government. “Every Punjabi has the right to know where is the Rs 12,589.59 crore SDRF fund?. Why has it not been used for flood relief and rehabilitation?. Why has the Punjab government failed to submit a memorandum despite repeated central intervention? Accountability also falls on Punjab Water Resources Minister Barinder Goyal. What preparations were made before the monsoon? Why were Rs 240 crore worth of approved flood-prevention projects left incomplete? Even members of CM Mann’s own family have raised questions on such mismanagement,” he said.
