Punjab Floods: Relief Pours in from BJP States as Congress Slams Centre for ‘Giving Nothing’
With Punjab in the grip of its most severe floods in decades, which have claimed at least 46 lives and submerged over 1,900 villages, several BJP-ruled states and Delhi have extended financial aid and relief materials to the beleaguered state . The devastating floods, triggered by torrential monsoon rains, have impacted all 23 districts, destroying crops across more than 1.71 lakh hectares and causing damage estimated at a staggering Rs 14,000 crore .
As vast stretches of farmland remain underwater and major rivers continue to flow above danger levels, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced Rs 5 crore in aid, dispatching 15 truckloads of supplies . “Service is our tradition; service is our religion!” Saini wrote on X, emphasizing his government’s commitment to relief efforts under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance . The Delhi government, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, also pledged Rs 5 crore and sent 52 trucks of relief materials, stating that “every citizen of Delhi, along with the government, stands with the people of flood-affected Punjab” .
However, the aid from neighboring states has been juxtaposed with sharp criticism of the central government from the Punjab Congress . State Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring slammed the Centre for its perceived inaction, alleging it had not released any relief package. “During PM Manmohan Singh’s tenure, there was a flood 10 times less than this and ₹1,200 crore was given, but you gave nothing,” Warring stated, adding that the people had “no expectations” from the current state government either .
In response to the escalating crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Punjab on September 9 to conduct a firsthand assessment of the flood-hit areas . The BJP’s state unit confirmed that the Prime Minister will meet with affected residents and farmers in Gurdaspur and “take every possible step to help the victims” . Meanwhile, the state government has submitted an interim report to a central team, seeking an immediate release of funds from the National Disaster Relief Fund to mitigate the immense hardship faced by the people
