CHANDIGARH: BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh on Monday launched a sharp attack on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, holding him directly responsible for turning Punjab’s flood crisis into a “Mann-made disaster.” Chugh said that unchecked illegal sand mining under the AAP government had severely weakened river embankments, leading to widespread devastation in villages across the state.
He said the people of Punjab are today paying the price for Bhagwant Mann’s incompetence, failure, and inexperience. “The reason Punjab has been pushed into such misery is the free hand given for illegal mining. This disaster is not natural, it is ‘Mann-made’, ” Chugh declared.
Criticising the AAP government’s handling of relief operations, Chugh said the state government had failed to even conduct a real assessment of the flood-hit areas. Instead, it has been making noise about compensation packages while ignoring ground realities. He pointed out that the Central Government has already earmarked more than Rs. 11, 000 crore for disaster management in Punjab.
Chugh further said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had personally assured Bhagwant Mann of all possible support. Yet, the Punjab government has neither formed special teams nor undertaken a proper survey of losses. Instead of acting responsibly, it has engaged in blame-shifting and theatrics.
Highlighting the Centre’s commitment, Chugh informed that Prime Minister Modi will visit flood-affected Gurdaspur on September 9 to meet with affected families and farmers and to review ongoing relief and rescue operations. “This visit proves that the BJP-led Central Government stands firmly with the people of Punjab in this hour of crisis and will extend every possible support, ” Chugh added.