CM Bhagwant Mann meets Amit Shah, seeks more flood relief fund

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) – Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday. The meeting lasted approximately 25 minutes. Speaking at a press conference afterward, Mann said he presented the Home Minister with the full picture of the massive flood damage.

Shah's assurance:

CM Mann said, "I said that 1,600 crore rupees is a drop in the ocean. The Home Minister replied that it was only token money. He assured that more aid would be provided to Punjab." The Chief Minister said that the floods affected more than 2,300 villages, affected more than 2 million people, damaged 8,500 kilometers of roads, and even washed away children's books. So far, losses have reached approximately 13,800 crore rupees, which could rise to 20,000 crore rupees.

Mann said that Punjab has always stood with the nation in times of crisis. Now is the time for the entire nation to stand with Punjab. He clarified that this is not a "credit war," but a matter of providing immediate relief to those in need. The CM said that BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma was speaking in a "mock assembly" instead of the assembly. He should come to the elected assembly and question the government. Mann said that Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Fazilka, Kapurthala, and Ferozepur are the worst-affected districts. Therefore, Punjab should be given special exemptions for the 2025-26 Sawan marketing season, so that paddy procurement standards can be relaxed.