No more 'jumlas', Amit Shah must account for Punjab's ₹9,000 crore withheld by the centre: Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal
Amritsar/Chandigarh(The Uttam Hindu): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Chief Spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal launched a sharp attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah before his rally in Moga. Dhaliwal said that before stepping onto the soil of Punjab, Amit Shah should give an account of the thousands of crores of rupees belonging to Punjab that the central government has withheld due to vindictive politics.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said, “Amit Shah ji, the ₹9,000 crore meant for the development of Punjab, is being withheld by the Centre. This includes RDF (Rural Development Fund) and several other funds that were meant for the construction of roads in Punjab’s villages. Are you punishing the people of Punjab? If you are coming to Punjab, do not come empty-handed, bring Punjab’s rightful money with you.”
MLA Dhaliwal said that after the implementation of GST, Punjab suffered significant financial losses, and the central government has completely failed to compensate the state.
He demanded that Amit Shah announce the immediate release of Punjab’s pending GST funds.
Speaking on the issue of flood relief, Dhaliwal said that last year’s devastating floods in Punjab destroyed farmers’ crops and people’s homes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself visited the state and promised token assistance of ₹1,600 crore.
“Even after eight months, the people of Punjab have not received a single penny. In the history of the country, Modi is perhaps the first Prime Minister who made promises to disaster victims and then backed out of them. Amit Shah must tell where that money has gone,” he said.
Targeting the Centre on the agricultural crisis, Dhaliwal said the Modi government had earlier attempted to introduce the three “black farm laws” to hand over farmers’ lands to its corporate friends. Farmers protested against these laws by sitting on the borders of Delhi, and around 750 farmers lost their lives during the movement.
Eventually, the Modi government had to bow before the farmers and withdraw the laws. Dhaliwal said that once again, through a secret “trade deal” with the United States, the government is planning to push the farmers of Punjab and the country into another crisis.
He said that the administration of Donald Trump frequently tweets about this deal, while the Prime Minister remains silent. “Is the country being run by Trump?” he asked, adding that any such deal that harms Punjab’s agriculture will not be accepted.
Speaking about drug trafficking and border security, Dhaliwal said the Punjab government is fighting a war against smuggling coming from the Pakistan border.
He said the Punjab government has spent ₹52 crore from its own resources to install anti-drone systems, but central agencies under the Union Home Ministry have not provided any assistance.
He questioned why the central government is not providing Punjab with the technology and funds required to stop drones and weapons coming from across the border. “Does the Centre deliberately want to keep Punjab burning in the fire of drugs?” he asked.
Dhaliwal further said that the same industrial policies and subsidies that the central government provides to neighbouring states like Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir should also be given to Punjab.
“Punjab is a border state. The industry here should also receive cheap electricity and special concessions so that the state can develop,” he said.
Dhaliwal concluded, “Amit Shah ji, do not come to the soil of Punjab to tell another ‘jumla’ or to make false promise. The people of Punjab are aware and alert. If you cannot help Punjab, then you have no right to come here and mislead the people with lies.”