BJP Spreading Lies on Disaster Relief Funds to Malign AAP Govt, Says Punjab FM Cheema

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of spreading false propaganda to defame the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, claiming the state received only ₹1,582 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) since April 2022. Cheema’s statement on Thursday countered opposition allegations, including from the BJP and Congress, questioning the handling of a reported ₹12,000 crore in disaster relief funds.

Cheema provided a detailed breakdown, stating Punjab received ₹208 crore in 2022-23 (spending ₹61 crore), ₹645 crore in 2023-24 (spending ₹420 crore), ₹488 crore in 2024-25 (spending ₹27 crore), and ₹241 crore in 2025-26 (spending ₹140 crore) up to September 10. Of the total ₹1,582 crore, ₹649 crore has been utilised for relief and rehabilitation, with the remainder allocated for ongoing flood relief efforts. “Every rupee is in the public domain. Unlike the BJP, we believe in transparency,” Cheema said, refuting claims of fund diversion.

The controversy intensified after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced an additional ₹1,600 crore for Punjab on Tuesday, referencing the ₹12,000 crore already allocated. BJP leader Tarun Chugh and Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring demanded clarity, with Warring alleging the AAP government misused funds for non-relief purposes. A senior finance official clarified that SDRF funds are held by the Centre as accounting entries and treated as loans affecting the state’s borrowing limit.

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Cheema challenged BJP leaders to explain the Centre’s withholding of Punjab’s dues worth thousands of crores, calling their campaign “shameful” and politically motivated. The dispute, set against recent flooding in Punjab, underscores tensions between the AAP government and opposition, with public trust and transparency at stake as relief operations continue.

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