The Rs 1,600 crore flood-relief package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Punjab’s Gurdaspur has triggered an intense political storm. While the Aam Aadmi Party-led state government, along with opposition parties Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal, branded the relief as grossly inadequate and even “an insult,” the Bharatiya Janata Party moved swiftly to defend the Centre, accusing the state leadership of manipulating damage estimates for political ends. At the heart of the controversy lies a deep divide between what the state claims as its loss and what the Centre deems appropriate assistance, leaving Punjab’s flood-affected farmers demanding meaningful, tangible relief.

Relief Package Termed “Meagre” by Punjab Government

Punjab’s Finance Minister, Harpal Singh Cheema, did not mince words, describing the package as “miserably meagre” compared to the scale of devastation. He revealed that cabinet minister Hardeep Singh Mundian directly told the Prime Minister during the Gurdaspur review meeting that the amount was insufficient, demanding an interim package of Rs 20,000 crore. According to Cheema, Modi responded sharply, remarking whether officials could not comprehend that Rs 1,600 crore had already been given.

Cheema interpreted Modi’s response as not only dismissive but also disrespectful, accusing him of insulting the Punjabi language and by extension, Punjab’s cultural identity. He further criticized the Prime Minister for avoiding personal outreach to victims who had lost family members in the floods.

Opposition Accuses Both State and Centre of Failure

The Congress, Punjab’s principal opposition, lashed out at both governments. State party chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring alleged misuse of Rs 12,000 crore allocated under the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) and charged that while Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was indisposed in hospital during the crisis, much of the state’s administrative machinery had “vanished.” Warring concluded that Punjab’s citizens were abandoned before, during, and after the disaster.

Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa added that the relief sanctioned by Modi was only about 8 percent of Punjab’s estimated flood losses, underlining its inadequacy.

Farmers’ Unions Denounce Relief as Insufficient

The sharpest discontent came from farmers’ unions, which described the relief as a betrayal. Harinder Singh Lakhowal, president of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal Group), demanded not just aid but loan waivers and comprehensive crop insurance coverage across all crops.

Meanwhile, Sarwan Singh Pandher of the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha stated that the Centre’s "step-motherly" approach was yet again visible, as the farmers’ demand of Rs 70,000 per acre in compensation and relief for farm labourers went unheeded. He stressed that there remains no clarity on how even the limited funds announced will be disbursed, fueling further distrust among the agrarian community.

BJP Defends Relief, Questions State Government’s Numbers

The BJP, led by state unit chief Sunil Jakhar, countered criticism by pinning blame on the AAP government for presenting what he called “irrational” and “conflicting” damage estimates. While the Chief Secretary projected losses at Rs 13,289 crore, Minister Hardeep Mundian reported damages worth Rs 20,000 crore, a discrepancy Jakhar said reflected the state’s irresponsibility and lack of coherence.

Despite the accusations, Jakhar emphasized that Modi’s package was only an initial tranche, with commitments for further assistance, including funds for schools, highways, and damaged homes. The Centre also promised to release the next installments of both the Pradhan Mantri Samman Nidhi Yojana and the second SDRF tranche ahead of schedule. Jakhar reminded that rural development funding could also be accessed through MNREGA, provided the state government demonstrated the will to act responsibly.

Jakhar went further to challenge the credibility of Chief Minister Mann’s claim that the Centre owes Punjab Rs 60,000 crore, dismissing it as a “fantasy” comparable to earlier overestimates of sand and liquor revenues. He highlighted that while the state had claimed to offer Rs 15,000 per acre compensation in 2023, it had only disbursed Rs 6,800 per acre, which too was drawn from central assistance. In his view, Punjab’s government was attempting to paper over chronic fiscal mismanagement with political rhetoric.

Governor’s Assurance Amid Lingering Worries

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, after conducting an aerial survey of affected zones and meeting Chief Minister Mann at the hospital, acknowledged the extensive destruction to property and crops. While conceding that the floodwaters had begun receding, Kataria reassured citizens that further aid would be forthcoming, asserting, “More assistance will be coming 100 percent in the days ahead.”