The statement given by Congress leader Mr. Amarinder Singh that the rescue and rehabilitation operation in flood affected areas is totally the state responsibility and centre has nothing to do with it, depict the indifference and bais of Congress party towards Punjab. How can a man of the stature of Mr.Amarinder Singh who remained at the helm of affairs as Chief Minister of Punjab be so oblivious about the center-state relationship as far as finances are concerned? This question was posed by Mr. Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Irrigation Minister before Mr. Amarinder Singh permanent invitee in the AICC for his unsympathetic and unjustified statement in the Media regarding rescue and rehabilitation operations in the flood affected areas on Punjab.
Slamming at former Chief Minister of Punjab for his unsympathetic stance towards the miseries of Punjabis Mr. Sekhon said that before issuing such meaningless statement Mr. Amarinder must have to update himself with the statistics. Reminding Mr. Amarinder about the financial assistance under calamity relief fund (CRF) he said that the norms of CRF are set by Centre Government. He said that at present centre only gives Rs.3600 per hectare in the case of total loss of crop due to floods. He said that Punjab is the first state in the country which gives financial assistance of Rs.5100 per hectare to the farmers for the total loss of crop by adding in Rs.1500 in the centre grant thus helping the farmers during calamities. Mr. Sekhon questioned Mr. Amarinder that does he know that it is the center who extracts most of the revenue of the States and in return States get only the peanuts and disregard during the time of crisis.
Mr. Sekhon asked Capt. Amarinder Singh that how can he be so forgetful of the diligent and hardworking Farmers of Punjab who contributed substantially to make India self reliant on the food security front. He said that the recent statement of Mr. Amarinder Singh who himself a Punjabi has let down every Punjabi even so he rubbed salt on the wounds of Punjabi.
He said that Mr. Amarinder Singh should have kept in mind while speaking his mind out against Punjabis that these are the people who have blessed him and his generations with seamless virtues and grandeour. He said that the time and situation was demanding a consolatory and helpful gesture from Mr. Amarinder and instead of advocating and supporting the non cooperative and passive role of centre government towards Punjab he should have press upon the centre to announce special financial package for Punjab so that the people could be rehabilitated in the flood affected areas in Punjab.