President of the Youth Akali Dal and core committee member of Shiromani Akali Dal, Sarabjit Singh Jhinjer, today visited flood-affected villages in Patiala district. He was accompanied by a four-member SAD committee headed by senior leader N.K. Sharma, which also included Darbara Singh Guru and Parminder Singh Sohana.
The committee was constituted under the presidency of SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal to assess the situation in the flood-hit areas. During the visit, Jhinjer reviewed the damage caused by the floods in several villages, including Sarala Kalan, Sarala Khurd, Untsar, Chamaru, Jand Mangoli, Kami Khurd, and met with the affected residents.
During his visit, Jhinjer criticized the Aam Aadmi Party government, stating that in 2023 a breach had developed in the Ghaggar river near Kami Khurd in the Ghanaur assembly constituency, but even after two years it has not been repaired. He said that once again, due to the floods, people have suffered heavy losses of crops, houses, and livestock.
Senior SAD leader N.K. Sharma strongly condemned the Punjab government’s policies and functioning. He said that had the government taken timely steps to strengthen the Ghaggar river embankments, the people of these villages would not have faced such devastation.
He added that while villagers are drowning in floods, the government and its MLAs are more concerned about saving their own land. He said thi is the proof of the government’s failure and lack of responsibility towards the people.
Sharma further said that the AAP government has only made promises but failed when it came to real work. “The people expected sympathy and relief, but instead the ministers and MLAs have turned their backs on the victims.
It is unfortunate that while people are losing their homes, the government is busy doing politics through media photographs. This reflects the government’s insensitivity and failed administrative planning,” he added.
During the visit, Sarabjit Singh Jhinjer also showed the committee a wall constructed in the Ghaggar river by AAP MLA Gurlal Ghanaur to protect his own crops. Jhinjer alleged that by diverting the river’s water to save his land, dozens of villages in the constituency were destroyed by the floods.
He said the wall was built without government approval or any scientific or technical survey, calling it a direct endangerment of people’s lives. Jhinjar said that the Shiromani Akali Dal will provide fodder and other essential items to the victims so that their condition can be improved. If a dam has to be built at any place, maximum cooperation will be provided in the form of diesel service.
Other SAD leaders accompanying the visit included Surjit Singh Gari, Jasmer Singh Lachhru, former MLA Bibi Harpreet Kaur Makhamelpur, SAD District President Jagmeet Singh Hariao, Youth Akali Dal District President Amritpal Singh Lang, Mandal Presidents Gurjinder Singh Kabulpur, Devinder Singh Tahalpura, Avtar Singh Shambhu, Lakhwinder Singh Ghuman, and Gurjant Singh Mehdoodun.
They demanded that the government take immediate action for the rehabilitation of flood-affected areas, repair breaches, and provide assistance to farmers for the removal of debris.