Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Chief Spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal strongly reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Punjab, describing it as a "flop show." Dhaliwal said that the Prime Minister's visit was not only disappointing for Punjab, but that the statements made by him were hollow and intended to mislead the people.
Addressing a press conference along with AAP leader Gurpratap Singh on Saturday, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal launched a direct attack on the BJP, saying that those who can steal donations in the name of a sacred place like the Ram Mandir can never be honest towards the nation. He said that the BJP openly stole donations by exploiting the faith of people across the country in the name of the construction of the Ram Mandir.
Dhaliwal said that Prime Minister Modi has worked only to benefit his favourite industrialists, Ambani and Adani. He said that the Union Government has withheld thousands of crores of Punjab's Rural Development Fund (RDF) and other funds.
When we take loans for Punjab's development, they accuse us of mismanagement, whereas the truth is that the Union Government is sitting on Punjab's rightful funds. He said that every loan being taken by the Bhagwant Mann Government is not meant to benefit any industrialist, but is being spent on hospitals, schools, colleges, roads, healthcare facilities, pensions for the poor and public welfare schemes.
Punjab's money is being spent only on the people of Punjab. On the issue of blending 20% ethanol in petrol, Dhaliwal termed it another burden on the common people's pocket. He questioned under which law this is being imposed on the people.
He said that it was claimed ethanol blending would make fuel cheaper, but instead prices have increased further, placing a direct burden on the common man. He said that this policy is benefiting a few selected companies while the common people are paying the price.
He said that instead of delivering speeches in Punjab, the Prime Minister should tell the nation under which law this arrangement has been implemented and what benefit the public has received from it. On the issue of drugs, Dhaliwal held the BJP accountable, saying that drugs spread in Punjab during the BJP-Shiromani Akali Dal alliance government.
He said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been continuously urging the Union Government to install modern anti-drone systems along Punjab's 532-kilometre international border to stop the smuggling of drugs and weapons through drones from Pakistan, but the Centre has not taken any effective step in this direction till date.
He further said that the Prime Minister remained completely silent on the issue of farmers as well. Despite the martyrdom of 720 farmers and the promise of ₹1,600 crore for flood victims, the Union Government has not given even a single penny till date.
Dhaliwal said that during his visit, the Prime Minister did not explain what impact the trade agreement with the United States would have on the farmers of Punjab. He said that Punjab's farmers have been consistently expressing their concerns, but instead of listening to their voices, the Union Government continues to deliver only political speeches.
Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the Prime Minister came empty-handed and returned empty-handed. He asked the BJP leaders of Punjab to tell the people what exactly the Prime Minister gave to Punjab.
He said that the Aam Aadmi Party Government in Punjab stood by the flood-affected people by providing compensation of ₹20,000 per acre along with other relief assistance, whereas the Union Government continued to make false promises. Under such circumstances, he said, the Prime Minister's visit was nothing more than rubbing salt into Punjab's wounds.