Are Punjab CM Mann and Kejriwal to Blame for the Natural Calamity?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Incompetence: Chugh highlights severe mismanagement by the AAP government.
- Accountability: Calls for transparency and accountability are rising.
- Mafia Influence: Concerns over the sand mafia's involvement are being raised.
- Political Games: Accusations of political interests overriding public welfare.
- Public Sentiment: Punjabis are demanding answers and justice.
Chandigarh, Sep 19 (NationPress) BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh fiercely criticized the AAP administration in Punjab, asserting that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal are directly accountable for transforming a natural disaster into a “Mann-made catastrophe”.
Chugh remarked, “In Punjab, the incompetence of the AAP government, delays, and capitulation to vested interests have turned a seasonal concern into a human catastrophe. This was not merely a flood; it is a man-made disaster.”
He recounted the timeline: tenders for the desilting of the Sutlej River were issued on June 9, a PIL was lodged on July 25, and on August 1, the Punjab government informed the court that it would not finalize any tenders.
Just 17 days later, Punjab was inundated.
“Had the Mann government defended the people's interests in court, and advocated for timely desilting after the 2023 floods, countless Punjabis would not have endured this destruction,” Chugh stated.
He emphasized that experts had consistently warned that unchecked silt, weak embankments, and uncontrolled creeks posed a significant risk.
“Instead of addressing these issues, the Mann government opted for excuses. Even without a court stay, they surrendered. This does not represent governance; it is a betrayal,” Chugh declared.
He raised concerns about whether the sand mafia had influenced these decisions.
“Had the silted sand been allowed in the market, prices would have dropped. Whose interests was Mann safeguarding—the people of Punjab or the mafia's profits? This is why Punjabis are now referring to it as a Mann-Made Disaster rather than a natural flood,” he asserted.
Chugh also criticized the Congress party for being a passive participant in the state's crisis. “The Gandhi family and Kharge were silent witnesses while Punjabis were submerged.
The Congress has allowed the AAP to devastate Punjab. Both parties are now exposed before the public,” he added. Chugh called for accountability: “We demand a white paper on every agreement signed between June 9 and August 17, the names of officials who recommended the withdrawal of tenders, and an independent investigation into the mafia's involvement. Punjabis deserve clarity. Punjab will not forgive those who forsook its people for political maneuvers and mafia interests.”