Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday, 26 October launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the party is seeking votes by conspiring to take away Panjab University in Chandigarh and the state's water resources, while systematically depriving Punjab of its rightful financial dues. Speaking during a media interaction in Patiala, Mann accused the Centre of withholding the state's Rural Development Fund (RDF) and Value-Added Tax (VAT) dues for four-and-a-half years.

Mann's Key Allegations Against BJP

'The BJP is seeking votes by conspiring to snatch Panjab University and Punjab's water,' CM Mann said. 'Denying Punjab its rightful claims has become an old habit of the BJP. The people of Punjab have made immense sacrifices for the country, contributed to its food security and stood firmly at the forefront of national defence, yet the state continues to face injustice at the hands of the BJP-led Union government.'

Mann insisted that Punjab would never allow any political party to undermine its interests. He described Panjab University as an institution intrinsically tied to the state's history, identity, and academic legacy, while calling the state's water resources vital to its agricultural economy and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.

Withheld Financial Dues: The RDF and VAT Dispute

A central plank of Mann's address was the alleged non-release of Punjab's pending financial entitlements. He stated that the Modi government has held back the state's RDF and VAT dues for four-and-a-half years, hampering rural infrastructure development. 'This prolonged withholding of funds is deeply unjust to the people of Punjab and hampers the state's ability to undertake essential development and rural infrastructure works. Punjab is demanding nothing beyond its legitimate entitlements, and the Union government must fulfil its financial obligations towards the state,' Mann said.

Attack on Akali Dal and BJP Over Drug Menace

Mann also trained his guns on the Shiromani Akali Dal (Akalis) and the BJP over the drug crisis in Punjab, accusing both parties of having damaged the state during their previous tenures in power. He alleged that the two parties are now preparing to reunite ahead of elections purely for electoral gain, warning that voters would not be misled.

AAP's Continued Support and Opposition Frustration

The Chief Minister asserted that the opposition's aggressive posturing stemmed from their frustration at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s sustained public support across Punjab. He expressed confidence that the people of the state would reject any attempt to compromise their rights over institutions, water, or financial entitlements. This comes amid a broader pattern of Centre-state friction, with several non-BJP-governed states publicly raising grievances over delayed fiscal transfers and perceived encroachment on state jurisdiction. The Panjab University question — long a flashpoint over whether the institution falls under Punjab's domain or remains a central institution — has resurfaced as a politically potent issue ahead of electoral cycles.