Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today. This is his first meeting with the Prime Minister after becoming the Chief Minister. During this, he asked for a package of Rs 50,000 crore annually for two years for Punjab.
Though on the other hand, Aam Aadmi Party Convenor Arvind Kejriwal claimed to have counted each penny of Punjab to bring back its financial stability from the available sources only. The netizens on social media are questioning AAP on this demand of the 50,000 Crore package.
We need the support of the central government to maintain national security, Bhagwant Mann told the media after meeting Prime Minister Modi. “The economic condition of Punjab is dooming. We have demanded a package of Rs 50,000 crore per year for two years to improve the financial condition of the state,” he added.
It is said that Bhagwant Mann raised many other issues including the withheld amount of Rs 1082 crore of Rural Development Fund while meeting PM Modi. After meeting the Prime Minister, Bhagwant Mann met the Chief Minister of Delhi and AAP’s Convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
It is believed that the Chief Minister also raised the issue of the Bhakra Beas Management Board and its change in the rules for the appointment of members and border security.
Before meeting Prime Minister Modi, as per the protocols, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann got his Covid-19 test done that later came negative. It is said that Bhagwant Mann met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the afternoon. As an MP, even though Bhagwant Mann keeps meeting the Prime Minister in the Lok Sabha, this will be his first meeting with the PM after becoming the Chief Minister.
It is believed that during this meeting, Chief Minister Mann has reportedly raised the issue of withheld Rs 1082 crore, the amount that was not released due to the Rural Development Fund (RDF) for Kharif season, changes in the rules, and limits of the permanent member of Bhakra Beas Management Board.
The central government has not paid this amount yet. The Central Government had warned Punjab that the money from the Rural Development Fund for the purchase of food grains cannot be spent on repayment of farmers’ loans. Former Finance Minister Manpreet Badal had assured Union Food and Supplies Minister Piyush Goyal that the Punjab government would bring an amendment act in the assembly to remove the one percent item in which it has been provided that this money will be used for loan waiver of farmers and laborers.