Sukhpal Singh Khaira, MLA and Chairman, All India Kisan Congress, Demands Urgent Action and Accountability for Punjab Flood Crisis.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira, MLA and Chairman, All India Kisan Congress, Demands Urgent Action and Accountability for Punjab Flood Crisis.

Jalandhar,Punjab(Nazrana Times Network)

The catastrophic floods that have ravaged Punjab have caused unprecedented destruction to lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure. As the Chairman of All India Kisan Congress and MLA, I, Sukhpal Singh Khaira, strongly condemn the gross negligence and inefficiency of both the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led Central government, which have exacerbated this man made disaster.

The floods, triggered by poor water management, neglected infrastructure, and unplanned urban development, have exposed the failures of both governments in safeguarding the people of Punjab.

The AAP government’s inaction in maintaining and upgrading critical infrastructure such as dams, canals, and drainage systems has led to this avoidable catastrophe. The lack of timely desilting of rivers and canals, coupled with encroachments on floodplains, has worsened the impact of heavy rainfall. Similarly, the Central government’s failure to provide adequate support and funding for flood preparedness and disaster management has left Punjab vulnerable. This dual negligence has resulted in massive crop losses, destruction of homes, and tragic loss of lives.

In response to this crisis, I put forth the following demands to address the plight of Punjab’s farmers, families, and citizens:

1. Judicial Inquiry: A high-level judicial inquiry, headed by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, must be constituted to investigate the causes of this man-made disaster and fix responsibility on those accountable for the lapses in flood management.

2. Compensation for Crop Losses: Immediate compensation of Rs. 50,000 per acre for farmers who have suffered extensive crop losses due to flooding.

3. Compensation for Damaged Houses: Rs. 2.50 lakh to be provided to families whose homes have been damaged or destroyed by the floods to aid in repairs and rebuilding.

4. Ex-Gratia for Loss of Lives: An ex-gratia grant of Rs. 10 lakh to be disbursed to the families of individuals who lost their lives in this tragedy, ensuring dignified support for those grieving.

5. Moratorium on Loan Repayments: A one-year moratorium on the repayment of bank loans and interest for farmers, to be implemented by the Punjab government, to alleviate the financial burden on those affected by the floods.

6. Declare Punjab Floods a National Calamity: The Government of India must declare the Punjab floods a national calamity and allocate a relief package of Rs. 25,000 crore to address the extensive losses incurred by the state.

The All India Kisan Congress stands in solidarity with the people of Punjab and demands immediate action to provide relief and justice to those affected. We urge both the AAP government in Punjab and the BJP-led Central government to act swiftly and transparently to address this crisis. Failure to meet these demands will compel us to escalate our agitation to ensure the voices of Punjab’s farmers and citizens are heard.

Sukhpal Singh Khaira

MLA and Chairman, All India Kisan Congress