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Mann said, “I am not the Mukh Mantri of Punjab, I am the Dukh Mantri. I am back to stand by the people who are facing the worst-ever crisis caused by the floods. Dukh sanjha karan naal dukh adha reh janda hai.”
Chandigarh: Just a day after being discharged from hospital, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was back on duty, holding review meetings on flood relief and rebuilding measures across the state.
Declaring that he stood with the people in their “darkest hour,” Mann said, “I am not the Mukh Mantri of Punjab… I am the Dukh Mantri. I am back to stand by the people who are facing the worst-ever crisis caused by the floods. Dukh sanjha karan naal dukh adha reh janda hai.”
The Chief Minister assured that his government would release full compensation to all affected within 40 days. He said deputy commissioners had been instructed to complete special girdawaris of crop losses, verify reports of human and livestock casualties, and assess damage to houses at the earliest, so that payments could be disbursed without delay.
Accompanied by Revenue Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian and Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, Mann also raised concerns over central funding. He said that since the AAP government assumed office in 2022, Punjab had received only ₹1,582 crore as disaster relief from the Centre. Sinha clarified that the Centre’s claim of ₹12,000 crore in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) was misleading, as the amount represented combined entries of the Centre’s share, the state’s contribution, and accrued interest. “We only act as bankers and release the money when required. These funds are part of the state’s public accounts,” he said.
Mann added that he held a marathon meeting with deputy commissioners of all 23 districts to review ongoing relief work and the repair of damaged infrastructure. He also said he would soon seek an appointment with the Prime Minister or Home Minister to press for changes in the compensation norms for flood victims.
Meanwhile, political sparring continued, with the BJP accusing Mann of avoiding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to flood-hit areas. Party leaders said Mann could have at least joined the meeting virtually, a remark reminiscent of criticism faced by former CM Charanjit Singh Channi during earlier crises.
