Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has declared the statement made by Union Cabinet Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan that “no minister from Punjab ever contacted the Centre for the money under the Rural Development Fund (RDF)” as highly irresponsible, misleading and a blatant lie. The Finance Minister said that BJP leaders are experts at lying and distort every fact before presenting it to the public. He made it clear that the Punjab Government has continuously raised the issue of RDF funds before the Central Government at every possible platform.
Addressing a press conference and detailing the repeated efforts made by the Punjab Government, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said, “On November 28, 2024, I, along with Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, met Union Minister Prahlad Joshi and demanded the release of Punjab’s Rural Development Fund (RDF) money. On July 17, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann met Prahlad Joshi and reiterated the same demand.”
He continued, “On January 10, I met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, following which CM Bhagwant Singh Mann met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on January 17. On April 10, the Chief Minister again met Union Consumer Affairs and Food Minister Prahlad Joshi, and on June 30, I once again requested Nirmala Sitharaman to release the funds.”
Calling out the BJP led Central Government for betraying Punjab, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema asserted, “The BJP led Central Government has committed a major betrayal of Punjab’s farmers and common people. Now, to hide its failures, Union Ministers are resorting to misleading propaganda. The people of Punjab are highly aware and know very well that the BJP has continuously been working against the interests of Punjab and Punjabis.”