Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday strongly criticized Union Home Minister Amit Shah for failing to address Punjab’s key concerns during his visit to the state. He said people had expected announcements on Minimum Support Price (MSP), farm loan waivers and a special package for Punjab, but were left disappointed.
The Chief Minister alleged that the BJP-led Central Government has consistently discriminated against Punjab by withholding its rightful funds, ignoring farmers’ demands and failing to act on major drug seizures outside the state, while attempting to defame Punjab.
Mann asserted that despite such challenges, the Punjab Government is taking decisive steps to curb drugs, strengthen the economy and attract investment. He added that the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit has received overwhelming support from industry leaders exploring new opportunities in the state.
Interacting with the media on the sidelines of the summit, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said farmers and citizens of Punjab had hoped for concrete decisions addressing their concerns.
“We expected Amit Shah to speak about MSP, loan waivers or a special package for Punjab, but he left after merely criticizing Punjabis,” he said. He added that people were expecting major announcements such as a legal guarantee of MSP for crops, waiver of farm loans and other measures for farmers.
The Chief Minister also criticized the Centre for withholding Punjab’s rightful funds.
“The Modi Government has withheld Punjab’s Rural Development Fund (RDF) and GST dues, and has still not released ₹1,600 crore in flood relief compensation,” Mann said.
He added that despite tall claims made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding ₹1,600 crore in flood relief, Punjab had not received even ₹16 from that announcement. During the devastating floods, he said, leaders from the Centre only visited Punjab for what he termed “disaster tourism.”
Raising the issue of gangsterism, the Chief Minister said the Union Government has failed to address the problem at a national level.
“Punjab gangster Lawrence Bishnoi has been given shelter by the BJP government in a Gujarat jail, and he is not even being allowed to be brought to Punjab,” Mann said.
He described gangsterism as a national issue posing a serious threat to the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country and criticized the Union Government for failing to curb it.
Speaking on the issue of drugs, Mann said preventing smuggling across the international border is primarily the responsibility of the Centre.
“Stopping drug smuggling from across the border is the Centre’s responsibility, yet our government is installing anti-drone systems with its own funds to curb drugs,” he said.
He added that the Punjab Government has installed anti-drone technology along the 550-km border to stop cross-border smuggling despite receiving no support from the Centre.
He further questioned the lack of action against large seizures of narcotics outside Punjab.
“In Gujarat, tonnes of drugs are being seized but no action is taken, while Punjab has launched the country’s biggest campaign against drugs,” Mann said.
He pointed out that around 3,000 kg of drugs were seized at Mundra Port in Gujarat, yet no meaningful action has been taken against those responsible.
The Chief Minister also said divisive politics would never succeed in Punjab.
“Punjab’s soil is fertile, but the seeds of the BJP’s politics of religion and hatred will never grow here,” he said.
Taking a dig at the BJP’s political ambitions in the state, Mann remarked, “In Punjab, the BJP is a ‘scooter party’ that dreams of capturing power in 2027 with the help of Congress.”
He also said that Amit Shah’s visit had failed to address the real issues faced by the people of Punjab.
“Amit Shah came to Punjab only to criticize us and left without doing anything,” Mann said.
Questioning the BJP’s claims regarding the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, Mann said the party lacks the organizational strength to contest alone.
“From where will the BJP bring 117 candidates to contest alone in Punjab,” he asked, adding that the party may attempt to induct leaders from other parties to contest the elections.
Raising the issue of drugs again, Mann said, “3,000 kg of drugs were seized at a Gujarat port — why is there no action there?” He alleged that the BJP government has failed to take strict action against drug smugglers despite such large seizures.
The Chief Minister added that the people of Punjab are well aware of the BJP’s political conduct.
“Punjab knows the BJP very well; there is no place for politics of hatred in the state,” he said. He also recalled how farmers from Punjab were humiliated during the agitation against the farm laws, during which more than 700 farmers lost their lives.
Highlighting the achievements of the Punjab Government, Mann said it has already provided more than 65,000 government jobs to the youth of the state, while the BJP’s promise of providing two crore jobs nationwide remains unfulfilled. He also remarked that the promised ₹15 lakh has never been deposited in the bank accounts of common citizens.
Further criticizing the Centre, Mann said the Union Government has withheld Punjab’s legitimate share in RDF, GST, NHM and other funds, affecting the state’s development. He described this as a deliberate attempt to derail Punjab’s progress, peace and prosperity.
He also said the Punjab Government has repeatedly recommended the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission report for the benefit of farmers, but the Centre has not acted on it. Mann cautioned that the proposed India–US agreement could adversely affect farmers.
The Chief Minister added that Punjab borrows funds from the same sources as BJP-ruled states and that this productive debt is utilised for providing services and facilities to the people. He remarked that the BJP is unable to accept the welfare-oriented policies of the Punjab Government.
Speaking about governance at the national level, Mann said it was unfortunate that the country appears to lack a clear foreign policy to safeguard national interests.
Meanwhile, speaking about the Progressive Punjab Investors Summit, the Chief Minister said the event has received tremendous response from industry leaders and investors.
“The Progressive Punjab Investors Summit has received overwhelming support,” Mann said.
He added that the summit has created a strong platform for collaboration and investment. “Investors are interacting with each other and discussing business opportunities in Punjab,” he said.