During a special session of the Punjab Assembly on Friday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann affirmed that the ‘Rangla Punjab’ fund, recently established by the state, would be entirely dedicated to flood relief and rehabilitation efforts. He unequivocally stated that every single contribution to this fund would be utilized judiciously for the welfare of those impacted by the devastating floods.
Mann clarified that the creation of this new fund was a strategic move to overcome specific restrictions associated with the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. He highlighted that the traditional relief fund could not accept donations via Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, and even Members of Parliament were limited to a maximum contribution of ₹20 lakh. The ‘Rangla Punjab’ fund was designed to circumvent these hurdles, and it has already garnered substantial support from various sectors of society.
In response to Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa’s query about the fund’s transparency, Mann confirmed, “We will provide daily updates on the funding received.” He added that the fund accepts cheques, and he himself serves as its chairman. This move comes after opposition parties had previously questioned the rationale behind collecting donations for the new ‘Rangla Punjab’ fund instead of channeling them through the established Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The Chief Minister also seized the opportunity to critique Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging a lack of concern for the nation’s citizens while prioritizing foreign trips. Mann labeled this perceived indifference as a “grave insult and insensitivity” towards the people of India, further claiming that Modi’s extensive international travels and the Centre’s foreign policy have yielded no tangible benefits.
Taking aim at the BJP, Mann raised concerns over the “vote chori” (vote theft) issue. He challenged the proponents of ‘one nation, one election,’ asking, “Why aren’t elections held simultaneously in Maharashtra and Haryana? Have you ever considered this? A voter in Haryana will have their vote counted elsewhere, such as in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, or Assam, when polls are held in those states.”
Mann asserted that this issue is even more critical than alleged Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) hacking, claiming that the government is actively creating its “digital janta” or its own voters. He cited a specific instance where the vote of Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh’s wife was allegedly deleted, underscoring his concerns about electoral integrity.
Expressing solidarity with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the “vote chori” matter, Mann emphasized, “We must address these issues; only then can democracy be preserved. Otherwise, what democracy are we discussing?”
He further criticized India’s foreign relations, claiming strained ties with many neighboring countries. “Which country supported us during Operation Sindoor? Can you name one? So, what is our prime minister doing, traveling the globe? Isn’t it our right to question our foreign policy? Many Indians living abroad ask us about it,” he stated, also highlighting ongoing anti-immigration protests in Canada, the UK, and Australia.
Mann recounted a recent incident, stating, “Yesterday, a 73-year-old ‘dadi’ (grandmother) was among 172 deported. Is anybody speaking? Modi used to call U.S. President Donald Trump ‘my friend.’ What kind of friend is he? He increased tariffs and backs Pakistan. We have to think about this.” The reference was to Harjit Kaur, a 73-year-old Sikh woman who, after living in the U.S. for over three decades, was deported to India, reportedly without the chance to bid farewell to her relatives.