In Punjab, the political spectacle of “foundation stone politics” has taken center stage once again. The Chief Minister and his cabinet ministers seem more interested in organizing grand ceremonies and photo sessions than in delivering genuine development or relief to suffering citizens. Across districts, from small towns to villages, the ruling leaders are busy laying foundation stones in bulk — sometimes for the same projects that were announced years ago but never completed.
While cameras flash and crowds are gathered for these symbolic events, the harsh reality tells a very different story. Thousands of flood victims, whose homes, crops, and livelihoods were destroyed in the devastating floods, continue to wait endlessly for compensation. Families living in temporary shelters, farmers burdened with debt, and laborers struggling to rebuild their lives are witnessing these hollow ceremonies with anger and disbelief.
Ironically, the same government which failed to provide timely aid to flood-hit families is now proudly inaugurating “mini projects” — from a small bridge here to a drainage pipe there — projects that often exist only on paper. Many of these foundation stones are being laid in haste, without any follow-up work. In fact, several stones that were placed in early 2022 have quietly disappeared from their sites, removed once the cameras left and the promises faded.
Punjab’s people are growing increasingly frustrated with this style of governance — where symbolic acts are mistaken for real work. The government’s obsession with photo opportunities and ribbon-cutting ceremonies reflects a deeper problem: the widening gap between publicity and performance.
The Chief Minister and his ministers must remember that the people of Punjab are not interested in stone-laying ceremonies; they want to see real results — roads repaired, schools improved, hospitals equipped, and, above all, justice for the flood victims who are still waiting for the government’s attention and compassion.
The time for symbolic politics is over. Punjab needs action, not announcements.