Chandigarh: The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has expressed deep concern and demanded transparency regarding the fate of Rs 12,000 crore in disaster relief funds that have become the Centre of a heated political debate in Punjab. NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal, in a press release issued here today, said that Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema recently clarified that the state has received only Rs 1,582 crore since April 2022 under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) from the Centre. His statement comes at a time when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is facing mounting pressure from opposition parties over the whereabouts of the alleged Rs 12,000 crore.
On the other hand, BJP leader Tarun Chugh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently announced an additional Rs 1,600 crore financial package for Punjab’s flood-hit regions, highlighting that the state already had Rs 12,000 crore in its SDRF kitty. Following this, Chugh raised a direct question: “Where is the Rs 12,000 crore meant for Punjab’s disaster relief?”
NAPA strongly believes that such contradictory claims are creating confusion among the people, especially at a time when thousands of families are struggling for survival after the devastating floods. Relief and rehabilitation work requires urgent, transparent, and coordinated use of every available rupee. Political blame games over figures only deepen mistrust.
NAPA demands that both the Centre and the Punjab Government issue a White Paper detailing the actual inflow and outflow of funds under the SDRF since 2022. The Association further calls for an independent audit of all disaster relief funds to ensure that every paisa is accounted for. In addition, NAPA stresses the need for a public accountability mechanism so that citizens can track how much money has been received and how it is being spent in real time.
Disaster relief funds are not the property of any political party, added Chahal. They are meant for the people. Punjab cannot afford confusion, delays, or mismanagement when lakhs of its citizens are in distress. Immediate utilization of available funds for food, shelter, healthcare, and rehabilitation is the need of the hour.
Chahal further said that the people of Punjab deserve clear answers, not excuses. Both the Centre and the State Government must rise above political rivalries and focus solely on relief, rehabilitation, and accountability.