Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Rs 1,600 crore as flood relief for Punjab. This Modi announces Rs 1,600 cr package after conducting an aerial survey of flood-hit Gurdaspur and holding a review meeting. The Modi announces Rs 1,600 cr aid comes in addition to the Rs 12,000 crore earlier sanctioned for disaster relief. Families of victims will receive Rs 2 lakh ex gratia, while the injured will get Rs 50,000.
Modi assured that orphaned children would be supported under PM CARES for Children. Damaged homes will be rebuilt under PM Awas Yojana-Gramin, and schools will be restored through Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. Despite this, the AAP government had demanded Rs 20,000 crore immediate relief, citing massive destruction and pending dues worth Rs 60,000 crore.
Opposition parties and farmer organisations rejected the relief, calling it “meagre” and a “cruel joke”. Congress leader Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said the aid was a “drop in the ocean”. AAP’s Aman Arora termed it an “insult” to Punjab’s contribution to food security and national defence. Farmer unions demanded a Rs 1 lakh crore package, loan waivers, and long-term support.
Meanwhile, BJP leaders, including Ravneet Singh Bittu and Sunil Jakhar, accompanied Modi during the visit and engaged with flood victims.
