By Gurminder Singh Samad
Punjab today stands at a painful crossroads. On one hand, swollen rivers and breached embankments have left thousands of families in Kapurthala, Jalandhar and Doaba belt struggling to rebuild lives after the devastating 2025 floods. On the other hand, a fierce political storm rages in Chandigarh and Delhi over the truth behind flood relief funds. Did Punjab ever receive the much-talked-about ₹12,000 crore, or was the actual support restricted to only ₹1,600 crore from the Centre? While governments trade charges and statistics, the cries of farmers who lost their crops, homes, and even loved ones still echo from waterlogged villages. The tragedy has once again exposed the gap between ground reality and political speeches.
Cry of the Time: Punjab Floods 2025
From 17 August 2025, torrential rains lashed Punjab. The rivers Sutlej, Beas, and Ghaggar swelled beyond danger marks. Barrages overflowed. Embankments collapsed in many districts.
- Nearly 1,500 villages were submerged.
- Over 3 lakh people were directly affected.
- More than 75,000 hectares of farmland went underwater. Crops of paddy, maize, and sugarcane were flattened.
- Dozens of lives were lost. Thousands of cattle drowned.
- Roads and bridges were washed away, cutting off dozens of pockets for weeks.
- Families fled to higher ground, sheltering in schools and gurdwaras.
- In Muktsar, Ferozepur, and Kapurthala, entire colonies were marooned for days without power or drinking water.
- In Patiala and Sangrur, angry farmers blocked highways demanding relief.
The damage was compared to the devastating floods of 1988. But the state’s preparedness was far weaker. The drainage system, canals, and bunds had not been repaired for decades. Illegal encroachments and sand mining had made riverbeds unstable.
The voices from the ground told a painful story:
- “Our paddy was ready to flower. Now only mud remains.”
- “We have lost home, cattle, and hope. Who will repay our loans?”
- “If Punjab is part of India, why is the Prime Minister not here?”
This was the cry of the time. A natural disaster had turned into a humanitarian crisis.
Giani Ji’s Tweet Storm
Giani Ji mostly tweets in Punjabi. But this time, he switched to English. His words were direct:
“Mr Prime Minister, it is good that you expressed sympathy for Afghanistan, but Punjab is also a part of this country, where nearly 1,500 villages and 300,000 people have been badly affected since August 17. Your lack of attention towards Punjab is extremely painful.”
He followed this with a three-page letter to the Prime Minister. He posted it openly on his X handle.
PM’s Response and Flood Tour
The Prime Minister did speak with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after returning from Tianjin. He promised “all support.” Later, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan toured flood-hit districts. He was photographed knee-deep in water, checking crops, even replanting a few shoots.
Finally, on 9 September, the Prime Minister visited Punjab. He announced ₹1,600 crore immediate relief. He also claimed that Punjab already had ₹12,000 crore available in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).
The Funds Controversy: ₹12,000 Crore vs ₹1,600 Crore
This claim triggered a fierce debate. Opposition parties, experts, and the Punjab government itself presented conflicting facts.
- The Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) had earlier reported that as of April 2022, ₹9,041 crore was lying unused in the SDRF. Much of it was not invested as per guidelines.
- Between April 2022 and mid-2025, Punjab received ₹1,582 crore under SDRF from the Centre. Of this, ₹649 crore was spent. The rest remains unutilized.
- BJP leaders accuse the AAP government in Punjab of misusing, diverting, or failing to spend funds properly.
- The Punjab government counters that this money is bound by central rules. It cannot be spent freely. Spending from SDRF also reduces the state’s borrowing capacity, adding to Punjab’s already high debt.
- Punjab leaders say the ₹1,600 crore announced by the PM is too small against the damage. They demanded ₹20,000 crore in special relief.
Thus, a war of words broke out. What the Centre calls “available funds,” the state calls “unusable reserves.”
Why Victims Feel Betrayed
For those affected, numbers mean little. Farmers see their crops destroyed. Families have lost homes. Compensation norms under SDRF are shockingly small — just a few thousand rupees for huge losses.
This creates anger. People ask: If Punjab feeds the nation, why does the nation not stand with Punjab in its darkest hour?
A Pattern of Alienation
The delay in the Prime Minister’s visit is also seen as symbolic neglect. For many Sikhs, it confirms an old suspicion: that Delhi does not care for Punjab.
This feeling is not new. The farm law protests already deepened mistrust. Overseas Sikh groups run active campaigns highlighting this neglect.
Social media adds fuel. Dozens of YouTube channels, podcasts, and X handles — some from Canada, UK, and even Pakistan — push subtle propaganda. They promote the idea that Sikhs and Muslims are natural allies, that Hindus are the problem, and that “Punjab must think differently.”
This is part of ISI’s long-term design. Punjab is being viewed as a low-hanging fruit.
The BJP’s Dilemma in Punjab
The BJP has grown in Punjab. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, it polled 18.56% votes, up from 6.6% in 2022. It even went ahead of its old ally, the Akali Dal, which collapsed to 13.2%.
But the BJP has no Sikh face. It relies on Hindu consolidation. Its national strategy of polarisation cannot be applied easily in Punjab, where Sikhs are the majority.
The radicals eat away at the Akali vote. The Congress and AAP split the rest. This makes Punjab politically fragmented, but also volatile.
A Historical Warning
India has seen this mistake before. In Mizoram (1960s), famine and state neglect created the Mizo National Front. It became a two-decade insurgency, aided by Pakistan and China.
Punjab today faces both natural disaster and political neglect. If the Centre treats Punjab only as an electoral puzzle, it risks repeating history.
What Needs to Change
- Transparency in Funds – The SDRF debate shows mistrust. Centre and state must release clear, audited data on what exists, what is spent, and what is available.
- Reform of Rules – SDRF norms must be updated. Current compensation is outdated and humiliating for victims.
- Direct Relief – Flood victims need quick, cash transfers and rebuilding funds, not just promises.
- Political Sensitivity – PM must be seen in Punjab not as a distant ruler but as the head of the Indian family.
- Counter-Propaganda – Subtle separatist propaganda must be tackled with positive, inclusive narratives of Punjab’s role in India.
The Larger Picture
Punjab has given blood, food, and sacrifice to the nation. It has defended borders and filled the granaries. Yet, when disasters strike, its people feel unseen.
This fuels alienation. And alienation in Punjab is dangerous — not only for Sikhs, not only for the state, but for India as a whole.
The floods were a tragedy. But they are also a chance. A chance for the Centre to rebuild trust. A chance for the state government to show accountability. A chance for India to prove that Punjab is not “out of sight, out of mind.”
History teaches us: neglect today can create insurgency tomorrow. India cannot afford another wound like Punjab in the 1980s.
The message is clear: This is the time to heal, not to divide.
