The Chief Minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, announced that the government may consider moving the Supreme Court if the Centre doesn’t release the rural development fund of INR 3,622 crore within ten days. Mann said that rural development works in Punjab are being affected due to the non-release of the fund. He expressed concern over the matter during a discussion on a resolution against the non-release of the rural development fund or RDF in the Assembly, which was moved by Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian.
Mann said that the Centre was targeting non-BJP governments, including states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal or Delhi. He informed the Assembly that the Centre had deputed governors to target state governments. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha condemned the fact that the Centre has not yet released the amount of INR 3,622 crore towards the agricultural produce bought from Punjab.
The resolution recommends that the state government approach the Centre immediately for the release of the withheld RDF. The government must ensure that the rural infrastructure is not affected due to the non-release of the fund over the last four seasons. The Chief Minister stated that it is their right, which is now being denied.
The non-release of the rural development fund has impacted the rural development works in Punjab. The statement by the Chief Minister has left the Centre facing criticism from various political parties. The opposition has criticized the Centre for targeting non-BJP governments and demanded the release of the withheld RDF. The government must take the necessary steps to release the rural development fund to ensure the the state’s rural infrastructure can continue to grow.
