Shivraj Chouhan links illegal mining to Punjab floods, AAP says BJP doing photo-ops

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday launched a sharp attack on Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan over his remarks that illegal mining had weakened embankments in Punjab and worsened the state’s flood situation, which has claimed 46 lives so far.

Punjab Minister Aman Arora, who is also the state AAP chief, dismissed Chouhan’s allegations as "shameful" and said BJP leaders were more focused on “photo-ops” than supporting flood-hit families.

"It is shameful on his part that he blamed illegal mining. What allegation will he make for the floods in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Haryana? Instead of holding hands of people at this time, they (BJP leaders) come to do politics," Arora told reporters in Mohali.

He also criticised Chouhan for not announcing any financial assistance during his recent visit to Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Kapurthala.

"Chouhan ji got his photos clicked in knee-deep water but did not announce a single penny for Punjab or a relief package," Arora claimed.

Chouhan, who toured the affected areas on Thursday, had earlier stated that he would submit a detailed report on the flood situation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On social media, he attributed the flooding partly to weakened embankments on the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and Ghaggar rivers.

"When Atal ji was the Prime Minister and Parkash Singh Badal ji was the Chief Minister of Punjab, embankments (bunds) along the Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, and Ghaggar rivers were strengthened and raised to protect crops from floods. But due to illegal mining, they have weakened, and water has entered the villages. Now, it is necessary to strengthen those structures so that Punjab can be saved from such tragedies in future," Chouhan wrote on X.

AAP leaders, however, accused the Centre of ignoring Punjab’s plight.

Arora reiterated the state government’s demand for the release of Rs 60,000 crore, which Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has claimed is "stuck" with the Centre.

"They are keeping mum over the state government’s demand for the release of the pending Rs 60,000 crore," Arora said.

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema also attacked the BJP, pointing out that flood-hit states such as Odisha and West Bengal had received central relief within days.

"As many as 15 days have passed since Punjab faced floods, the prime minister has not uttered a word to stand by the people of the state. Whenever the country faced any problem, Punjab has been at the forefront. But the BJP is discriminating against Punjab," Cheema alleged.

Both Arora and Cheema also visited a private hospital in Mohali to check on Chief Minister Mann, who was hospitalised on Friday evening due to exhaustion and a low heart rate.

Punjab is currently grappling with one of its worst floods in decades, triggered by swollen rivers and heavy rainfall.

The overflowing Sutlej, Beas and Ravi, combined with seasonal rivulets fed by rains in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, have inundated vast areas.

Persistent downpours within Punjab have further aggravated the crisis, leaving thousands of residents struggling with displacement, damaged crops and property losses.

The state government has sought urgent central support to cope with the scale of the disaster, but AAP leaders argue that political blame-shifting has overshadowed the immediate need for relief and rehabilitation.

PUNJAB FLOOD AFTERMATH

In the worst flooding since 1988, floods in Punjab have claimed 46 lives and affected more than 3.84 lakh people, with all 23 districts of the state hit.

Officials report that 1,902 villages have been impacted as floodwaters continue to spread due to overflowing rivers like the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi, along with seasonal rivulets swollen by heavy rainfall in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

Continued rainfall within Punjab has worsened the situation. More than 1.48 lakh hectares of standing crops have been destroyed.

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With PTI inputs