Accusing it of misleading the house and the people of Punjab on crucial flood preparedness measures
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa today launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government during the ongoing Punjab Vidhan Sabha session, accusing it of misleading the House and the people of Punjab on crucial flood preparedness measures.
Bajwa specifically called out AAP minister Barinder Goyal, who had earlier claimed in the Assembly that all preparations for flood mitigation had been completed by July 14. “The facts prove otherwise,” Bajwa said. He revealed that on July 22, 2025, the Chief Engineer (Vigilance) of the Water Resources Department wrote to the Chief Engineer (Drainage) directing him to start reviewing the necessity of flood protection works — a process which had not even commenced at the site despite two-thirds of the monsoon season already having passed.
Exposing further lapses, Bajwa said that Executive Engineers from several districts themselves admitted that no flood mitigation or drainage repair works had started in critical areas including Shri Anandpur Sahib, Ropar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Pathankot, and Ferozepur. “These facts clearly expose the lies of Barinder Goyal and highlight the government’s negligence,” he added.
Bajwa also pointed to letters sent by the Water Resources Department in late July as proof of the administration’s unpreparedness. The Principal Secretary of the department had written to all Deputy Commissioners on July 28 directing them to procure EC bags and Geo bags for flood protection, while a separate letter on July 27 instructed the Chief Engineer to arrange EC bags for Amritsar and Gurdaspur districts. “If everything was completed by July 14 as claimed, why did these urgent instructions go out two weeks later?” Bajwa asked.
Responding sharply to allegations made by AAP leader Harpal Cheema regarding his personal land purchase, Bajwa clarified that he had bought the land legally and paid the required stamp duty to the state government. “If I have done anything illegal, I challenge Cheema to file a case against me,” he asserted.
Turning his fire on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Bajwa highlighted Mann’s own history of political opportunism. “Mann joined the People’s Party of Punjab formed by Manpreet Badal, and later shifted to AAP. He should first reflect on his own shifting loyalties and opportunism ,” Bajwa remarked.
Bajwa concluded by reaffirming that the people of Punjab deserve accountability and truth, not diversion and blame-shifting by the ruling party.