Chandigarh, August 16
BJP National General Secretary and MP Tarun Chugh today accused the Bhagwant Mann government of disregarding the clear directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court dated August 3. He said the Court had directed the government to release all pending DA/DR installments within a fortnight and refrain from large-scale print and social media advertising, described as unproductive expenditure, until the dues of employees and pensioners were cleared. Yet, instead of paying its employees and pensioners, the Mann government continues to spend public money on political publicity and the branding of the Aam Aadmi Party.
Chugh said Bhagwant Mann’s incompetence and political inexperience have pushed Punjab’s finances into a deeply troubled situation. The government has repeatedly faced questions over timely payments to its employees, Punjab’s debt has crossed ₹4.5 lakh crore, and the State is under severe financial pressure. Despite this, the Mann government continues to spend Punjab’s limited resources on the publicity, political branding, hospitality and luxuries of Bhagwant Mann, Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP leadership.
Chugh said that under the High Court’s August 3 order, the State of Punjab and PSPCL are required to release all pending DA/DR installments to employees and pensioners in accordance with the Central Government pattern. The State’s own figures put the outstanding liability at approximately ₹14,191 crore, affecting nearly 8 lakh employees and pensioners. The Court has also directed that unpaid amounts carry simple interest at 6 per cent per annum in case of delay.
Chugh said that while Punjab’s employees and pensioners continue to wait for their legitimate dues, reports indicate that the Punjab government’s DIPR is spending public money on advertisements in more than 70 newspapers across the country. He said this is not merely a question of financial priorities, but also of respect for the authority of the Court, which has specifically directed the State not to resort to large-scale advertising campaigns until the dues are cleared.
Chugh said the priorities of the Bhagwant Mann government now stand exposed before the people of Punjab. There is no money to pay ₹14,191 crore owed to employees and pensioners, but there appears to be an open cheque for the political branding of Arvind Kejriwal and the AAP leadership, publicity campaigns and VIP-style luxuries. He said taxpayers’ money should be used to meet legitimate obligations towards employees and pensioners, not to promote political personalities and their image.
Chugh said the High Court’s direction could not have been clearer: until all such dues are cleared, Punjab must not resort to unproductive expenditure such as large-scale advertising campaigns in print and social media. The Mann government must now explain how spending on advertisements in more than 70 newspapers across the country is consistent with the Court’s explicit directions.
Chugh said the Chief Secretary is required to file a compliance affidavit by August 31, 2026. The Mann government must stop spending public money on political publicity, branding and luxuries and pay its employees and pensioners first. Punjab needs accountability, not advertisements; its employees need their pending DA, not government publicity.