Chandigarh, April 24
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, while reaffirming the Modi government’s commitment to look after the interests of farmers, launched a sharp attack on the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab for failing dismally to help farmers overcome their woes.
While lauding the Modi government fior sanctioning ₹576 crore for crop residue management this year Chugh said the Centre stands with farmers in all moments of distress. Around 1.6 lakh machines have been distributed to farmers to curb stubble burning. But the criminal negligence of the AAP government has rendered nearly 40,000 of these machines defunct.
Chugh said the persistence of stubble burning every year exposes a serious gap not in policy, but in its implementation. “Despite continuous central assistance, the Bhagwant Mann Government has failed to ensure effective utilisation of resources or create a robust, preemptive strategy,” he remarked.
Condemning the state government’s approach, Chugh said farmers continue to remain distressed and helpless due to administrative inefficiency, while the environmental crisis continues to worsen. “Instead of ensuring accountability and execution on the ground, the government is indulging in mere optics and claims,” he added.
Chugh asserted that Punjab needs strict implementation, timely support to farmers, and a clear accountability framework rather than “paper plans”. He urged the state government to take immediate corrective steps to ensure that machinery is functional, accessible, and effectively used, and that farmers are adequately supported to adopt sustainable alternatives.
