Chandigarh: Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has strongly urged the Union Government to treat Punjab with the same humanitarian concern it has displayed towards Afghanistan. Cheema questioned why relief supplies could be sent across international borders to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, while people in flood-hit Punjab were still awaiting urgent financial and humanitarian assistance.
In a detailed press statement issued on Thursday, Cheema reminded the Centre that Punjab has always stood as the backbone of India’s food security and economic growth. “If humanitarian aid can cross borders to help foreign nations, then why the hesitation in providing timely support to our own citizens?” he asked, adding that flood-hit families in Punjab were battling one of the worst crises in decades.
Appeal for Relief and Rehabilitation Support
The minister called upon the Union Government to prioritise the welfare of flood-affected citizens by immediately releasing relief packages, funds for rehabilitation, and infrastructural support. He assured that the Punjab Government was committed to exhausting every possible measure for the welfare of its citizens. Cheema also appealed to the public to contribute generously to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, pledging complete transparency and accountability to ensure that every rupee collected would directly benefit affected families.
GST Rate Cuts Welcomed, But Compensation Demanded
On another note, Cheema welcomed the recent reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates, noting that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had long demanded such relief in favour of consumers. He said the two-slab GST rate structure must bring tangible benefits to the common people, especially those struggling with inflation, while stressing that the Centre should ensure businesses pass on these benefits to consumers.
However, Cheema cautioned that while rate cuts may ease consumer prices, they would also put pressure on state revenues. He reminded that when GST was first rolled out, states had agreed to its implementation on the assurance that the Centre would compensate them for revenue losses until their economies stabilised. “The truth is, most state economies are still not stable, and with these new GST cuts, revenue loss will only deepen,” he observed.
Punjab’s Call for Financial Stability
Highlighting Punjab’s current crisis, Cheema said the state was reeling from its worst floods in nearly four decades. In this situation, he argued, GST compensation and immediate central aid were not optional but essential to ensure financial stability. “Punjab needs both quick disaster relief and long-term GST compensation support from the Union Government to overcome the dual challenges of natural calamity and fiscal strain,” Cheema asserted.
He concluded by urging the Centre to act swiftly, not only to save Punjab’s economy but also to protect the lives and livelihoods of lakhs of families devastated by floods.
