A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab, BJP and the ruling AAP sought to project competing narratives on development and governance.
While BJP highlighted infrastructure projects funded by the Union Government and organised cleanliness drives at the Nangal and Anandpur Sahib railway stations, AAP used the occasion to seek Central financial assistance for irrigation projects aimed at addressing chronic water scarcity in parts of Ropar district.
The PM is scheduled to virtually inaugurate the newly renovated Anandpur Sahib railway station during his visit to Punjab on Thursday. BJP has planned a public gathering at the station, where large LED screens have been installed for the live telecast of the inauguration ceremony. Party workers, led by Punjab BJP vice-president Subhash Sharma, also carried out a cleanliness drive at the recently renovated Nangal railway station today as part of preparations for the event.
AAP MLA from Ropar, Dinesh Chadha, said the district continued to face a water crisis despite being located along the Sutlej river and the extensive canal network originating from Bhakra Dam.
“Large parts of Ropar district remain deprived of irrigation and even drinking water despite being on the banks of the Sutlej and the Bhakra canal system. People face floods almost every monsoon, yet they are unable to benefit from the river's waters,” Chadha told The Tribune.
He said the Punjab Government had proposed around 40 lift irrigation schemes to carry water from the Sutlej and canal network to arid and water-deficient areas of the district. The state government has already sanctioned Rs 40 crore for one of the proposed schemes.
According to Chadha, the complete execution of all 40 projects would require nearly Rs 500 crore, an amount beyond the financial capacity of the state.
“We hope the PM will announce financial assistance for these irrigation schemes during his visit. Such support will transform agriculture in water-scarce areas and also improve access to drinking water,” he said.
BJP, meanwhile, projected the PM’s visit as evidence that the Centre remained committed to Punjab’s development despite political differences with the state government.
Addressing the media after the sanitation drive, Subhash Sharma said only the Union Government had the capacity to steer Punjab out of its financial crisis.
“Punjab is trapped in debt and requires sustained Central support for major development projects. The Union Government has been liberal in providing grants under various schemes,” Sharma said.
He alleged that the Punjab Government had failed to effectively utilise funds released by the Centre and claimed that grants meant for development were being diverted towards payment of salaries and routine expenditure. He further alleged that delays in submitting utilisation certificates had affected the release of additional Central assistance.
Sharma said he had submitted a proposal to the Union Government seeking expansion of the National Fertilisers Limited (NFL) plant in Nangal.
“If approved, the expansion of the NFL plant would be the biggest industrial development project for the Anandpur Sahib assembly constituency. It would significantly strengthen the local economy by creating employment and boosting industrial activity,” he said.
With the PM’s visit in the political backdrop, both BJP and AAP are attempting to leverage the occasion to reinforce their respective development narratives.