Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
SAD slams Centre, AAP Govt over SDRF; Demands immediate flood relief, loan waiver
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, September 12, 2025: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday urged both the Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab to stop politicizing the issue of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and instead focus on providing urgent relief to flood-hit families.
The party demanded immediate compensation for all affected, including farm labourers and shopkeepers, along with a loan waiver for farmers.
Addressing a press conference, senior SAD leader Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema said it was “shocking” that while Punjabis were suffering, both the Centre and the State were engaged in a blame game over SDRF figures.
He called for the government to make public the pending statement of accounts, due in April 2025, to clear the air and ensure Punjab gets the required funds.
Dr. Cheema criticized Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann for “merely repeating cabinet decisions” during press conferences rather than delivering compensation on the ground. He said the government’s six-month loan moratorium would not be enough, stressing that a loan waiver was necessary to help farmers recover from flood damages that would affect them for years.
He demanded:
- Immediate compensation for farmers, labourers, and shopkeepers.
- Funds for plugging breaches and strengthening embankments.
- Direct relief to farmers to help them prepare for the upcoming wheat sowing season.
Highlighting SAD’s relief efforts, Dr. Cheema said party president Sukhbir Singh Badal personally toured flood-hit areas and distributed cash, diesel, pump sets, pipes, tarpaulins, fodder, and medicines. He added that SAD was now moving into a second phase, providing certified wheat seeds, fodder, and veterinary medicines to support long-term recovery.