Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
BJP accuses Punjab Govt of taking false credit of Rs 332 crore Finance Commission Grant
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, November 18, 2025: Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party State Working President Ashwani Sharma on Tuesday sharply criticised Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party government is misleading Panchayats by portraying Central Finance Commission grants as its own achievement.
Sharma said that the “historic grant” of ₹332 crore, announced by Cheema, is entirely a tranche of the 15th Finance Commission released by the Central Government — a routine and formula-based allocation over which the state government has no authority or discretion.
He stated that the grants are transferred directly to Panchayats based on population and fixed parameters, and the Punjab government cannot influence or modify the distribution process. “This is a clear attempt to mislead the public and claim false credit for funds that come solely through the Centre’s procedure,” Sharma said.
District-wise Allocation of the ₹332 Crore Tranche
Sharma also released the district-wise share of the funds already disbursed, including:
- Amritsar: ₹10.64 crore
- Barnala: ₹3.75 crore
- Bathinda: ₹7.74 crore
- Faridkot: ₹3.70 crore
- Fatehgarh Sahib: ₹3.64 crore
- Fazilka: ₹17.57 crore
- Ferozepur: ₹15.77 crore
- Gurdaspur: ₹27.63 crore
- Hoshiarpur: ₹28.52 crore
- Jalandhar: ₹23.23 crore
He said other districts have received funds accordingly through the same Finance Commission mechanism.
Questions Pending Sarpanch Honorarium
Sharma further criticised the Mann government for not releasing the long-pending honorarium of Sarpanches. Instead, he alleged, the burden has been shifted onto the bank accounts of Panchayats, many of which have no independent income streams. “This will push Panchayats into financial stress and could lead to corruption,” he warned.
Terming it “publicity-driven politics,” Sharma said that funds from the 16th and 17th Finance Commissions will continue to arrive routinely in the years ahead, and accused the Punjab government of trying to claim the Centre’s assistance as its own work.
He asserted that the BJP will continue to expose the truth and ensure that the people of Punjab are not misled by false propaganda.