Chandigarh, March 19: Baltej Pannu, the AAP Punjab General Secretary, has challenged opposition leaders to explain their silence regarding ₹1.44 lakh crore in arrears allegedly owed by Rajasthan to Punjab. Speaking on Thursday, Pannu maintained that the evidence-backed findings recently shared by the Chief Minister have left the Congress, Akali Dal, and BJP without any valid defense for their past actions.
The AAP spokesperson asserted that for 70 years, previous administrations traded away Punjab’s rights and interests. He declared that the opposition’s current silence is a reflection of their historical betrayals. Pannu noted that while previous governments pushed the state toward becoming barren, the Bhagwant Mann administration has reversed the trend by ensuring 78 per cent of fields now receive canal water.
During the briefing, Pannu stated that the revival of the state’s water infrastructure was a direct challenge to the “land mafia” that had flourished under earlier regimes. He affirmed that canals that had been filled in and forgotten are being cleared to support agricultural productivity. The leader maintained that the opposition’s discomfort stems from the fact that their past involvement in diverting Punjab’s waters is now public knowledge.
Reaffirming the party’s stance, Pannu declared that the current government acts as a shield for the state’s resources. He stated that the “₹1.44 lakh crore question” continues to haunt those who previously ruled, as they have no explanation for the loss of revenue. Pannu affirmed that under the present leadership, the rights and financial interests of Punjab would remain fully secured against any external exploitation.
