SULTANPUR LODHI, Sept. 2 — AAP leader and former Delhi education minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday said the party and the Punjab government are fully prepared to deal with the aftermath of devastating floods in Sultanpur Lodhi, while urging the Centre to extend assistance beyond political considerations.
Sisodia, the first AAP national leader outside the state government to visit the flood-hit region, toured affected villages along with Rajya Sabha MP Balbir Singh Seechewal, Sultanpur Lodhi constituency in-charge Sajjan Singh Cheema and other party functionaries. He called for a permanent solution to recurring floods that have battered the area for years.
“It’s a natural disaster, so it’s difficult to say when the waters will recede,” Sisodia told reporters. “The state government, AAP leadership, volunteers, MLAs, and Baba Ji’s followers are working with total dedication to serve each and every resident.”
He said both the party and the government are already preparing for the challenges that will surface once the floodwaters subside. “The real challenge will arise after the water goes down, but we are committed to tackling it,” he added.
The former deputy chief minister praised the collective relief effort and the resilience of local residents. “Apart from the human and natural crisis, we are seeing how humans are helping each other amidst the calamity. This is what we call Punjabiyat, the spirit of Punjab,” he said.
Sisodia also noted that the government would work on measures to prevent a recurrence of such disasters and would rely on Seechewal’s expertise for guidelines. During the visit, Seechewal raised concerns about debt-ridden farmers and urged Sisodia to recommend delaying repayment of bank loans by six months to a year. Sisodia assured that the request would be taken up with the state government.
