Chandigarh, August 29: Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday alleged that the flood crisis in the state was the result of both the Centre and the AAP government’s failure to act responsibly. Speaking on the sidelines of the Punjab Congress Committee’s Samvidhan Bachao rally in Jalandhar, Warring said that the disaster could not be seen merely as a natural calamity but as an “administrative failure” caused by negligence in managing water releases from the dams.
He accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of being in “sync with the BJP-led Centre” and pointed to past decisions as proof. “We have already been saying that CM Bhagwant Mann is working in tandem with the BJP government. We saw it when he sought separate land for the Punjab Vidhan Sabha after the Centre announced a separate Assembly for Haryana, diluting Punjab’s claim on Chandigarh. Let’s see how he reacts now as the CISF moves to take over BBMB security from the state police,” Warring said.
The Congress leader also held the Centre responsible for its indifference, alleging that no timely steps were taken to manage the release of dam waters. “Since the floodgates of Bhakra Dam were opened suddenly, large parts of Punjab are at risk of being submerged,” he added.
Warring announced that all Congress MPs and MLAs would donate one month’s salary towards flood relief. He revealed that he had considered rescheduling Thursday’s rally because of the flood situation but said local leaders insisted it be held as it had already been postponed several times in the past.
AICC secretary Pargat Singh also addressed the gathering, demanding that the Centre declare the floods in Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana as a national disaster and announce a special package. He said the government must compensate families, farmers, livestock owners and property owners for their losses and ensure full rehabilitation.
Warring further alleged that both the Centre and the state ignored advance warnings. “Warnings were issued well in advance. Yet, no plan was prepared. Instead of managing water releases in time, lakhs of cusecs were suddenly discharged, drowning thousands of villages. This is not just a natural calamity — it is an administrative failure,” he said. Recalling the devastation during the 2023 floods, he remarked that Punjab was once again suffering in 2025 because of the same negligence. “The AAP government has learned nothing, and the people are paying the price,” he added.
Prominent Congress leaders present at the rally included MLAs Bawa Henry, Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia and Vikramjit Chaudhary, along with DCC urban chief Rajinder Beri and halqa in-charges Dr Navjot Dahiya, Surinder Kaur and Rajinder Singh.
