Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
AAP Punjab makes State Disaster Response Fund data public, counters BJP allegations
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, September 11, 2025: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab on Thursday released official figures of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), claiming that the data exposes what it termed as “false propaganda” by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regarding disaster relief funds.
Addressing the media, Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated that the Punjab government has received a total of ₹1,582 crore from the Government of India under SDRF since April 1, 2022. Of this amount, he said, ₹649 crore has already been spent on relief and rehabilitation work, while the remaining funds are being used for ongoing flood relief operations.
Cheema also shared the year-wise breakup of SDRF allocations and expenditure:
- 2022-23: ₹208 crore received, ₹61 crore spent
- 2023-24: ₹645 crore received, ₹420 crore spent
- 2024-25: ₹488 crore received, ₹27 crore spent
- 2025-26 (till September 10): ₹241 crore received, ₹140 crore spent
The minister alleged that BJP leaders were deliberately misleading people over the issue of disaster relief funds. He said AAP believes in transparency and accountability, and therefore decided to make the official data public.
Cheema further challenged BJP leaders to release year-wise details of the Centre’s contribution to SDRF and accused the Union government of withholding “thousands of crores of Punjab’s legitimate dues” under various other heads.
The BJP is yet to issue a response to AAP’s claims.