DW BUREAU / Jalandhar

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said he will boycott the Niti Aayog meeting, which is to be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27, as he slammed the Centre for not announcing anything for his state in the union budget. Mann further slammed the BJP-led NDA government for withholding the state's funds including rural development fund (RDF) and funds under National Health Mission.

Addressing the media in Jalandhar, Mann took on the Centre over the issue of the union budget, which was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 23, and said Punjab did not find any mention in it.

Recalling Punjab's immense contribution in the country's freedom struggle and meeting foodgrain requirements, Mann said, "Punjab at least should have been given the special status. But the situation is such that Punjab's rights have also not been given. That is why we will boycott the Niti Aayog meeting in which all the chief ministers have been called by the Prime Minister on July 27." "We know their intention. They have withheld our RDF which is about Rs 6,000 crore. They have withheld our National Health Mission funds. They do not give (state's) share in the GST. Whenever they need to deduct funds, they deduct Punjab's funds. Then what will we do there (Niti Aayog meeting)," he said.

Referring to the union budget, Mann said, "Punjab was not mentioned in the budget. We have a 47 percent contribution to the country's foodbowl. Nothing was said about our farmers (in the budget)."

He lamented that no funds were announced in the budget for the state police force, 30 percent of which is deployed for securing the border areas.

Referring to Bihar and Andhra Pradesh, Mann said the BJP-led Centre announced funds for only two states in order to save their "chair".

"Modi ji put the future of the country's youth in jeopardy to save his own future. Can you run the whole country with only two states (by discrimination against) other states. Will you not consider a state, where you draw blank (in elections), part of the country," he asked.

"Not a single penny has been given (to Punjab) in the budget. There is nothing in the budget then what will we get from Niti Aayog," he said. Mann said that the members of the INDIA bloc, where they are running the governments in states, have decided that they will boycott the meeting.

Mann rued that why Punjab cannot be given tax incentives for setting up industries which are being given in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are a landlocked state. We will boycott the Niti Aayog meeting. We do not have any hope from it," he said. "We are not begging, we are demanding our rights."

"I had attended Niti Aayog twice and raised our issues for funds, but nothing was given," he said. "The Modi government makes a budget for BJP not for the country," he alleged. Replying to a question on pending RDF, Mann, while alleging political vendetta by the Centre, said the state government has already moved the Supreme Court on this issue.

"We expect that the apex court will give a verdict in our favour. It is sad to say that to take our money, we have to go to the SC," he alleged.

Mann while replying to a question on the Haryana government's recent decision of recommending gallantry medals for six police officials for their role "in preventing farmers" from heading to Delhi as part of their 'Delhi Chalo' programme, said, "it means they (policemen) are getting award for thrashing farmers." Taking a dig at the prime minister, Mann said, "Has he ever gone to Manipur. There was violence in Nuh, did he go there?"
(editor@dailyworld.in)