CHANDIGARH-Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has declared the statement made by Union Cabinet Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan that “no minister from Punjab ever contacted the Centre for the money under the Rural Development Fund (RDF)” as highly irresponsible, misleading and a blatant lie. The Finance Minister said that BJP leaders are experts at lying and distort every fact before presenting it to the public. He made it clear that the Punjab Government has continuously raised the issue of RDF funds before the Central Government at every possible platform.
Addressing a press conference and detailing the repeated efforts made by the Punjab Government, Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said, “On November 28, 2024, I, along with Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, met Union Minister Prahlad Joshi and demanded the release of Punjab’s Rural Development Fund (RDF) money. On July 17, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann met Prahlad Joshi and reiterated the same demand.”
He continued, “On January 10, I met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, following which CM Bhagwant Singh Mann met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on January 17. On April 10, the Chief Minister again met Union Consumer Affairs and Food Minister Prahlad Joshi, and on June 30, I once again requested Nirmala Sitharaman to release the funds.”
Highlighting that the demand had been raised through multiple forums, the Finance Minister added, “Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan also wrote a letter to the Central Government conveying this demand. The issue was also raised before Nirmala Sitharaman during meetings of the GST Council and was discussed in detail during the GST Council meeting in August 2025.”
“More recently, on March 14, 2026, I sent an official letter to the Government of India demanding the release of Punjab’s outstanding RDF funds. Union Minister Prahlad Joshi himself had assured us that he would hold a meeting with Amit Shah and Nirmala Sitharaman to secure Punjab’s legitimate legal right. Despite this, neither have the funds been released nor has any positive step been taken, ” he further added.
Questioning the Centre over the outstanding amount, the Finance Minister stated, “It is surprising that a senior Union Minister who has served as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh is misleading the people of Punjab. A total of ₹9, 821 crore of RDF is outstanding to Punjab from the Central Government. The Government of India procures wheat and paddy at MSP (Minimum Support Price), on which 3 percent RDF money is to be provided as per the rules.”
He continued, “The Central Government earlier used to talk about misuse of funds, whereas the truth is that the misuse took place during the previous Akali BJP government. The Aam Aadmi Party Government, in 2022, duly amended the law and stipulated that RDF money would be spent only on improving farmers’ mandis and rural roads.”
Calling out the BJP led Central Government for betraying Punjab, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema asserted, “The BJP led Central Government has committed a major betrayal of Punjab’s farmers and common people. Now, to hide its failures, Union Ministers are resorting to misleading propaganda. The people of Punjab are highly aware and know very well that the BJP has continuously been working against the interests of Punjab and Punjabis.”