Punjab FM calls Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s RDF claim a blatant lie

Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday termed Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's statement that no Punjab minister had contacted the Centre for release of the Rural Development Fund (RDF) as a blatant lie. The Times of India reports Cheema accused BJP leaders of being experts at lying and distorting facts, insisting the Punjab government had raised the issue continuously.

Chouhan had told media in Chandigarh that Punjab always received all funds as per rule, and invited state ministers to talk to him. Cheema countered that he and chief minister Bhagwant Mann had met multiple Union ministers including Prahlad Joshi, Nirmala Sitharaman and Amit Shah between November 2024 and June 2025, and that the assembly speaker had written to the Centre. He said a total of Rs 9,821 crore in RDF is outstanding to Punjab, which is meant to be 3% of MSP procurement.

Cheema said the Centre had cited alleged misuse of funds during the previous Akali-BJP government, whereas the AAP government amended the law in 2022 to restrict spending to mandis and rural roads. He sent an official letter to the government on March 14, 2026 demanding release of funds, but no positive step has been taken.