Chandigarh: Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Friday termed Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s statement that “no Punjab minister ever contacted the Centre for release of the Rural Development Fund (RDF)” as highly irresponsible, misleading and a blatant lie.Responding to the Punjab govt’s charge that the Centre had held back RDF dues to the state, Chouhan told media persons in Chandigarh that the state govt could approach him with its concerns.Reacting to Chouhan’s claim, Cheema accused BJP leaders of being “experts at lying and distorting facts” before presenting them to the public. He insisted that the Punjab govt had continuously raised the issue of RDF funds with the Centre at every possible forum.Questioning the Centre over the outstanding amount, Cheema said, “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 Rs 9,821 crore in RDF is outstanding to Punjab from the Centre. The govt of India procures wheat and paddy at MSP (minimum support price), on which 3% RDF is to be provided as per the rules.”Replying to a media query on RDF, Chouhan said, “Punjab has always received all the funds as per rule. It will continue even in the time to come. Punjab is the pride of the entire country. There has never been any discrimination against Punjab. If they have any issues, they can come and speak to me. I am always ready to talk to them… I invite the state ministers to come and talk to me. They do not come, so I will go to them now.”Cheema said, “On Nov 28, 2024, I, along with minister Lal Chand Kataruchak, met Union minister Prahlad Joshi and demanded the release of RDF. On July 17, chief minister Bhagwant Mann met Prahlad Joshi and reiterated the same demand.”In his rebuttal, Cheema added, “On Jan 10, I met Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, following which CM Bhagwant Mann met Union home minister Amit Shah on Jan 17. On April 10, the CM 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, Cheema said, “Punjab assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan also wrote to the Central govt seeking the release of RDF. The issue was also raised before Nirmala Sitharaman during GST Council meetings and was discussed in detail at the GST Council meeting in August 2025.”“More recently, on March 14, 2026, I sent an official letter to the govt 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 added.Cheema said the Centre had earlier cited alleged misuse of funds, whereas the misuse occurred during the previous Akali-BJP govt. The AAP govt, he said, amended the law in 2022 and stipulated that RDF money would be spent only on improving mandis and rural roads.Accusing the BJP-led Centre of betraying Punjab, Cheema asserted, “The BJP-led Centre 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 worked against the interests of Punjab and Punjabis.”
