Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Tuesday claimed that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has described the Rs 1,600-crore relief announced for the state by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “token amount”, promising further financial assistance. Two hours later, the Centre said that Shah informed Mann that Rs 12,000 crore was available in the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), and Punjab was yet to submit a required memorandum to the Centre.

The two statements came soon after Mann met Shah at the latter’s residence in Delhi . Mann told the media, “He heard me intently. He told me that Rs 1600 crore is a token amount. They will help the state financially. They are the ‘maalik’. But it is my right to put my side across. People have given me this responsibility,” he said.

A statement quoting S

See Full Page