Punjab, once hailed as the food bowl of India and a proud contributor to the nation’s progress, today finds itself battling one of the worst floods in decades. With nearly 1,500 villages submerged and over 300,000 people affected since August 17, the state is reeling under unprecedented devastation. In such moments of crisis, the people naturally expect the presence of the nation’s Prime Minister — not just as a political leader but as a father figure, symbolizing solidarity and reassurance.
Yet, in the eyes of many Punjabis, that reassurance is missing. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over an earthquake in Afghanistan shortly after returning from Tianjin on 1 September, his absence from flood-ravaged Punjab sparked a wave of discontent. For the people, this neglect is more than just an oversight — it resonates deeply with long-standing feelings of alienation, simmering since the farm laws protests that rocked the state.
The PM’s silence did not go unnoticed in Punjab’s political and religious circles. Giani Harpreet Singh, former head priest of the Akal Takht and now a central figure in the fractured Sikh political landscape, issued a blunt response. Taking to social media, he reminded Modi that Punjab too is part of India, and its suffering demands urgent attention.
In a rare switch from Punjabi to English, Giani Ji wrote:
“Mr Prime Minister, it is good that you expressed sympathy for Afghanistan, but Punjab is also a part of this country, where nearly 1,500 villages and 300,000 people have been badly affected since August 17. Your lack of attention towards Punjab is extremely painful.”
He didn’t stop at a tweet. Giani Singh followed up with a three-page letter addressed to Modi, posted publicly on his X (formerly Twitter) handle. His intervention reflects a broader sentiment among Punjabis — the sense that New Delhi, once again, is turning its back on the state in its darkest hour.
Why Punjab Expected More from Modi
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan did visit Punjab, trudging through knee-deep floodwaters, inspecting damaged fields, and promising relief. But for many Punjabis, this was no substitute for Modi himself. The Prime Minister’s absence struck a raw nerve.
The expectation wasn’t political. Punjabis, including those who don’t traditionally vote for the BJP, still see the Prime Minister as head of the Indian family. In times of distress, they ask: Are Sikhs not members of that family?
This frustration taps into an older wound — the farmers’ movement of 2020–21, when Sikh farmers spearheaded a year-long protest against the three controversial farm laws. For many in Punjab, Modi’s absence now only confirms their chronic suspicion of Dilli (New Delhi).
From Punjab to the Northeast: A Dangerous Parallel
For decades, the phrase “out of sight, out of mind” has been used to describe how New Delhi often neglected the Northeast. Ironically, the same metaphor is now being applied to Punjab — a state geographically close to the capital, but politically fragile and strategically vital.
History offers grim warnings. When India overlooked the suffering in the Lushai Hills (now Mizoram) during the bamboo famine of the 1960s, it gave birth to the Mizo National Front, backed by China and Pakistan, which led an armed insurgency for two decades. The fear today is that a similar alienation could once again push Punjab into dangerous territory if its grievances remain unaddressed.
Article source: vygrnews.com
