Chandigarh, Sept. 6 -- AAP's Anandpur Sahib MP Malvinder Singh Kang on Friday urged swift intervention from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union government for flood relief. Kang said that a special central relief package, comparable to the Rs.58,900 crore package for Bihar and the Rs.58,000 crore extended to Andhra Pradesh, is needed to rebuild homes, revive agriculture, restore rural infrastructure, and support displaced families. He also demanded a two-year GST exemption for Punjab to give the state breathing space in the face of massive revenue losses and the devastation of its economic backbone. "Punjab had already lost Rs.49,727 crore due to GST transition, while cuts in Rural Development Fund (RDF) and Market Development Fund (MDF) worth Rs.8,000 crore and cancellation of PMGSY projects worth Rs.828 crore have further weakened the state's capacity," he said. The AAP MP stressed that Punjab cannot recover without immediate central help as the calamity has submerged more than 1,900 villages, left nearly 4lakh people homeless, and claimed over 40 lives. He said without urgent release of funds and a relief package, suffering of our people would deepen into a humanitarian disaster of unimaginable proportions. "Punjab's tragedy is not just a regional concern but a national emergency. If Punjab's farmlands perish, India's food security is in jeopardy. If Punjab's border villages weaken, our national defence stands at risk. The Centre must act with urgency and compassion," he added.htc...