Archive · 15 Aug 2026
Chouhan denies RDF discrimination; Punjab minister Cheema slams 'blatant lie'
India's central government buys wheat and paddy from farmers in Punjab at a set minimum price.
For this buying, it is supposed to give three percent of the money to a fund called the Rural Development Fund.
The Punjab government says the central government still owes it 9,821 crore rupees from this fund.
The central government says it has always given Punjab all the money it was owed, following the rules.
A central minister named Shivraj Singh Chouhan says there has been no unfair treatment of Punjab.
A Punjab minister named Harpal Singh Cheema says that is not true and calls it a 'blatant lie.'
Punjab says it has asked for the money many times in meetings and letters over the past couple of years.
The central minister invited Punjab's ministers to come and meet him so they can talk about it.
The two governments still disagree, and Punjab says the money has not been released.
Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan rejected the AAP government's claim that Punjab's Rural Development Fund (RDF) dues were withheld, saying the state has always received its full due amount as per rules.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema called Chouhan's remarks 'highly irresponsible, misleading and a blatant lie' and said Rs 9,821 crore in RDF funds remains outstanding to Punjab.
Chouhan said Punjab ministers should come and meet him if they have issues, adding that he has repeatedly invited the state's agriculture minister and other ministers.
Cheema said Punjab has raised the demand since November 2024 through meetings with Union ministers Prahlad Joshi, Nirmala Sitharaman and Amit Shah, a letter from Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, and GST Council discussions.
Chouhan made the remarks in Chandigarh while launching Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC)-based Direct Benefit Transfer under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana (PMGKAY).
- Who
- Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, speaking for the central government and Punjab's AAP government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann
- What
- A dispute over whether the Centre has withheld Rural Development Fund (RDF) dues; Punjab claims Rs 9,821 crore is outstanding
- When
- Friday, August 14, 2026 (dateline Chandigarh, Aug 14)
- Where
- Chandigarh; between the central government and the state of Punjab
- Why
- Punjab says the 3% RDF money on MSP procurement of wheat and paddy has not been released, while the Centre says Punjab has always received its full due amount
Punjab AAP Government
Central BJP-led Government
Outstanding RDF dues
Punjab AAP Government
Punjab says Rs 9,821 crore of RDF money, based on the 3% levy on MSP procurement of wheat and paddy, remains outstanding from the Centre and has not been released despite repeated requests.
Central BJP-led Government
Chouhan says Punjab has always received its full due amount in accordance with the rules and will continue to do so in the future, denying any withholding of funds.
Discrimination against Punjab
Punjab AAP Government
Cheema alleges the Centre is discriminating against Punjab, saying BJP leaders are experts at lying and distort every fact, and questioned how a senior Union minister who served as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh could mislead the people of Punjab.
Central BJP-led Government
Chouhan says there has never been any kind of discrimination against Punjab regarding RDF funds.
Communication between governments
Punjab AAP Government
Cheema says Punjab has raised the issue on every possible platform, including meetings with Union ministers Prahlad Joshi, Nirmala Sitharaman and Amit Shah, letters, and GST Council discussions, without any positive step taken.
Central BJP-led Government
Chouhan says he has invited the Punjab agriculture minister and other ministers to meet him many times, but 'they don't come,' and invited them to come and meet him with any issues.
- Outstanding RDF amount (per Punjab)
- Rs 9,821 crore
- RDF share
- 3% of MSP procurement value of wheat and paddy
- Union minister
- Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Agriculture)
- Punjab finance minister
- Harpal Singh Cheema
- Punjab chief minister
- Bhagwant Singh Mann
- Occasion
- Launch of CBDC-based DBT under PMGKAY
- Location
- Chandigarh
- Date
- August 14, 2026