BJP Criticizes AAP Minister for Managing Non-Operational Department for 20 Months

New Delhi : In a bizarre administrative lapse, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, a minister in the Punjab cabinet and leader of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), was found to have been heading a department that did not exist. The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, took nearly 20 months to realize the error and rectify the situation through a gazetted notification.

The government acknowledged that the Department of Administrative Reforms, allocated to Mr. Dhaliwal, was “non-existent.” Following this revelation, Mr. Dhaliwal has been relieved of the defunct department and will now solely oversee the NRI Affairs portfolio.

This unusual situation dates back to a cabinet reshuffle in May 2023, during which Mr. Dhaliwal, who was initially responsible for the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department, was relieved of those duties. He retained the NRI Affairs portfolio while also being assigned the Administrative Reforms Department—unaware that the latter department did not exist within the state’s bureaucratic structure.

The revelation has sparked criticism from the opposition, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quick to seize the opportunity to attack the AAP government. BJP leaders have labeled the incident as a “joke” and questioned the competence of the administration, accusing it of negligence and mismanagement. They argued that such an oversight raises serious concerns about the government’s efficiency and attention to detail.

“How can a government function effectively when a minister is assigned to a non-existent department for nearly two years? This reflects the chaotic state of affairs within the AAP-led government,” remarked a senior BJP leader.

In response, the Punjab government has maintained that the issue was an administrative oversight and has now been corrected through the appropriate channels. The gazetted notification ensures that Mr. Dhaliwal’s ministerial responsibilities are now aligned with the actual structure of the state government.

Despite the clarification, the incident has fueled political tensions in Punjab, with opposition parties using it as an example of what they perceive as governance lapses under the AAP regime. Meanwhile, Mr. Dhaliwal continues to focus on his role as Minister of NRI Affairs, a department tasked with addressing the concerns of Punjabi expatriates and strengthening their ties with the state