Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has addressed the controversy surrounding the abolition of the Department of Administrative Reforms, a portfolio he previously held. The Punjab government clarified in an official notification that the department "is not in existence as of now."

Dhaliwal’s Reaction

Reacting to the decision, Dhaliwal downplayed the significance of the department’s abolition, emphasizing that his primary focus is on the welfare of Punjab.

“They have now abolished the department. We have all come to save Punjab. For me, the department is not important; Punjab is important. (Whether this department exists or not) is not an agenda for us,” Dhaliwal said, as quoted by ANI.

What the Government Notification Stated

On February 21, 2024, the Punjab government issued a notification confirming that the Department of Administrative Reforms no longer exists.

The notification stated:

"In partial modification of Punjab Government Notification No. 2/1/2022-2Cabinet/2230 dated September 23, 2024, regarding allocation of portfolios amongst the Ministers, the Department of Administrative Reforms earlier allotted to Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Cabinet Minister, is not in existence as on date."

Dhaliwal had been assigned the Administrative Reforms portfolio in May 2023 after a cabinet reshuffle, where he was relieved of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare department. However, he retained the NRI Affairs portfolio. The Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare department was handed over to Gurmeet Singh Khuddian.

BJP’s Sharp Criticism of AAP Government

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticized the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government, calling it a failure in governance.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri attacked the Punjab government, highlighting the absurdity of a minister leading a non-existent department for nearly 20 months.

“He was heading a department for 20 months that is ‘non-existent’. Such a situation can only happen under the leadership of the AAP government,” Puri remarked.

BJP leader Fatehjung Singh Bajwa also lashed out at the Mann government, accusing it of pushing Punjab back by 50 years.

"Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal is one of the most senior leaders in the Cabinet, yet he was leading a non-existent department. This means no meetings were ever conducted. What kind of administrative reforms are happening? People are fleeing abroad using illegal dunki routes, yet no agent or middleman involved in these activities has been arrested," Bajwa stated.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Defends the Move

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann defended the decision, stating that the department was merged into another entity to streamline governance.

“We changed its name and created a new department. Earlier, it was just for the name—there was no staff or office. Now, we have created a proper department to implement reforms, whether in bureaucracy or other areas,” Mann explained.

He also hinted at further restructuring, saying:

“We are also looking at merging several departments with similar functions into a single entity for better efficiency.”

The abolition of the Department of Administrative Reforms has sparked a heated political battle in Punjab. While the AAP government claims it is a move towards better governance, the BJP sees it as a glaring administrative failure. The controversy raises critical questions about accountability, transparency, and efficiency in Punjab’s governance—issues that will likely remain in the spotlight in the coming days.