Tuesday, July 01, 2025

Punjab

Stop political vendetta, asserts SAD, Will start a people's campaign on key issues: Sukhbir Badal at core committee meeting

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today warned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to stop its policy of political vendetta even as it asserted that it would start a people’s campaign against the corrupt and scam ridden government on key public issues including snatching of thousands of acres of fertile land of farmers across the State and protection being given to corrupt AAP leaders.

₹20 lakh bond and new fee hike is blatant exploitation of our medical students - Dhaliwal

PHAGWARA: Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal has described the imposition of a new ₹20 lakh bond on MBBS students and unnecessary tuition fee hikes as a major assault on the dreams of aspiring doctors, particularly those from middle and lower-income families.

Punjab Industries No Longer Required to Obtain Fire NOC Annually: Tarunpreet Singh Sond

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government has taken a major step toward modernizing fire safety services and streamlining the ease of doing business for industries in the state. To support this initiative, the Punjab Fire and Emergency Services Act, 2024 has been implemented for industries and the general public. A key amendment now allows industrial buildings with heights up to 21 meters, up from the previous limit of 18 meters.

AAP’s land pooling policy is ‘Ponzi scheme’, says Punjab BJP chief

CHANDIGARH: Punjab unit BJP President Sunil Jakhar on Monday termed the state Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s land pooling policy as a ‘Ponzi Scheme’, alleging the government is misleading the public.

Vocational Certificates Awarded to Girls by Sarab Naujawan Sabha

PHAGWARA: In a significant step toward empowering young women, the Sarab Naujawan Sabha, organized a certificate distribution ceremony for girls who completed vocational training courses. The event took place at the Blood Bank Hall, Guru Hargobind Nagar, Phagwara, and was led by Sabha President Sukhwinder Singh.

Three Inmates Injured in Clash at Kapurthala Modern Jail

PHAGWARA: Three undertrial prisoners were injured in a violent clash between two rival groups inside Kapurthala Modern Jail this afternoon. The injured inmates were initially taken to the Civil Hospital in Kapurthala for first aid and were later referred to Amritsar Medical College due to the seriousness of their injuries.

SGPC forms high-level coordination committee to make centenary celebrations in November 2025 memorable

AMRITSAR: A high-level coordination committee consisting of various representative Sikh personalities and dignitaries has been constituted by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee to commemorate the centenary celebrations to be held in November 2025 in connection with the 350th martyrdom anniversary of the ninth Guru, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib, Bhai Mati Das Ji, Bhai Sati Das Ji, Bhai Dayala Ji and the 350th Guruship anniversary of the tenth Guru, Sri Guru Gobind Singh Ji.

AAP Leader Sajjan Cheema's Nephew Killed in Road Accident Near Kapurthala

PHAGWARA: In a tragic road accident , Taranjit Singh, the nephew of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sajjan Cheema, lost his life after his car collided with a truck on the Goindwal Sahib Road near Bhawanipur village late last night.

Truth Buries the Hype: Bajwa Slams Mann’s ‘Operation Optics’

CHANDIGARH: Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa has come down heavily on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of turning governance into a stage for theatrics, following the Punjab Police’s clean chit to AAP’s own MLA and former Health Minister Vijay Singla in a 2022 bribery case.

AAP Suspends MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh for Criticising CM Mann Over Majithia Arrest

CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has suspended its Amritsar North MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh for five years, days after he publicly criticised Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the arrest of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a disproportionate assets case.

Centre to Build Dhuri Railway Overbridge, Bittu Slams CM Mann for ‘False Credit’

DHURI (SANGRUR): Union Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing Ravneet Singh Bittu on Wednesday announced that the Centre will fully fund the construction of a railway overbridge at Dhuri’s 62A railway crossing, a project long demanded by local residents. In a sharp attack, Bittu accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of taking false credit for a project he allegedly made no effort to pursue.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker administers oath to newly elected MLA Sanjeev Arora

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan administered oath to newly elected MLA Sanjeev Arora today at Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretariat in the presence of Manish Sisodia former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora, Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and MLA Budh Ram. Speaker presented literature of Punjab Vidhan Sabha and i-pad to Sanjeev Arora.

AAP’s Anti-Corruption stand takes a hit as Punjab Police give clean chit to Ex-Minister Vijay Singla

CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party's much-publicised zero-tolerance policy on corruption has come under scrutiny after the Punjab Police filed a closure report in the high-profile bribery case involving AAP MLA and former Health Minister Dr. Vijay Singla, who was arrested and dismissed from the cabinet in May 2022—barely two months after the party assumed power in the state.

SAD announces first list of party office bearers and 31 member core committee

AMRITSAR: Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal today announced the first list of party office bearers and core committee, inaugurating the organizational structure of Shiromani Akali Dal.

Major terror plot foiled in Punjab; Juvenile three operatives of BKI module held

CHANDIGARH: Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police has busted a Pak-ISI backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module, being operated by UK-based Nishan Singh on the directions of terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda, with the arrest of its three associates, including a juvenile, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.

Major crackdown on online child sexual abuse in Punjab, two held, 33 suspends identified

CHANDIGARH: In a major crackdown on online child exploitation, Punjab Police’s Cybercrime Division has arrested two individuals and identified 33 suspects involved in viewing, transmitting and distributing of Child Sexual Exploitative and Abusive Material (CSEAM) using various online platforms, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Friday.

Punjab Vigilance Bureau registers corruption case against ASI, Panchayat Member for receiving Rs 20000

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau during its drive against corruption in the has registered a case against Avtar Singh, ASI (Local Rank), posted at city Police Station, Rampura, in Bathinda district and Rajdeep Singh, a Panchayat member from village Rampura, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 20,000.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan condoles the demise of MLA Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan expressed grief over the demise of Dr. Kashmir Singh Sohal, M.L.A from Tarn Taran constituency. He was a very hard working, dedicated and helpful person. He produced yeoman services for Aam Aadmi Party and his constituency.

Punjab Government Recovers ₹166 Crore from Ineligible Pension Accounts under Special Elderly Welfare Drive: Dr. Baljit Kaur

CHANDIGARH: Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government is taking significant measures to ensure the welfare and dignity of the elderly. In a commendable initiative, a special verification drive titled ‘Sadde Buzurg Sadda Maan’ was conducted to identify deceased pension beneficiaries and streamline the distribution of pensions to the rightful recipients.

Not including important Sikh institutions in SGPC Committee is a conspiracy, says Harminjit Singh of Sri Guru Singh Sabha

AMRITSAR: In the formation of the 34-member committee regarding the service rules of Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the organizations which were not included by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee smells a conspiracy to distance these organizations from the SGPC and Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

Jailed gangster Bhagwanpuria’s mother shot dead in Punjab's Batala

CHANDIGARH: Notorious jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s mother Harjit Kaur was shot dead by two bike-borne assailants in Punjab’s Batala town, police said on Friday.

SGPC forms committee regarding service rules of Jathedar Sri Akal Takht

AMRITSAR: Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee. has formed a 34-member committee regarding the service rules of Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

Heavy Rains Hit Kapurthala as Monsoon Arrives, Relief from Heat but Chaos in Low-Lying Areas

KAPURTHALA: The monsoon made its much-awaited arrival in Kapurthala today, bringing with it heavy rains that began around 11:00 AM and continued with intensity for over an hour. While the downpour brought much-needed relief from the scorching summer heat—causing a drop of nearly 5 to 6 degrees Celsius in temperature—it also led to widespread waterlogging across several parts of the city.

Quality control drive; 7 underperforming Chief Agriculture officers get show cause notices

CHANDIGARH: On the directions of the Cabinet Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare department has issued Show Cause Notices (SCNs) to seven Chief Agriculture Officers (CAO) for failing to meet quality control drive targets.

After Small Fish, It’s Now the Turn of the ‘Jarnails’ to Face Action for Their Role in Drug Trade: Punjab CM

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday stated that following action against small-time drug smugglers, it is now the turn of the ‘Jarnails’—the big players—to face consequences for their involvement in the drug trade.

AAP govt has violated law by registering a disproportionate assets case against Bikram Majithia without holding a regular probe: SAD

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today asserted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had violated the law by registering a disproportionate assets case against senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia without holding either a preliminary or regular probe and accused it indulging in political vendetta to gag Mr Majithia as well as divert attention from the failure of its Yudh Nashean Virudh drive.

Jathedar Gargajj meets family of Dharam Parchar committee in-charge Kartar Singh, Offers Condolences

AMRITSAR: Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, visited the home of Kartar Singh in village Chohla Sahib, District Tarn Taran, to meet his family and express condolences over his mysterious death, who was serving as the in-charge of the Dharam Prachar Committee of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).

Big relief to Punjab’s industry as Punjab Cabinet approves industrial plot conversion

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, on Thursday approved significant amendments to the state’s conversion policy, enabling the conversion of industrial plots into hospitals, hotels, industrial parks, and other permitted uses.

Bittu Terms Majithia’s Arrest a Political Drama, Alleges CM Mann Weakening Case with Repeated Action

LUDHIANA: Union Minister for Railways and Food Processing Ravneet Singh Bittu on Tuesday hit out at Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of turning the case against senior Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia into a political spectacle. He alleged that repeated arrests without credible evidence were weakening the legal case against Majithia.

Punjab Vigilance Bureau claims Rs.540 crore drug money of Majithia tracked, his wife also booked

CHANDIGARH: Investigations by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the FIR no. 02 of 2021 registered in Police Station Punjab State Crime and the Vigilance Bureau reveal massive laundering of drug money facilitated by Bikram Singh Majithia. Preliminary investigations reveal that more than Rs. 540 crores of drug money has been laundered through several ways, including

Investigations by S.I.T. and vigilance bureau reveal massive laundering of drug money facilitated by Bikram Singh Majithia

CHANDIGARH: Investigations by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the FIR no. 02 of 2021 registered in Police Station Punjab State Crime and the Vigilance Bureau reveal massive laundering of drug money facilitated by Bikram Singh Majithia. Preliminary investigations reveal that more than Rs. 540 crores of drug money has been laundered through several ways, including

Tribute by Jathedar Kuldip Singh Gargajj on Martyrdom Day of Baba Banda Singh Bahadar

AMRITSAR: Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, the Acting Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and the Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, offered tribute to the great Sikh general and martyr Baba Banda Singh Bahadar on his martyrdom day.

Three Women Killed, Four Injured in Horrific Road Accident Near Phillaur

PHAGWARA: A tragic road accident near the village of Chhichhowal on the Phillaur-Nawanshahr highway claimed the lives of three women and left four others, including a child, seriously injured on Wednesday. The collision occurred between an autorickshaw and a speeding Xylo car, reportedly coming from the wrong side of the road.

Phagwara Municipal Corporation Celebrates “Daan Utsav”

PHAGWARA: The Municipal Corporation, Phagwara is celebrating “Daan Utsav” at the Municipal Library,Blood Bank and Hargobind Nagar Phagwara.

Punjab Cabinet expansion this week, says Punjab CM

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said the Cabinet expansion would be done in the next few days and Ludhiana (West) legislator Sanjeev Arora would get a Cabinet berth, fulfilling a promise made to the people during the by-election campaign.

Emergency Veterans Demand ₹20,000 Monthly Pension from Punjab Government: Girish Sharma

PHAGWARA: The Emergency Veterans Struggle Committee of Punjab has urged the state government to raise the monthly pension for Emergency-era detainees and activists to ₹20,000, aligning it with neighboring states such as Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi.EVSC President Girish Sharma and General Secretary Narinder Poddar made this demand while addressing a press briefing on Monday.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Calls on Governor, Seeks Office Space for AAP in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Tuesday, requesting that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) be allotted a space in Chandigarh for establishing its office. Highlighting AAP’s status as a national party, Mann asserted that the party fulfills all the requisite conditions for having an official office in the Union Territory, similar to other political parties.

Punjab Government gears up for paddy procurement season 4 months in advance

CHANDIGARH: Pulling up its socks well in 4 months advance of the Paddy procurement season 2025, Punjab Government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann undertook a path breaking initiative by constituting a Group of Ministers (GoM) for supervising food grain procurement and ensuring smooth Wheat and Paddy Procurement in the coming seasons in the State. The GoM held its first meeting today at Punjab Bhawan Chandigarh.

FM Harpal Singh Cheema Conducts Surprise Inspection at Excise and Taxation Department Headquarters in Patiala

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Finance, Excise, and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema today carried out a surprise inspection of the head office of the Excise and Taxation Department in Patiala. The Minister arrived at the department immediately after lunch, accompanied by Excise Commissioner Jatinder Jorwal, and inspected various branches of the office.

Arvind Kejriwal running Punjab like East India company by taking over reins of 10 key departments in his hands: Sukhbir Badal

SAD president strongly condemns move to recruit 22 outsiders in Punjab Development Commission
AMRITSAR: Shiromani Akali Dal strongly condemned the Aam Aadmi Party led Punjab government’s move to clandestinely recruit 22 outsiders in the Punjab Development Commission (PDC) to run 10 key State departments and said that AAP Convener Arvind Kejriwal was trying to run Punjab like the East India company.

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