Punjab

PHAGWARA: National Highways Authorities of India have announced to increase toll tax at all Toll Plazas of Highways from Tuesday ie April 1.

PATIALA: The Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government has not made any meaningful scheme for the welfare of Scheduled Caste families, which constitute more than one-third of Punjab's population.

GHANAURI KALAN( Sangrur): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday said that the senior IAS and IPS officers of the state government will act as the mentors of the students of government schools across the state to provide them necessary guidance for excelling in life.

CHANDIGARH: "Punjab government will provide all necessary assistance to support the ongoing and future research endeavours of international experts working on soil and water conservation," asserted Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian during a high-level meeting hosted by the Punjab State Food Commission.

AMRITSAR: Taking strong notice of the interference in Sikh affairs by the Aam Aadmi Party government of Punjab, Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami, President of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, has advised the government to focus on improving the situation in the state within its jurisdiction.

AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC) President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami today appealed to all organizations of the Sikh Panth, Damdami Taksal, Nihang Singh Dals, global Sikh organizations, Singh Sabhas, Diwans, Sabha Societies and scholars and intellectuals living in the country and abroad to send their suggestions till APRIL 20 to determine the rules regarding the qualification, appointment, scope of work, responsibilities and retirement of Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

PATIALA: Shiromani Akali Dal General Secretary Gurpreet Raju Khanna and Youth Akali Dal President Sarabjeet Jhinjer met last night with farmers released from Ropar Jail after a 9-day detention. The leaders visited the homes of the released farmers to express their solidarity with them and the entire morcha.

AMRITSAR: The officiating Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and Jathedar of Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, today met two victim women of so-called Pastor Bajinder, at the Secretariat of Sri Akal Takht Sahib. The women, who had come to Amritsar, shared in detail the atrocities committed against them by the fraudulent and deceitful pastor Bajinder. They revealed that they were subjected to abuse and sexual exploitation at his deras, and FIRs have already been lodged by Punjab Police in this regard. However, they also stated that after the FIRs were filed, they were being threatened and intimidated by Bajinder’s associates, and the police had not taken strict action against him for a long time. This is why they approached Sri Akal Takht Sahib today.

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has legalized the transfer of prisoners from its state jails to other states. The 'Transfer of Prisoners (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2025', introduced by Punjab Jails Minister S. Laljit Singh Bhullar, was unanimously passed by the Punjab Legislative Assembly today.

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has successfully implemented people-centric policies that ensure no additional financial strain on the state's residents through electricity tariffs. In this series, the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission has determined electricity rates in a manner that preserves the financial stability of consumers. It was disclosed by Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO in a press conference today.

CHANDIGARH: In a significant move to regulate the mining and crusher industry in the state, Punjab Government has enacted "The Punjab Regulation of Crusher Units and Stockists and Retailers Bill 2025" to bring comprehensive regulation, transparency and accountability to a sector historically plagued by unregulated practices and systemic corruption, said Mr. Aman Arora, Punjab Cabinet Minister and the State President of Aam Aadmi Party.

CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, is committed to transforming rural Punjab through comprehensive development and sustainable initiatives. Highlighting the government’s vision for revitalizing villages, Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh outlined key projects aimed at improving infrastructure, ensuring clean water, cleaning village ponds, tackling drug abuse, and fostering sports and education in rural areas. With a focus on fulfilling AAP’s promises and addressing the needs of every Punjabi, the government is determined to bring about meaningful change under the banner of 'Badalde Pind, Badalda Punjab.'

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government is consistently making new efforts to facilitate and ensure a comfortable environment for working women. As part of these initiatives, for the first time in Punjab, six Working Women Hostels will be constructed. This was expressed today in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha by the Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, while responding to a question raised by MLA Kulwant Singh.

CHANDIGARH: No tariff hike has been made by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) in its tariff order for financial year 2025-26 .

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission chaired by Chairperson Sh. Viswajeet Khanna, IAS (Retd) and Member Paramjeet Singh, District and Sessions Judge (Retd.) have issued the Tariff Orders containing tariff/charges for FY 2025-26 vide Orders dated 28.03.2025.

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today condemned estranged Akali leader Manpreet Singh Ayali for aligning with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) minister Harjot Bains to seek interference of the Vidhan Sabha to make rules and regulations for appointment of the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

AMRITSAR: A massive protest dharna was held outside the Shiromani Gurwara Parbandhak Committee office under the leadership of Sant Baba Harnam Singh Khalsa, head of Damdami Taksal, for the reinstatement of the Jathedars of the three Takhts  and a memorandum was given to Shiromani Committee President Harjinder Singh Dhami demanding the reinstatement of the Jathedars. It was announced that the next program would be drawn up if the demand was not accepted by April 15th.

AMRITSAR: The budget of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for the financial year 2025-26 of Rs 1386 crore 47 lakh 80 thousand was passed today.

AMRITSAR: Damdami Taksal leader Harnam Singh Dhumma today led protest march in Amritsar from Golden Gate to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Cmmittee {SGPC) head office demanding restoration of services of Giani Raghbir Singh Giani Sultan Singh and Giani Harpreet Singh removed by SGPC Executive committee.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Social Justice, Empowerment & Minorities Minister, Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the Punjab Government has released an amount of ₹9.55 crore under the Ashirwad Scheme for 1,872 beneficiaries belonging to Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections during the current financial year 2024-25.

CHANDIGARH: In the wake of forthcoming Kharif season, Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister S. Gurmeet Singh Khudian on Friday, ordered strict action against the sale of spurious cotton and unauthorized hybrid paddy seeds. The move aims to protect farmers from fraudulent practices and ensure their financial security.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, while responding to a question in the Vidhan Sabha, stated that the state government has a plan to include all MGNREGA workers under the Building and Other Construction Workers' (BOCW) Welfare Board.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police have released several farmers, including Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) convenor Sarwan Singh Pandher and Abhimanyu Kohar, from jail on Friday after eight days of detention.

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was colluding with radical criminals to eliminate its political opponents and that it had purposely botched the investigation into the murderous attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal on December 4 at Sri Darbar Sahib, Amritsar in order to secure bail for Chaura.

PHAGWARA: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the Phagwara Municipal Corporation mayoral elections and imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on the petitioner. The amount is to be deposited with the Poor Patients' Welfare Society at PGI Chandigarh.

CHANDIGARH: A senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) delegation met DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla and demanded strict action as per law against Mandi Board chief engineer Jatinder Singh Bhangu for threatening to murder the party’s chief spokesperson Arshdeep Singh Kler.

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Working President Balwinder Singh Bhundar today made an appeal for panthic unity to estranged Akali leaders besides urging them to participate in the party’s membership drive.

CHANDIGARH: Secretary, Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab and a 2005 cadre IAS officer, Mr. Malwinder Singh Jaggi was given a warm farewell party by the officers and employees of the Public Relations Department on the eve of his retirement. Mr. Jaggi is set to retire on March 31, 2025 after rendering 33 years of distinguished service.

PHAGWARA: In a major relief for the Dalit community ahead of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary, Punjab government has announced a complete waiver of all loans taken through the Scheduled Caste Land Development and Finance Corporation until March 31, 2020. The move, declared in the state budget for the financial year 2025-26, is expected to benefit 4,650 individuals from the Dalit community.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Power minister Harbhajan Singh E. T. O., today, informed Punjab Vidhan Sabha that there were not any complaints pending with PSPCL regarding loose wires in Fazilka area. This information was given by the Minister while replying to a question raised by Fazilka MLA Narinderpal Singh Sawna. The minister said that the electric wires passing through the farms may loose at some locations and whenever, the PSPCL staff receives any complaint, it is ensured to immediately resolve the same by tightening the wires from time to time.

AMRITSAR: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee today celebrated the Gurtagaddi Diwas of the seventh Guru, Sri Guru Har Rai Sahib Ji, as Environment Day and planted saplings at Guru Ke Bagh located in the Sri Darbar Sahib complex.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Labour Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond, while responding to a query in the Legislative Assembly, assured that the shortage of Labour Inspectors in the state will be addressed in the near future.

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Water Regulation and Devlopment Authority (PWRDA) has issued guidelines that it is mandatory for all Industrial, Commercial, Institutional and Healthcare Units extracting more than 300 cubic meter per month Groundwater to obtain permission from PWRDA for the extraction of groundwater.

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C has presided an important meeting with the representatives of recognized political parties and the official in his office on Wednesday.

AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami has strongly criticized the indifferent policy being adopted by the Government of India on the issue of the release of the imprisoned Sikhs and termed this approach of the government as a violation of human rights, affront to the values of justice and injustice to the Sikhs.