Punjab Minister held defunct department for 21 months, opposition criticises AAP government

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government's Department of Administrative Reforms, which existed only on paper without any officers or staff, was being headed by Cabinet Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal for the past 21 months. Opposition parties have criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led government, questioning its commitment to governance. Dhaliwal, who now retains only the NRI Affairs portfolio, responded to the controversy, saying, The Chief Minister can answer that better. I am a soldier of the party and have carried out every duty assigned to me. A gazette notification dated February 21, issued by the Cabinet Affairs Branch of the Punjab Government, stated: In partial modification of Punjab Government notification 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. Therefore, on the advice of the Chief Minister of Punjab, the Governor of Punjab is pleased to make the following amendment: With effect from February 7, 2025, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal will hold the charge of NRI Affairs Minister. Previously, Dhaliwal was in charge of the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare portfolio, but he was relieved of this responsibility during a cabinet reshuffle in May 2023. He then retained the NRI Affairs Department and was also assigned the Administrative Reforms Department. In another reshuffle in September 2024, he continued to hold both portfolios, but it has now emerged that the Administrative Reforms Department did not exist. Sources within the government revealed that no staff was ever allocated to the minister for this department, no meetings were held, and no secretary was appointed. The department had been established years ago but had become defunct over time, though it remained on paper. One official noted, There have been no meetings or any programmes related to the Administrative Reforms Department. Further sources disclosed that Dhaliwal had raised concerns about the lack of clarity regarding the departments existence after he was assigned the portfolio. He reportedly asked the government about the absence of a secretary but continued to hold the department nonetheless. Dhaliwal, the fifth senior-most minister in the Punjab Cabinet after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, New and Renewable Energy Minister Aman Arora, and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr Baljit Kaur, was recently in the news for handling US deportees landing in Amritsar as the Minister for NRI Affairs. An official stated, There is a Department of Good Governance and Information Technology that is working to improve efficiency by introducing IT tools for internal governance. Opposition parties took a dig at the AAP government over the issue. Punjab Congress chief and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring wrote in a post: What a Badlaav! SAD leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal also criticised the government, saying, Governance @AAPPunjab style. Allocate non-existent departments to ministers who themselves are ignorant of the portfolios they hold. All this is happening because ministers have no role in governance as the government is being run with remote control from Delhi. Punjab BJP General Secretary Subhash Sharma remarked, It shows the government's mental bankruptcy that a department, which is not in existence, has been allocated. Neither those who allotted it, nor those who had been allotted the department, were aware that it did not exist.

SGPC puts its president Dhamis resignation on hold, appeals to him to reconsider decision

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Friday decided to put the resignation of its president Harjinder Singh Dhami on hold and said that a five-member panel would meet him and urge him to reconsider his decision. On February 17, Dhami had resigned amid a row over the SGPC's decision to sack Giani Harpreet Singh as the Jathedar of the Takht Damdama Sahib near Bathinda -- one of the five seats of temporal authority of Sikhism like the Akal Takht in Amritsar. The sacking was condemned by Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh. Dhami then submitted his resignation citing 'moral grounds'. The executive committee of the SGPC appealed to Dhami to reconsider stepping down amidst the ongoing controversy over the sacking. Senior Vice-President of SGPC Ragujit Singh Virk said that Dhami's resignation was not final and emphasized the governing body's control over such appointments. A five-member delegation of executive members would approach Dhami shortly to urge him to withdraw his resignation and return to his duties, he said. Virk also cited the SGPC executive's autonomy in personnel affairs. SGPC President Dhami resigns; seeks his name be removed from 7-member panel formed by Akal Takht SGPC chief secretary Kulwant Singh Manan said Dhami is a good administrator with a clean image. His contribution to the Sikh organization could not be ignored. So, a resolution was passed in today's meeting urging Dhami to review his decision, he added. He further said that a meeting would be called soon to make stopgap arrangements for taking administrative decisions in Dhami's absence. Dhami had also announced his resignation from the seven-member committee appointed by the Akal Takht Jathedar to oversee the membership drive of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). Giani Harpreet Singh was dismissed by the SGPC's executive body on February 10 after a three-member inquiry panel indicted him for moral misconduct in its report. Citing the Sikh Gurdwaras Act 1925, Virk, who was one of the panel members, said that the SGPC has the authority and prerogative to appoint or remove the Takht Jathedars. We are also going to ask Giani Raghbir Singh to submit a clarification on sacking Giani Harpreet Singh as it pertains to an administrative issue for which the SGPC has reserved all rights to take a decision, he said. There were serious allegations against him. After a thorough inquiry, we gathered ample evidence that held him guilty. On the basis of the report, the majority of the SGPC executive members decided to remove him as Takht Jathedar, Virk claimed.

Farmers halt construction of Delhi-Amirtsar-Katra Expressway near Bathinda

Chandigarh Diary | Sukhbir Badals daughter gets married

Former Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badals eldest daughter, Harkirat Kaur, got married to Abu Dhabi-based businessman Tejveer Singh Toor on February 12 in the national capital. The wedding festivities began on February 10 with sangeet ceremony at The Trident, Gurugram, where Bollywood singer Mika Singh performed. Several politicians attended the events, including Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, LoP in the Punjab assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, his father Farooq Abdullah, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Punjab police reshuffle on the horizon Following a meeting between Punjab AAP MLAs and party chief Arvind Kejriwal last week, and in light of the AAP governments defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections, a significant reshuffle within the Punjab police is anticipated. Amid the alleged power struggle within party leadership, control over the state police is often viewed as a crucial indicator of who holds power. During a meeting with police officials CM Bhagwant Mann cautioned SSPsand Police Commissioners to improve their performance or face consequences, emphasizing concerns over false FIRs being filed in certain districts. I take I-T raids in my stride, says Cong MLA Congress MLA from Kapurthala, Rana Gurjit Singh, who is also a prominent industrialist, stated that he has taken the recent Income Tax (IT) raids conducted at 35 of his premisesincluding his homes and officesin stride. A flamboyant Rana remarked that such actions are common for individuals with businesses exceeding Rs 5,000 crore. The raids are a sign that the business is doing well. My business significantly expanded following IT raids in 2017. It is commonly believed that the house subjected to raids is bound to prosper, he said, while praising the IT officials for being thoroughly professionals. Harpreet Bajwa Our correspondent in Chandigarh hsbajwa73@gmail.com

Man kills only son over family feud in Bathinda

Litmus test for Cong again: No-confidence motion threatens Bathinda MCs dy mayor post

Punjab police arrest two involved in grenade attack, recover special weapons

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Polices state special operating cell (SSOC) Amritsar arrested two members of a Pak-ISI-backed narco terror module for allegedly throwing a hand-grenade on Gumtala Police Post in Amritsar. Director General of Police, Punjab, Gaurav Yadav said on Tuesday that those arrested have been identified as Bagga Singh of Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar in Haryana's Sirsa and Puskaran Singh alias Sagar of Amarkot in Amritsar. Police teams have also recovered one hand grenade and two sophisticated pistols along with ammunition from their possession. As per official information, unidentified persons hurled a hand grenade at Gumtala Police Post in Amritsar Commissionerate on January 9 this year. Following the incident, terrorist organisation Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) claimed responsibility for this terror act on social media. The narcotics module is operated by USA-based smugglers Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passian and Sarwan Bhola. DGP Yadav said investigations revealed that arrested accused Bagga Singh is a relative of Sarwan Bhola. Bhola is the brother of notorious smuggler Ranjit Singh alias 'Cheeta', currently lodged in Bathinda jail for in a 532 kg heroin recovery case. Sarwan is also wanted in the 532 kg heroin recovery case and carries a Rs 2 lakh reward announced by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The DGP added that the accused Sarwan Bhola, who has been operating drug smuggling network from USA, has handed over his relative Bagga Singh and his associate Pushkaran to Happy Passian and Harvinder Rinda to carry out terror activities in Punjab. Yadav said that investigations are in progress in scientific manner to establish forward and backward linkages in this case and unveil the entire terror module. Sharing operation details, AIG SSOC Amritsar Sukhminder Singh Mann said following the attack at Gumtala Police Post, police teams have launched an intelligence operation and arrested the two accused. Further efforts are being made to discover the previous crimes committed by the accused persons and arrest remaining members of this module, he added.

Cold weather prevails in Punjab, Haryana; Ferozepur coldest at 2.8 deg C

Cold weather conditions dominated parts of Punjab and Haryana on Saturday. Ferozepur reported the lowest temperature at 2.8C. Faridkot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, and Bathinda also experienced severe cold. In Haryana, Narnaul and Bhiwani registered significant lows. Chandigarh, the shared capital, saw a minimum of 8.6C, with maximum temperatures across both states ranging between 21-23C.

CBI busts Rs 350 crore crypto ponzi scam; conducts raids across 10 locations in seven states

NEW DELHI: In a major crackdown against the crypto ponzi scheme scam, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday conducted raids at 10 locations across seven states and UTs leading to the recovery of cash worth Rs 34 lakh and digital assets of US$ 38,414 approximately in the cryptocurrency wallets, officials said. Before launching the raids the agency registered an FIR against seven accused in the case involving a scam worth Rs 350 crore, they said. A senior CBI official said, The accused persons were allegedly running seven separate modules based in the cities of Delhi, Hazaribag (Jharkhand), Bathinda (Punjab), Ratlam (Madhya Pradesh), Valsad (Gujarat), Pudukkottai (Tamil Nadu) and Chittorgarh (Rajasthan), taking money from gullible investors promising investments in cryptocurrencies. He said, These ponzi schemes were being promoted through multiple social media groups. An analysis of bank account transactions and cryptocurrency wallets has revealed that the illegal proceeds from these schemes were being converted into cryptocurrencies to make their origin obscure. In the FIR the CBI has alleged that the accused had conducted transactions of over Rs 350 crore in these schemes, the officials said, adding that agency sleuths in different teams swooped down at locations in Delhi, Jharkhand, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan. During the searches, the officials said, the raiding teams seized digital virtual assets totalling US$ 38,414 (approximately) in the cryptocurrency wallets of the accused persons, which had been digitally secured for investigation. The searches resulted in the recovery of cash amounting to Rs 34.2 lakh (approx), along with significant digital evidence, including seven mobile phones, one laptop, one tablet, three hard disks, 10 pen drives, memory cards, SIM cards, ATM/debit cards, email accounts, and several incriminating documents, the official said. The CBI in its probe has also uncovered multiple bank accounts and Virtual Digital Asset (VDA) wallets with cryptocurrency exchanges, including CoinDCX, WazirX, Zebpay, and BitBns, held by the accused members. According to the FIR, the case has been registered under Indian Penal Code section 120-B (criminal conspiracy), read with Section 420 (cheating) and Section 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, because it was part of an ongoing investigation that predated the introduction of three new criminal laws last year, the officials said. In the FIR the CBI said, It was alleged that accused persons, acting in criminal conspiracy, have been actively floating various ponzi and fraudulent schemes, promising high returns based on cryptocurrency investments. They are also accused of promoting, promising, and disseminating false and deceptive information to entice investors into these unregulated deposit schemes, which operate without requisite approvals from regulatory authorities such as the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).

Marwari stallion priced at Rs 21 crore at Ghora-mandi in Muktsar's Maghi Mela, 600 horses sold

CHANDIGARH: An attraction for all equestrian enthusiasts and breeders, David, a 42-month-old horse, is one of the tallest stallions and a direct descendant of the Raj Hans stallion, which was owned by former Deputy Chief Minister and ex-president of Shiromani Akali Dal, Sukhbir Singh Badal. This Marwari horse, which was on display, has an asking price of Rs 21 crore at the recently concluded Ghora-Mandi at the Maghi Mela in Muktsar. Approximately 3,000 horses and mares participated in the event, and about 600 were sold. Not only David, but another horse, Bilawal, a 69-inch-tall white stallion of the Nukra breed, also attracted attention. Its owner, Jaspal Singh from Tarkhanwala village in Muktsar, is asking for a price in crores. Another horse, a 66-inch-tall mare named Noori, is being offered by its owner, Gurmel Singh Patwar, with an asking price in lakhs. Speaking to this newspaper, Vikramjit Singh Brar, manager of Sanjam Stud Farm at Badal village, which owns David, said they have twenty horses and specialize in breeding. At the recently concluded Horse Mandi, they brought two horses: David, a 72-inch, 42-month-old stallion, and King Earth, a 20-month-old Marwari breed horse. We will not sell David below this price, Brar stated. He added that King Earth's father, Big Jasper, was sold last year for a few crores to a buyer from Pune. We charge Rs 1.25 lakh for each mating with David, as many breeders approach us for mating with his horse. When David was born, his value was around Rs 1 crore. Brar explained that breeders from Pune, Mumbai, Gujarat, and other regions come to Punjab to buy horses from breeders in Muktsar, Bathinda, Moga, Amritsar, Morinda, and other parts of the state. The price of a stallion depends on factors such as height, breeding, upkeep, and appearance. He added, The diet of the horse is 4 to 5 kg per day. Jagat Pal Singh Brar, owner of Virasat Stud Farm at Chaksherewala village, Muktsar, who has ten horses, said that there are only two top livestock fairs in the country: one at Pushkar in Rajasthan and the other at Muktsar. Breeders and others who want to buy horses come from Tamil Nadu and other South Indian states, besides Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and other places. This time, I displayed two of my stallions, both four years old: Prithvi Raj and Damdar, he said. He added that there are 70 to 80 breeders in Punjab and explained that the Nukra breed originates from Punjab, while the Marwari breed comes from Rajasthan. Sukhpal Singh Bhati, partner in the firm responsible for organizing the fair, said that this year, around 2,800 to 3,000 horses and mares were brought to the fair by stud farm owners from across the country, mainly from Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. Of these, approximately 600 horses were sold. Foals (two months to one year old) are sold for about Rs 50,000, and the average price of normal horses is between Rs 1.50 lakh and Rs 3.50 lakh. The price depends on factors like height, legs, chest, color, teeth, trot, and body size, he said. Buyers came from across the country. Singh's company, which charges a 4 percent commission on any sale, further explained that most stud farm owners display their horses and mares at the fair for show, rather than to sell them. Horses are often sold later on, after the fair ends. An officer from the animal husbandry department, speaking on the condition of anonymity, explained that foals, colts, and fillies (one to three years old) are generally sold. White-colored horses of the Nukra breed are used for marriage functions, while Marwari horses are used for breeding. Other horses are used in polo and games like pegging. Most deals are done discreetly to avoid the 4 percent commission, and the actual price of the horse is never disclosed, he added.

Screening of Kangana Ranaut's 'Emergency' cancelled in theatres across Punjab following protests

CHANDIGARH: The cinemas and multiplexes across Punjab on Friday were forced to cancel the screening of Kangana Ranaut-starrer Emergency following protests by various Sikh organization and farmers' bodies. Kangana plays the role of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in the film. The films release was earlier delayed after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) sought several cuts in the movie after Sikh groups raised concerns over the portrayal of the community. On Thursday, SGPC had demanded that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ban its screening in Punjab. In a letter to Mann, SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami said the movie was a calculated attempt to distort history and harm Sikh sentiments and warned that releasing it could provoke outrage within the Sikh community. The protesters claimed that the movie hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs and provoked outrage in the community. The members of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) protested against the movie outside the cinemas in Amritsar. Also, there were protests outside cinemas in Bathinda, Patiala, Ludhiana, Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur. The members of one of the factions of farmer union BKU gathered outside Dhillon Plaza and Cosmo Plaza in Zirakpur in SAS Nagar district near Chandigarh and protested alleging that Kangana Ranaut used vulgar language against them during the ongoing farmers' protest and in the movie, facts have been twisted to defame the Sikh community. A member of Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) said that the history of the Sikh religion and the incidents of 1984 were depicted in the movie in a distorted manner. He demanded the movie to be banned. Meanwhile, Kangana reacted to the protests saying it as a complete harassment of art and the artist. She also slammed the propaganda to tarnish her image. In a message posted on platform X, Kangana Ranaut wrote, This is complete harassment of art and the artist, from Punjab many cities are reporting that these people are not allowing Emergency to be screened. I have utmost respect for all religions and after studying and growing up in Chandigarh I have closely observed and followed sikh religion. This is complete lie and propaganda to tarnish my image and harm my film. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said that governments and censor boards must keep an eye on films like Emergency as such films show scripted stories, which are not true and the facts are twisted otherwise, they would not be successful if there was no masala. However, theaters in the Union Territory of Chandigarh screened the movie.

Complete harassment of art and the artist: Kangana after SGPC calls for ban on Emergency

New Delhi, Jan 17: Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut on Friday said the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committees (SGPC) demand for a ban on Emergency and the films restricted screenings in parts of Punjab is a complete harassment of art and the artist. On Thursday, SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami wrote to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann demanding a ban on the movie, which released across the country on Friday. Many cinemas in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Patiala and Bathinda did not screen Emergency [] The post Complete harassment of art and the artist: Kangana after SGPC calls for ban on Emergency appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Why this Punjab panchayat offers cash for weddings

A panchayat in Punjab's Bathinda district has announced an incentive of Rs 21,000 to families who won't serve liquor or play DJ music at wedding ceremonies. The decision was taken to encourage villagers not to indulge in wasteful expenditure on marriage functions and curb liquor abuse.

Punjab village bans liquor, DJs at weddings; offers Rs 21000 incentive for simple celebrations

CHANDIGARH: To encourage villagers not to indulge in wasteful expenditure and curb liquor use in marriage functions, the Balo village panchayat in Punjab's Bathinda district has announced to give a cash incentive of Rs 21,000, as a token of blessing, to families who would follow the conditions. The sale of energy drinks has also been banned in the village. Ballo village sarpanch Amarjit Kaur said it is generally seen that there were frequent fights at functions where alcohol is served and they are often accompanied by loud music played by disc jockeys (DJs). It causes disturbance to the villagers, especially the students. Thus this decision was taken to encourage villagers not to indulge in wasteful expenditure on marriage functions. The panchayat has passed a resolution under which if a family does not serve liquor and play DJ music at wedding functions, it will be given Rs 21,000, the village sarpanch said. She said the initiative would encourage the villagers to embrace sober and meaningful celebrations, aligned with Punjabi culture. We want to set an example for other villages by promoting discipline and responsibility during family events as weddings should symbolise joy and harmony, not chaos or overindulgence, said Kaur. A villager said that the extravagant weddings put unnecessary pressure on families. But a a few other villagers expressed scepticism and questioned whether the incentive would be enough to bring a change. Kaur said the panchayat had sought the government to set up a stadium in the village so the youth could be encouraged to take part in sports activities. The panchayat has also proposed to set up a biogas plant in the village and free seeds would be given to farmers under the Guru Nanak Bagichi Scheme who opted for organic farming. Other resolutions passed by the panchayat include free coaching for the youths preparing for the civil services exam. The panchayat would honour a man and a woman for doing community service with Rs 11,000 on martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh.

Punjab plans to launch drug policy focusing on de-addiction alongside centralised patient registry

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Government is planning to launch a drug control policy focusing on prevention, enforcement, de-addiction and rehabilitation. The state is also planning to launch a centralised platform to manage and monitor patient registration across various Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) and private centres to prevent the misuse of detoxification medicine Buprenorphine and improve patient care. Sources said that the policy will focus on strategies to wean away youth from drug consumption. The community policing wing of Punjab Police will be mandated to nudge youth away from drugs. Schools and higher education departments are contemplating the revision of school and college curriculum, and add chapters on drug abuse awareness. Educational institutions will also hire faculty to educate students about the ill-effects of drug usage. The government is seeking to replicate the Manipur State Policy on Substance Use in the state. The focus of the policy is on community-based detoxification and home detoxification of drug addicts and the measures include ready availability of medicines that can prevent drug overdose deaths, if given on time besides understands gender-specific problems in treatment and rehabilitation, said an officer, adding that the policy will be rolled out within two months. The government is also planning to start at least two more de-addiction and rehabilitation clinics for women, as only one centre at Kapurthala is currently operational. There are 303 drug de-addiction and rehabilitation centres across the state, including private centres, besides 590 outpatient opioid assisted treatment (OOAT) clinics and mobile OOATs. A significant number of patients seek treatment in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran and Bathinda districts. The centres will now focus on de-addiction from pharma opioids, although opioid substitution therapy will continue to be used to wean addicts off other narcotic substances, said sources. Notably, many addicts are in the age group of 18 to 25 years. The state health department has developed a drug de-addiction registry portal that leverages Aadhaar-based biometric authentication to provide a unique identification for each patient. This will ensure secure and accurate record-keeping while protecting patient privacy through the use of a secure data vault for Aadhaar-related information. This helps the government to monitor the dispensing of medicines to patients at treatment centres and ensure accountability. At present, there are about 10 lakh substance abuse patients undergoing treatment in the state of these seven lakh are in private facilities as around 180 private centers. A State Steering Committee headed by Chief Secretary KAP Sinha with Principal Secretary Rahul Tiwari as its nodal officer has already been formed to monitor and coordinate the de-addiction and rehabilitation programme. A few days back Punjab Vigilance Bureau had arrested Amit Bansal for committing illegal activities at the 22 de-addiction centres being by run him in different parts of the state where some tablets are used for the treatment of addict patients. During interrogations it has came to fore that these tablets were misused in the drug de-addiction centers run and owned by the accused Dr Amit Bansal and were sold in the market to other persons (addicts) which were not on the rolls of these rehabilitation centers, said an officer. Punjab Police bust cross-border drug cartel; arrest 12 including five from J&K

Clamour grows to confer Bharat Ratna, Panth Rattan titles on Former PM Manmohan Singh

CHANDIGARH: Leader of Opposition in Punjab legislative assembly and Senior Congress leader Partpal Singh Bajwa has suggested for a joint assembly resolution to seek Bharat Ratna for former PM Dr Manmohan Singh. He expressed it in a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan. Bajwa also wrote to other prominent leaders, including Manpreet Singh Ayali of SAD, Ashwani Sharma of BJP and Nachhatar Pal of BSP that a joint resolution in the assembly would recognize Manmohan Singhs unparalleled contributions to the nation and his deep-rooted connection to Punjab. Bajwas letter highlighted former PMs transformative role as the architect of Indias economic liberalization in 1991. The move not only revived the Indian economy but also positioned the country as a global economic powerhouse. He consistently prioritised inclusive growth, economic stability, and social justice impacting millions across India. Manmohan Singh is a proud son of Punjab and his journey is an inspiration to all, Bajwa stated. Born in Punjab, his life exemplifies resilience, humility, and selfless service. He has not only brought pride to our state but also addressed critical issues in agriculture, rural development, and education, leaving a lasting impact on Punjab and the nation as a whole, he also stated. Bajwa has also proposed the formation of an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and advocate for the recognition. He remarked that Singhs calm demeanour, intellectual acumen, and bipartisan approach made him a unifying force in Indian politics. Honouring him with the Bharat Ratna would inspire future generations and acknowledge his exceptional contributions to Indias growth and global stature, he said. Punjab Congress President and Member of Parliament Amarinder Singh Raja Warring appealed to Akal Takht (Highest Temporal Seat of Sikhs) Jathedar (High priest) Giani Raghbir Singh to confer the prestigious Panth Rattan title to former PM in recognition of his contributions to the nation and the Sikh community. Confer Bharat Ratna on Singh: Telangana to Centre Warring wrote a letter to Raghbir Singh which read, Manmohan Singh not only made exceptional contributions to the economic growth of India but also upheld the values of simplicity and righteousness, embodying the true spirit of Sikhism. During his tenure as the prime minister, Singh implemented a landmark agricultural loan waiver of Rs 60,000 crore. The waiver provided essential relief to farmers in Punjab. The agricultural community which holds a central place in Sikh heritage, greatly benefited from it. Warring also underscored Singhs significant role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots aftermath. He pointed out that the ex-PM had publicly apologised in the Parliament for the tragic events and added that Singhs commitment to the development of Punjab, especially the rural areas. Manmohan Singh government allocated substantial funds for improving rural infrastructure and living conditions across the state, he said. Former chairperson of the National Commission for Minorities, Tarlochan Singh wrote a letter to Gursharan Kaur, wife of late PM Manmohan Singh. In the letter, Singh suggested setting up a school of economics or school of administration in Delhi in honour of Manmohan Singh. A permanent exhibition on the life and works of Dr Sahib can be part of it too, he wrote to Kaur. Tarlochan Singh emphasised that traditionally, Sikhs do not build memorials or samadhis (mausoleums) for individuals regardless of their stature or contributions. There is great confusion about the use of the word 'memorial' which I think is improper. In the entire Rajghat area, there are only one-foot high platforms for each of the President and Prime Ministers who were cremated there. No structure of any kind has been put up. You are aware that in Sikh religion even samadhi is not allowed. The Sikh religious leaders have not accepted even the one of Giani Zail Singh, the letter added. Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will hold an Akhand Path and Ardas at the Golden Temple in Amritsar in memory of Manmohan Singh. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal shared the announcement on social media, stating that the ceremony will pray for peace to the departed soul. SAD acknowledges values and respects the extraordinary services which the late prime minister rendered to the nation and the pride he has brought to the Sikh quom (community) all over the world, wrote Sukhbir on X. Dr Sahib (Manmohan Singh) and my late father Parkash Singh Badal shared a special emotional bond and a vision for peace, communal harmony and development, he added. SAD also plans to request the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to install Singhs portrait in the Sikh Museum at the Golden Temple complex. Dr Manmohan Singhs father went to jail during the Morcha for the establishment of SGPC. He himself was a member of the All India Sikh Students Federation, Badal said. Recalling the late Singhs commitment to Sikh institutions, Badal said Singh had even opposed the Congress-led attempt to form a separate gurdwara committee in Haryana. When the Congress sought to split SGPC, I accompanied Badal (My Father) to request Dr Sahib to intervene. His response was unforgettable: I understand the importance of SGPC as my father had gone to jail for its formation, he also recalled. On Friday, Badals wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Friday personally conveyed the partys humble wish and decision in this regard to Gursharan Kaur. Memorial for Manmohan Singh is a requiem for a lost dream

'My life not as important as yours': Dallewal tells farmers at Khanauri Mahapanchayat

CHANDIGARH: Addressing the Kisan Mahapanchayat at the Khanauri border (Punjab-Haryana border), farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Saturday said that he is more concerned about the lives of his fellow farmers who are eeling under distress due to the challenges in the sector. My life is not as important as the lives of lakhs of Indian farmers, who are reeling under distress. Already over seven lakh farmers have died by suicide owing to the distress in the farming sector, Dallewal said. Addressing a massive gathering of farmers , Dallewal on the 40th day of his fast-unto-death, urged them to ensure representation from every village at the Khanauri border, where farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at since February 13 last year, after their march to Delhi was stopped by Haryana Police. Speaking of his fast, a fragile Dallewal said that the police made several attempts to take him to the hospital, but they were foiled by the volunteers. Thanking the protesting farmers for their steadfast support, Dallewal urged them to remain united in the struggle. The 70-year old leader's words resonated with the audience, drawing loud cheers and renewed pledges of commitment to the movement. There was a massive turn up of crowd at the Mahapanchayat to listen to Dallewal as hours before he underwent an ECG test and his report was stated to be normal. He thanked the people for turning up in large numbers. Meanwhile, doctors attending Dallewal advised that he should not speak much as it could deteriorate his health. According to sources, bringing him on the stage amid the cold wave was a challenge as his blood pressure was fluctuating. A makeshift cubical was built on the stage from where Dallewal addressed the gathering. The venue of the mahapanchayat was spread over a four-kilometer stretch along the highway in Khanauri, which is otherwise known as truck scrap yard of Punjab which was transformed into a bustling tent city. With a Supreme Court order directing the Punjab government to hospitalise Dallewal immediately, the farmers, in a stunning show of solidarity, fortified the area at Khanauri with over 100 trailers parked next to each other and some even welded together. There was a massive turn up of crowd at the Mahapanchayat to listen to Dallewal as hours before he underwent an ECG test and his report was stated to be normal. Besides, some 700 farmers also give thikri pehra (night vigil) and have set up three checkpoints to monitor and control access to the area. Anti-fog torches were given to volunteers to keep an eye around the pandal where Dallewal was fasting. Meanwhile, three women activists of farmer organisation, BKU Ekta Ugrahan, were killed and 36 others sustained injuries when the bus they were travelling to SKM Mahapanchayat in Tohana in Haryana met with an accident at Barnala in Punjab. Dallewal also expressed condolences for the farmers who died in the accident. The three deceased women were identified as Sarbjit Kaur (55), Balbir Kaur (67) and Jabir Kaur, all residents of Kotha Guru village in Bathinda. The injured were rushed to Civil Hospital at Barnala, for treatment, from where about a dozen injured persons were discharged after giving treatment. More than 50 farmers were travelling on the bus. In another accident, five activists of BKU (Sidhupur) were injuried when their bus met with an accident near Barnala as farmers were going from Dallewala village to Khanauri to participate in the Kisan Mahapanchayat. Farmer leader Kaka Singh Kotda said that a parallel protest at Tohana in Haryana by the SKM would have no impact on their protest. After attending the kisan maha panchayat in Tohana, BKU national spokesperson Rakesh Tikai said that the next farmers' agitation will be on the KMP Expressway to block Delhi as a broad outline on this has been prepared for that. Besides a legally guaranteed MSP, the farmers have been demanding a farm loan waiver, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in the electricity tariff, withdrawal of police cases and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, reinstatement of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013 and compensation to the families of the farmers who died during a previous agitation in 2020-21. 'Why can't Centre say it will consider genuine grievances of farmers?' SC asks

NHAI seeks Punjab government's help to acquire land for stalled highway projects

CHANDIGARH: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is implementing 37 projects, spanning a total length of 1,344 kilometres in Punjab, with an estimated cost exceeding Rs 50,000 crore. However, it is yet to acquire possession of 103 kilometres of land required to complete 15 highway projects covering 604 kilometres in the state. The primary project facing delays is the flagship Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway, which has been stalled due to protests by farmers. Sources revealed that the NHAI has once again raised the issue with the state government. In a letter addressed to Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, the authority has requested directions to the relevant administrative and police officials to extend necessary support in securing possession of the remaining parcels of acquired land. This is crucial for executing work on the 15 stalled highway projects in Punjab and completing three stretches of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway. The multi-state expressway, spanning 669 kilometres, is a four-lane access-controlled corridor connecting Jasaur Kheri in Jhajjar district of Haryana with Katra in Jammu and Kashmir. Of this, a 295.51-kilometre stretch passes through Punjab. Possession of 102.73 kilometres of the total 604-kilometre length in the remaining 15 projects is to be handed over to the NHAI, for which administrative/police assistance is required, the letter states. The other projects facing delays include Beas-Dera Baba Nanak, Amritsar-Una, Amritsar Bypass, Abohar-Fazilka, Amritsar-Bathinda, Moga-Bajakhana, Ludhiana-Bathinda, Ludhiana-Ropar, and the Southern Ludhiana Bypass. Meanwhile, the construction of 22 highways, covering 740 kilometres, is progressing at full pace after acquiring the necessary land. Earlier, these projects had also faced delays due to difficulties in securing land possession. The NHAI has faced repeated hurdles in Punjab due to farmers protests and delays in land acquisition. Many projects had remained stalled for a long time before gaining momentum following Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkaris warning that these projects would be cancelled if the state government failed to hand over the required land. Following this, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the then Chief Secretary Anurag Verma, and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav intervened. They engaged with farmers through discussions and offered enhanced compensation for their land, successfully securing over 94 per cent of the acquired land for these projects. Sources added that several of these projects are divided into multiple packages, with work awarded to the same or different bidders. Earlier, three greenfield projectsSouthern Ludhiana Bypass, Ludhiana-Rupnagar highway, and Ludhiana-Bathinda highwaywere terminated. These were six-lane projects developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model. Subsequently, the NHAI decided to issue fresh tenders and re-award work for the terminated and stalled highway projects in Punjab.

Punjab: State-Wide Bandh by Farmers Against Centre on MSP Paralyses Life

New Delhi/Chandigarh: Life was badly hit across Punjab on Monday following a state-wide bandh call given by farmers who have been agitating against the Centre for a legal guarantee of a minimum support price for their crops. Rail and road traffic was crippled and commercial establishments remained shut in many parts of the state. The protesting farmers held dharnas on several roads as part of their bandh call, throwing commuter traffic out of gear. A shutdown call was given over a week ago by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha over the Centre not acting on the farmers demand for a legal guarantee for the MSP. As the indefinite hunger strike of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal entered its 35th day on Monday, the Supreme Court will on Tuesday examine the Punjab governments measures to provide treatment to the ailing farmer leader. A team of the Punjab government officials on December 29 had attempted to persuade the septuagenarian to take medical aid, but he declined it, fearing use of forces to oust him from the protest site. In a related development, the Supreme Court panel formed under the chairmanship of retired Justice Nawab Singh has invited the SKM for talks on January 3. It is learnt that the farmers outfit has accepted this invitation. The protesting farmers have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by the security forces. A jatha (group) of 101 farmers had attempted to march to Delhi on foot three times between December 6 and 14 but were stopped by security personnel from Haryana. Besides MSP, the farmers are also demanding a debt waiver, pension, no hike in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. On Monday, the farmers observed a sit-in at Dhareri Jattan toll plaza, which affected vehicular movement on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway. At Amritsar's Golden Gate, scores of farmers assembled near the city's entry point. Dharnas were also held in Bathinda's Rampura Phul. In Phagwara, farmers held a dharna near the Sugarmill crossing on NH-44, blocking the roads leading from Phagwara towards Nakodar, Hoshiarpur and Nawanshahr. They also staged a dharna at Behram toll plaza on Phagwara-Banga road. Grain markets also remained shut in several places. Public transport remained off roads at several places, while most private bus operators suspended services, abiding by the bandh call. The band's impact was also seen in some neighbouring areas of the state, including Ambala. Hundreds of daily commuters travelling from Ambala to Chandigarh, Mohali, Patiala and other nearby cities of Punjab were thrown off stride because of the shutdown. Buses took alternate routes to go from Ambala to Chandigarh as they had to cross a stretch of the national highway that passes through Punjab. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher told reporters in Amritsar that their strike received strong support from transporters, employee unions, traders bodies, and religious bodies. Mr Pandher also said that emergency and other essential services were allowed to operate. He said anyone travelling to the airport to catch a flight, anyone going to attend a job interview, or anyone needing to attend a wedding, were also allowed. All establishments remained shut. Punjabis have shown their unity today and they are extending full support, Mr Pandher claimed. The bandh is successful. Train services have been completely suspended and no train is entering Punjab, he said.

Punjab bandh: Farmers block roads at many places, traffic hit on Patiala-Chandigarh NH

CHANDIGARH: Farmers blocked roads at many places across the state on Monday as part of their Punjab bandh call, hamstringing the commuter traffic. A call for a shutdown was given last week by Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha over the Centre not accepting the demands of protesting farmers. The bandh will be observed from 7 am to 4 pm . Farmers observed a sit-in at Dhareri Jattan Toll Plaza which affected vehicular movement on the Patiala-Chandigarh National Highway. At Amritsar's Golden Gate, farmers started to assemble near the city's entry point while in Bathinda's Rampura Phul, they blocked roads. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Sunday said though there will be a complete bandh, emergency services will be allowed to operate. The bandh will be observed from 7 am to 4 pm. However, emergency services will remain operational. Anyone travelling to the airport to catch a flight or anyone going to attend a job interview, or anyone needs to attend a wedding... all these things have been kept out of our bandh call, he said. Meanwhile, 70-year-old farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal's hunger strike entered its 35th day on Monday. Dallewal has so far refused medical treatment. Hundreds of farmers have been protesting at the Punjab-Haryana border demanding a legal guarantee of a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. Dallewal had earlier said he would not break his fast until the government agreed to the farmers' demands. The apex court has given the Punjab government time till December 31 to persuade Dallewal to shift to a hospital, granting the state the liberty to seek logistical support from the Centre, if necessary. Farmers, under the banner of SKM (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13, after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. A jatha (group) of 101 farmers attempted to march to Delhi on foot three times between December 6 and 14 but were stopped by security personnel from Haryana. Besides the MSP, farmers are also demanding a debt waiver, pension, no hike in electricity tariffs, withdrawal of police cases, and justice for the victims of the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Delhi chalo: Haryana police fire teargas at farmers as they near barricades at Sambhu border

Viral Video: Bathinda factory workers caught making gajak with feet, sparks outrage

A viral video showed workers crushing Gajak with their feet in Bathinda. The factory was found to be unlicensed and unhygienic. Authorities seized 4.5 quintals of Gajak and sealed the premises. The owner faces legal action and could be fined. This incident highlights the need for stricter food safety regulations.

8 killed in bus mishap

BATHINDA, Dec 27: Eight people died and many were injured on Friday when a private bus crashed through a railing of a bridge here and plunged into a drain a few feet below, police said. The bus had over 45 passengers and it fell in Lasara drain at Jeewan Singhwala village, officials said. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The accident occurred when the bus was enroute to Bathinda from Talwandi Sabo. Locals rushed to the spot immediately [] The post 8 killed in bus mishap appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Punjab: Eight killed, many injured in Bathinda bus accident

Bathinda: Eight people died and many were injured on Friday, December 27, when a private bus crashed through the railing of a bridge here and plunged into a drain a few feet below, police said. The bus had over 45 passengers and it fell into Lasara drain at Jeewan Singhwala village, officials said. The accident Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Bus accident claims eight lives, leaves many injured in Punjab's Bathinda

BATHINDA: Eight people died and many were injured on Friday when a private bus crashed through a railing of a bridge here and plunged into a drain a few feet below, police said. The accident occurred when the bus was enroute to Bathinda from Talwandi Sabo. The bus had over 45 passengers and it fell in Lasara drain at Jeewan Singhwala village, officials said. Locals rushed to the spot immediately to help the passengers, they said. Eight people have died in the accident, the police said. #WATCH | In a bus accident, 8 people lost their lives in Punjab's Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Bathinda, Showkat Ahmad Parray says, 8 people have died unfortunately, including a 2-year-old girl - 5 of them were in Talwandi hospital, other three people lost their lives in the pic.twitter.com/VeHicDNkyf ANI (@ANI) December 27, 2024 Police and district administration also launched a rescue operation and took the injured to a hospital. A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also reached the spot to provide assistance, they added. The weather was inclement in the area, the officials said, while adding that exact cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained. Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Showkat Ahmad Parray, who reached the spot to supervise the rescue operation, said medical teams and ambulances were rushed to the spot.

8 dead, 26 injured as bus plunges into drain in Punjab's Bathinda

Eight people, including a 2-year-old girl, died and 26 others were injured when a bus plunged into a drain near Jiwan Singh Wala village in Bathinda district. The driver lost control of the speeding bus, possibly due to lightning. Locals and officials carried out a rescue operation and transported the injured to nearby hospitals.

8 Dead After Bus Falls Off Bridge Amid Heavy Rain In Punjab's Bathinda

Eight people were killed when a bus fell off a bridge amid heavy rain in Punjab's Bathinda on Friday. The bridge had no railings, which could have prevented the bus from falling into the nullah below.

Over 20 injured as bus plunges down few feet down from bridge in Punjab's Bathinda

The accident occurred when the bus was en rote Bhatinda from Talwandi Sabo. Locals rushed to the spot immediately to help the people get out of the bus

2 Killed, Over 20 Injured After Bus Falls Into Drain In Punjab's Bathinda

The accident took place when the bus, carrying 50 passengers fell into a drain in Jiwan Singh Wala village, while traveling from Sardulgarh to Bathinda

Over 20 injured as bus plunges few feet down from bridge in Punjab's Bathinda

Punjab: Voting for municipal polls underway

Chandigarh: Polling for election to five municipal corporations and 44 municipal councils and nagar panchayats are underway in Punjab, officials said on Saturday.The polling began at 7 am amid tight security arrangements and will continue till 4 pm, they added. #WATCH | Punjab | Voting underway in Bathinda for the Municipal Corporation Elections 2024 pic.twitter.com/wLaR4aPS2j ANI (@ANI) December 21, 2024 The votes will be counted at the polling stations itself after the completion of the polling, the officials said. The five municipal corporations where the elections are being held are Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Phagwara. More than 3,300 candidates are in the fray for the civic polls, the officials said, adding that a total of 3,809 polling booths have been set up. A total of 37.32 lakh voters, including 17.75 lakh females, are eligible to cast their votes in these elections. Electronic voting machines (EVMs) are being used for the polling. Adequate security arrangements have been made, the officials said. The civic polls will be a litmus test for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which would like its winning momentum to continue after securing victories in three of the four Assembly bypolls in November. These elections are important as they will reveal the popularity of the ruling party among urban voters. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann held roadshows and campaigned for the AAP candidates in the run-up to the elections. It will also be the first test for Aman Arora after he was appointed as the AAP's Punjab unit chief. Arora took part in poll campaigning and made several promises to the voters. The stakes are also high for the Congress, which had majority in the Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala municipal corporations. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are also contesting the municipal corporation polls.

Political leaders make beeline to meet farmer leader Dallewal as fast enters 21st day

CHANDIGARH: As 70-year-old farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal enters the 21st day of his hunger strike, medical experts recommend immediate hospitalization. Politicians from across party lines who are anti-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are flocking to visit him and enquire about his health to take emotional advantage from this issue. Among those who visited him today were Punjab Congress President and Member of Parliament Amarinder Raja Warring, AAP MP Malvinder Singh Kang, and several other political leaders. Additionally, Shiromani Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal raised the issue in Parliament. Congress Member of Parliament from Ludhiana who is also party's state unit chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring today visited Khanauri border and met Dallewal. Dalewal's condition is very sensitive right now as he has not eaten anything for 21 days, his condition is such that anything can happen any time. He is fighting not for himself but for the farmers and the public, if something happens to him then it will be a loss to the state so he should listen but he said that he is fighting for the people, said Warring. He added, I want to warn the central government that if something happens to him (Dalewal) then the people of the state and the farmers of the country will not stop as things can get out of hand. I am not threatening but giving advice. The Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should come here and talk to the farmers, said Warring. After meeting Dallewal, Aam Aadmi Party MP from Anandpur Sahib, Malvinder Singh Kang said, On one side, the central government is holding a debate on the 75th anniversary of the constitution in the ongoing parliament session, on the other hand, it is the 21st day of hunger strike by farmer leader Dallewal. Nothing can be more unfortunate than farmers not being allowed to go to the national capital. I met him (Dallewal) and inquired about his health. The Punjab government is trying to ensure that the centre opens doors for talks with farmers, he said. He pointed out that although Ravneet Singh Bittu and Shivraj Chauhan have made statements, the central government has not sent any official communication regarding a meeting with the farmers, nor has any date, time, or venue been set for such talks. All these statements are just in the air and the claims of the government but on ground to process has been initiated for any talks. All MPs of the opposition have raised this issue in the ongoing session of the parliament and demanded a discussion on this matter, but till date no positive response from the government, said Kang. While raising the issue of Dallewal in Parliament today, senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal appealed to the Union government to accept the farmers' demands, including making Minimum Support Price (MSP) a legal guarantee, and to save his life. She said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had agreed to accept all the farmer demands while repealing the three agriculture laws four years back. A promise was made to constitute a committee which would consider all the demands of the farmers but despite the martyrdom of 700 farmers during the Kisan Andolan these demands have still not been accepted. Harsimrat said it was unfortunate that despite directions by the Supreme Court to both the State and Centre to persuade Dallewal to end his fast, the centre had deputed a low-level official who had nothing to offer and simply asserted he had come to hear the views of the farmers. The AAP government has completely failed to present the enormity of the situation to the union government, she added. Aam Aadmi Party MP from Sangrur, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, raised the farmers' issue in Parliament and questioned the Central Government about the promise made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to double farmers' income by 2022. He said the BJP government owes an explanation to the country on this matter. He said Dallewal is not fighting for personal gain but for the welfare of the farmers across the nation and has been on hunger strike for 21 days. We are concerned about his health, and the Central Government should also take this matter seriously, he said. Hayer pointed out that the Central Government has told farmers they cannot bring tractors and trolleys, and they complied. The government said they could not come in large numbers, so they planned for only 100 farmers to go to Delhi, yet the government still refuses to let them through. When the farmers are willing to adhere to all government conditions, the government should also respect their demands, he said. Congress Member of Parliament from Sirsa in Haryana, Kumari Selja urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate action to address the farmers' demands. She said that the government has turned the Punjab and Haryana borders into something akin to the India-Pakistan border and instead of addressing the farmers' issues, they are being met with water cannons and tear gas shells. On the other hand in the farmers in neighbouring Haryana took out a tractor march in Amabla. Meanwhile, yesterday Leader of the Opposition and senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, Akali Dal leader Surjit Singh Rakhra and others also met Dallewal. While the doctors checking on Dallewal, have recommended immediate hospitalisation due to his deteriorating health. However, he has refused to receive any medical treatment. Sharing details about Dallewal's health, Dr Avtar Singh said, `` As per test reports, the creatinine level is increasing and GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is dropping. Ketones are also on a higher side which means his condition is quite bad. Dallewal has not eaten anything. He is just drinking water, Ketone in urine indicates the body is using fat for energy instead of glucose. Creatinine is a waste product created when muscle cells break down during activity. Kidneys remove creatinine from the blood and put it in urine. But when kidneys do not work properly, creatinine builds up in the blood. The glomerular filtration rate shows how well the kidneys are filtering. Dr Singh said,`` Dallewal has turned so weak that he could not stand on his own and required support. A few days ago, his blood pressure was recorded in the range of 80/50 which is not a good sign. There is a possibility of cardiac arrest, he said. Doctors have installed medical equipment at the protest site to monitor the vitals of Dallewal. A few days ago, Dr Karan Jatwani, an oncologist, visited the Khanauri border to examine Dallewal. Farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar, who has been associated with Dallewal for a long time, said he had been on hunger strikes five times. But this time, Dallewal's fast has stretched longer than the 13-day hunger strike by anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare in 2011. He had gone on fast in support of farmers' issues in March 2018, January 2019 and 2021, November 2022 and June 2023. He stated that Dallewal would end his hunger strike only if the farmers' demands are accepted, adding, Dallewal is mentally prepared to sacrifice his life if the Centre refuses to accept the farmers' demands. Jagjit Singh Dallewal, the president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur), hails from Dallewal village in Faridkot. Before sitting on the indefinite hunger strike, he had transferred his property to his son, daughter-in-law and grandson. His wife passed away in January this year. He later formed the SKM (Non-political) by involving like-minded farmer leaders. Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces.

Temperatures drop in Delhi, Punjab; slight respite from cold for Kashmir

NEW DELHI: Cold weather conditions persisted in parts of north and west India on Sunday with the mercury dropping several notches in Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan. Kashmir and the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh received some respite from the intense cold as minimum temperatures rose. The respite for Kashmir is likely to be short-lived as the meteorological department has predicted a cold wave in parts of the valley over the next three days. Delhi's minimum temperature dropped to 4.9 degrees Celsius, 3.1 notches below normal, but cold wave conditions did not prevail, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The mercury settled at a low of 8 degrees Celsius in the city on Saturday. The capital recorded a maximum temperature of 23.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 0.2 notches below normal, the IMD said. The weather department has forecast moderate fog in Delhi on Monday. The minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to settle at 5 degrees Celsius and 23 degrees Celsius respectively. Punjab and Haryana also remained in the grip of cold weather conditions with Faridkot recording the lowest temperature in the region at 1 degree Celsius, according to the meteorological department. Punjab's Gurdaspur and Bathinda recorded a minimum temperature of 2 degrees Celsius and 4.6 degrees Celsius respectively at night, it said. The mercury settled at a low of 3.5 degrees Celsius in Pathankot, 3.9 degrees Celsius in Amritsar, 6.8 degrees Celsius in Ludhiana and 3.8 degrees Celsius in Patiala. In Haryana, Hisar shivered at 1.7 degrees Celsius and Narnaul recorded a minimum temperature of 3 degrees Celsius. Bhiwani recorded a low of 4 degrees Celsius, Gurugram 5.6 degrees Celsius, Rohtak 5.2 degrees Celsius and Ambala 5.7 degrees Celsius. The weather office said that Chandigarh, the common capital of Punjab and Haryana, recorded a minimum temperature of 4.8 degrees Celsius. Temperatures rose by three to five notches in the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh while cold wave conditions gripped the lower hills as the weather remained dry. Tabo was the coldest place in the state at night with a low of minus 10.6 degrees Celsius and Shimla was the warmest at 12.2 degrees Celsius, 6.5 notches above normal. The adjoining resorts of Kufri and Narkanda recorded a low of 9.8 degrees Celsius and 6.4 degrees Celsius respectively. In the lower hills, Una recorded a minimum temperature of 0.2 degrees Celsius and Sundernagar 0.6 degrees Celsius. The local meteorological office has issued a 'yellow' warning for cold wave at isolated places in the lower hills and plains till Thursday and predicted dry weather in the state over the next seven days. Cold wave conditions will prevail in Una, Hamirpur, Bilaspur and parts of Kangra districts, the weather office said. There was no significant change in maximum temperatures in Himachal Pradesh. Solan was the hottest during the day at 24.7 degrees Celsius followed by Shimla at 19 degrees Celsius, five notches above normal. Kashmir saw a slight respite from intense cold wave conditions as minimum temperatures rose across the valley, though they remained below the freezing point. The summer capital of Srinagar recorded a low of minus 3.4 degrees Celsius, an improvement from minus 4.6 degrees Celsius the previous night, the meteorological department said. Gulmarg, a tourist destination popular for skiing, registered a minimum temperature of 3.8 degrees Celsius -- a rise of nearly four notches from the night before. Pahalgam, the base camp for the Amarnath Yatra, logged a low of minus 4.8 degrees Celsius, three notches higher than the previous night. Konibal, a hamlet on the outskirts of Pampore town, was the coldest place in the valley with the mercury settling at a low of minus 5.2 degrees Celsius. The minimum temperature was minus 4 degrees Celsius in Qazigund, 3.7 degrees Celsius in Kupwara and 2.8 degrees Celsius in Kokernag. According to the meteorological office, the weather in the valley is likely to remain mainly dry till December 21. Minimum temperatures are predicted to drop and a cold wave is likely over many stations during the next three days, the weather office said. In Rajasthan, cold wave conditions prevailed in most parts and Fatehpur recorded sub-zero temperatures for the third consecutive day on Sunday. According to the meteorological department, the minimum temperature in Fatehpur settled at minus 1.2 degrees Celsius. Churu recorded a minimum temperature of 1.6 degrees Celsius; Bhilwara 2.2 degrees Celsius; Sangaria, Pilani and Sirohi 2.6 degrees Celsius; Chittorgarh 3.2 degrees Celsius and Alwar 4 degrees Celsius. The mercury settled below 10 degrees Celsius at several other places in the state.

After Bishnoi Gang's Lady Don 'Madam Maya', Aide 'Joker' Arrested In Jaipur

Days after Lawrence Bishnoi gang member and lady don 'Madam Maya' was arrested, the Jaipur police also caught her aide on Tuesday. Rajendra, known as 'Joker', was taken into custody from Punjab's Bathinda jail.

BJP makes inroads into Punjabs rural belt in membership drive

CHANDIGARH: For the first time, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab has managed to make some inroads into the rural areas of the state. In its ongoing membership drive, the party has gained members from the hinterlands. However, the overall response to the membership drive has been mixed, with the BJP enrolling 6.68 lakh members in Punjab and Chandigarh (Union Territory) so far. The nationwide membership drive began on September 2, but in Punjab, it has been extended until mid-December. The Punjab unit of the BJP had set an ambitious target of enrolling 30 lakh members. In the previous membership drive, the party enrolled over 24 lakh primary members in the state, compared to 3.50 lakh members in 2014. According to party data, 6,68,354 members have been enrolled in Punjab and Chandigarh, of which 5,02,160 have completed their registration forms3,88,590 in Punjab and 1,13,570 in Chandigarh. Additionally, approximately 1.50 lakh forms, mostly from rural areas, have been physically filled out and sent to the party office. These forms are yet to be updated in the system, sources revealed. Among the 117 assembly constituencies in the state, notable rural enrolment numbers include Jalalabad (1,738), Gidderbaha (5,548), Balluana (2,001), Jaito (1,186), Bathinda (Rural) (5,213), Sardulgarh (2,442), Lehra (1,528), Patiala (Rural) (4,473), and Sanour (2,621). Conversely, some rural constituencies like Banga (371), Chabbewal (796), Sham Chaurasi (400), Urmar (481), and Bholath (604) showed lower engagement. In urban constituencies, the drive saw stronger participation, including Kharar (5,342), SAS Nagar (15,150), Khanna (1,518), Ludhiana (East) (15,368), Ludhiana (Central) (11,133), Jalandhar (Cantonment) (4,190), Jalandhar (North) (11,906), Jalandhar (Central) (12,296), Jalandhar (West) (3,793), Amritsar (North) (4,723), Amritsar (West) (4,639), Amritsar (Central) (6,128), Sujanpur (6,264), Pathankot (5,302), and Gurdaspur (3,727). A senior party leader commented on the response, saying, It is a mixed responsegood in some places and okay in others. Last time, during the membership drive, the party was in power at both the Centre and the state, which had an impact. Now, being in opposition in Punjab affects participation. But, for the first time, the membership has been conducted scientifically, with missed calls followed by detailed forms and photographs. This ensures we have authentic data and genuine members. The leader added that the BJP previously contested only 23 assembly seats, primarily in urban areas, and had little to no cadre in rural regions. With the party now expanding its base, members are being enrolled in villages for the first time, and a proper cadre is expected to develop soon. However, sources within the party attributed the lukewarm response to internal issues, such as a lack of effort from state leaders. This is reportedly due to differences between traditional party leaders and those who switched from the Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal just before the 2022 assembly elections and the recent Lok Sabha polls. Another senior leader noted, For the last few months, the state unit president, Sunil Jakhar, has not attended meetings or campaigned in the panchayat polls and assembly by-elections, as he had submitted his resignation, which has yet to be accepted. This has created uncertainty. Many other state leaders are also keeping a low profile. As a result, the membership drive has been affected, and now the focus is shifting to the upcoming elections in four municipalities. The same leader further remarked, There is total confusion within the party on several issues, including the membership drive. While the veteran leaders feel sidelined due to the prominence given to leaders from other parties, those who recently joined are still adapting to the partys organisational culture. Despite its inability to secure a single seat in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the BJP witnessed a significant increase in its vote share, rising to 19.56%. This marked the first time since 1996 that the BJP contested solo in Punjab.

Punjab govt in fix as Army seeks 300 units of free power per month for its personnel

CHANDIGARH: Citing the free power given by the Delhi government to service personnel posted there, the Indian Army has approached the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab and requested that 300 units of free power per month be given to its personnel posted in the state. This has left the cash-strapped government in a Catch-22 situation as it already has to pay a Rs 9,076 crore power subsidy bill to the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). Sources said the South Western Command of the Indian Army has written a letter to the state government saying that though the latter has been giving 300 units of free power to domestic consumers since July 2022, this has not been extended to service personnel and defence civilians residing in accommodations for married people in cantonments and military stations in Punjab. While the demand has been made only by the South Western Command, which has its formations located in Bathinda and a few other places in Malwa region of the state, if the state government extends this free power facility to army personnel, it will have to do so for army cantonments and formations at Jalandhar, Ferozepur, Patiala, Amritsar and Pathankot too. It is learnt that over one lakh troops are presently stationed across the state. All officers and junior commissioned officers (JCO) are authorised for family accommodation as are 35 per cent of jawans. In addition, a large number of civilian employees of the Defence Ministry posted at these places are also entitled for accommodation. A senior officer on condition of anonymity said the request by the army is now being discussed at the top level in the state government as it has put them in a fix. Free power subsidy cannot be given to the residents in cantonments and military stations as these stations get bulk power supply. The subsidy is given to individual domestic consumers, he argued. He further said that the bulk supply is given to BSF, Indian Railways, CPWD and other central government entities besides big industry. If any policy decision has to be taken, it will taken at the top level and will be for all bulk consumers, he said. The free electricity scheme of 300 units has led to a surge in domestic connections, raising consumption and projected subsidy costs, thus risking PSPCL's financial stability. The number of domestic electricity connections has increased by 80,000 after this scheme was launched in 2022. Before the launch of this scheme, the corporation had approved 5.5 lakh new domestic electricity connections between 2020 and 2022 but the number rose to 6.27 lakh between 2022 and 2024. The average annual rise in new connections used to be around 2.2 lakh, but the introduction of the free electricity scheme saw 3.65 lakh new connections in 2022-23, followed by 2.63 lakh in 2023-24. It is estimated that nearly one lakh of these new connections are split connections apparently created to take advantage of the 300-unit subsidy, said sources. When this scheme was launched, 63 lakh out of 74.6 lakh consumers were using less than 300 units of electricity per month. The number of domestic consumers with zero bills has since surged, climbing from 67.53 per cent in August 2022 to 89 per cent by the end of the 2022-23 financial year. The PSPCL data shows that domestic power usage reached 17,510 million units in 2022-23. The state government is hard pressed to pay the power subsidy to PSPCL due to its own poor fiscal health. Till November 13, the government could only pay Rs 4,508.2 crore to PSPCL out of the total subsidy due to be paid by it for free domestic power. Of the total subsidy bill of Rs 20,477 crore, Rs 11,401.26 crore has been paid. In this month, besides the subsidy of Rs 200 crore paid to the corporation, the state government has given them a grant-in-aid of Rs 2,387 crore. It is estimated that the total domestic power subsidy bill of the state government is already expected to be Rs 8,785 crore, an increase of Rs 1,550 crore over the last financial year.

Punjab reports season's highest stubble burning cases as Haryana AQI touches 'severe' levels

CHANDIGARH: The highest number of stubble burning cases in this season, at 1,251 incidents, were reported in Punjab on Monday increasing the total number of reported cases this year to 9.655, according to data by the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PCCB). The Air Quality Index (AQI) level in the state was in the 'Poor category, while in Haryana five towns were in the 'Severe category and six places in the 'Very Poor category. Of the total 1,251 incidents reported on Monday, 247 cases were in Muktsar district followed by 149 in Moga, 130 incidents of stubble-burning were in Ferozepur, 129 in Bathinda, 94 in Fazilka, 88 in Faridkot, 77 in Tarn Taran and 73 in Sangrur. Ludhiana had 52 cases, Barnala 42 incidents, 40 in Mansa and Amritsar had 36 reported cases and Marelkotla had 34. Meanwhile on Sunday, 404 stubble burning cases were reported across the state, of which 74 new cases were from Ferozepur and 70 in Bathinda. An environmental compensation of Rs 1.35 crore had been imposed for 3,943 cases till November 15. As per the central pollution control board, the AQI levels of both Amritsar and Jalandhar around 7.30 pm were 241 in the 'Poor' category. Khanna was 143 in the 'Moderate' category and Ludhiana, Patiala and Rupnagar all three were at 262 and Mandi Gobindgarh was 213 - all in the 'Poor' category. While the AQI level of Chandigarh was 270 at the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) in Sector 22, the AQI at around 7.30 pm on Monday was at 250 and that at CAAQMS Sector 53 was recorded at 240 and at the Sector 25 station it was 270. Ambala residents report breathing issues due to fog, pollution. In Haryana the Air Quality Index at Gurugram was 494, Dharuhera was 447, Bahadurgarh was 443, Faridabad was 432 and Bhiwani 405, all in the 'Severe category. While Jind was 387, Fatehabad was 383, Kaithal was 354, Karnal was 348, Palwal was 327, Narnaul was 320 - in the 'Very Poor category. Kurukshetra's AQI was 298, Mandikhera was at 293, Hisar at 281, Charkhi Dadri at 226 - all in the 'Poor' category. Only two places - Ambala and Panchkula - were in the 'Moderate category. In response to worsening air pollution, the Nuh Administration has declared holidays for schools up to class 5 from November 18 to November 22, according to an official order. As per the order from the office of the District Elementary Education Officer of Nuh, the holiday has been declared in all government, semi-government, and private schools in the Nuh district of Haryana. Sources pointed out that the PPCB is under scrutiny and facing allegations of under-reporting of farm fire incidents. The scientists monitoring the farm fires claimed that many farmers were setting paddy residue on fire post afternoon, dodging the satellite. While the pollution control board claimed have brought down farm fires by 70 per cent than previous years, farmers could be seen evading the satellite by setting the paddy residue on fire post 3 pm.

Mann chopper fails to take off, 10 flights from Delhi diverted

CHANDIGARH: Airports in Delhi and Chandigarh on Wednesday bore the brunt of heavy smog: 10 flights were diverted from the national capital, including six to Jaipur and one to Lucknow. And in Punjab, where a record 7,112 stubble burning cases have been reported, CM Bhagwant Manns flight could not take off from Chandigarh for Bathinda, forcing him to travel by road. On Tuesday, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar was unable to land at Ludhiana due to poor visibility. The plane carrying Dhankhar was diverted to Amritsar International Airport, where Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney and Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar rushed to receive the Vice-President. After landing at Amritsar, the plane got refueled and took off to Indore. Flights between Delhi and Amritsar on Wednesday morning were delayed by over two hours due to very low visibility amid hazardous AQI in both the cities. Low visibility due to smog has also caused inconvenience to commuters. The air quality in Chandigarh remained in the very poor category with experts suggesting people curtail outdoor activity and keep a check on biomass burning. The AQI at the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana was 372, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

VVIPs grounded, flights delayed as smog, hazardous air quality disrupt travel in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: Amid hazardous air quality and heavy smog, VVIPs are also affected. With 7,112 stubble-burning cases reported, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann couldn't fly from Chandigarh to Bathinda on Wednesday due to poor visibility and had to travel by road. Similarly, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar couldn't land in Ludhiana on Tuesday for the same reason. Sources said that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had to go to Gidderbaha to address an election rally from Chandigarh, after attending a function of Vision Punjab 2047 at the Panjab University but the Air Traffic Control (ATC) did not permit his helicopter to take off due to `Poor Visibility as there was too much of smog so the visibility was almost nil thus Mann had to go by road. While Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar was unable to attend two events in Ludhiana as his aircraft could not land due to poor visibility at the Halwara airbase on Tuesday. Dhankhar was set to attend two functions, one at Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) and the other at Sat Paul Mittal School in Dugri including an international conference on climate change. The plane of Dhankhar was diverted to Amritsar International Airport, immediately Amritsar Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney and Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar rushed to the airport to receive the Vice President. After landing at Amritsar the plane got refueled and then took off to Indore in Madhya Pradesh. While addressing the gathering at PAU Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria had said Dhankhars plane was diverted to Amritsar but there too the situation wasnt better, forcing him to return. Flights between Delhi and Amritsar on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings were delayed by over two hours due to very low visibility amid hazardous AQI in both cities. Recently a SpiceJet flight scheduled to depart at 8:40 am from Amritsar to Dubai was diverted to Delhi due to poor visibility. Low visibility due to smog has also caused inconvenience to commuters with the visibility declining. The air quality index (AQI) of Punjab, which was already `poor has stayed that way with the bursting of crackers and more farm fires in the past ten days across the state.

Air quality 'poor' in large parts of Punjab, Haryana; Chandigarh 'very poor'

CHANDIGARH: The air quality in several parts of Punjab and Haryana was recorded in the 'poor' category on Saturday, while it was worst in the joint capital city of Chandigarh with an AQI of 322 which falls in the 'very poor' band. According to the Central Pollution Control Board's Sameer App, which provides hourly updates, Haryana's Bahadugarh recorded an Air Quality Index of 314 -- also in the 'very poor' category at 9 am. Among other places in Haryana, the AQI at Sonipat was 290, Hisar (285), Bhiwani (277), Jind (275), Charkhi Dadri (258), Gurugram (259), Faridabad (220), Yamunanagar (213), Rohtak (238), Kurukshetra (202), Kaithal (205), Fatehabad (198), Ambala (160), Sirsa (181), and Karnal (144). In Punjab, the AQI was registered at 264 in Mandi Gobindgarh, 258 in Amritsar, 257 in Rupnagar, 248 in Jalandhar, 197 in Ludhiana, 183 in Bathinda, 176 in Khanna, and 133 in Patiala. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', 401 and 450 'severe' and above 450 'severe plus'. The rise in air pollution levels in the two states and Delhi during this time of year is often blamed on farm fires. Punjab reported 730 farm fire incidents on Friday, taking the total count to 6,029 in the state this season. As the window for the Rabi crop -- wheat -- is very short after paddy harvest, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue for sowing of the next crop.

Air quality remains 'very poor' in several parts of Haryana, Punjab

CHANDIGARH: The air quality index at several places in Punjab and Haryanawas recorded in the 'very poor' and 'poor' categories on Sunday. According to Sameer app that provides hourly updates of the national AQI published by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in Punjab's Amritsar was recorded at 301,183 in Chandigarh, 119 in Bathinda, 214 in Jalandhar, 171 in Khanna, 153 in Ludhiana, 207 in Patiala, 184 in Mandi Gobindgarh and 141 in Rupnagar. Among several places in Haryana, the AQI was recorded at 293 in Bhiwani, 280 in Charkhi Dadri, 238 in Faridabad, 202 in Fatehabad, 266 in Gurugram, 266 in Hisar, 253 in Jind, 258 in Rohtak, 296 in Sonipat, 251 in Sirsa, 238 in Kurukshetra, 187 in Panipat, 142 in Yamunanagar and 112 in Ambala, the data showed. Spike in stubble burning on Diwali worsens Punjabs air quality The air quality index in Haryana's Bahadurgarh and Karnal were the worst hit with 313 and 316 respectively. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 satisfactory, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor, 401 to 450 severe, and above 450 classified as 'severe plus.' Notably, Punjab recorded 379 farm fires on Saturday.

Spike in stubble burning on Diwali worsens Punjabs air quality

CHANDIGARH: The biggest spike in stubble burning cases this season in Punjab occurred on Diwali, with 484 farm fire incidents reported. So far, a total of 2,950 crop residue burning cases have been reported across the state, and the number is expected to rise in the coming days. The Air Quality Index (AQI) level this morning in Punjab and Haryana fell into the 'Very Poor' and 'Poor' categories, while the Union Territory of Chandigarh recorded 'Very Poor' air quality. Meanwhile, Pakistan Punjabs Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has described smog as a common enemy and called for joint efforts between the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. She stressed that the issue is not political but a humanitarian one. According to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), Sangrur topped the state with 89 stubble burning incidents, followed by Ferozepur with 65, Mansa with 40, Fatehgarh Sahib with 36, and 35 each reported in Tarn Taran and Kapurthala. In Patiala, 33 incidents occurred, followed by 29 in Amritsar, 28 in Bathinda, 20 in Gurdaspur, and 14 each in Moga and Barnala. Additionally, Ludhiana recorded 11 cases, Faridkot had 10, and seven cases were reported from Jalandhar and Hoshiarpur. Muktsar saw four cases, SAS Nagar three, and one case each was recorded in Fazilka and Malerkotla. Since October, there has been a noticeable uptick in stubble-burning incidents. On October 12, 177 cases were reported, followed by 163 on October 13, 173 on October 15, and 219 on October 29. Sources pointed out that the number of crop residue burning cases is expected to increase further in the coming days, as farmers prepare to clear their fields for wheat sowing during the November 1-15 window. Cracker ban goes up in smoke as Delhi records its most polluted Diwali in three years The deteriorating air quality in major cities across Punjab remains a concern. This morning, Amritsar recorded an AQI of 335 ('Very Poor'), Mandi Gobindgarh 326 ('Very Poor'), and Khanna 306 ('Very Poor'). In other cities, the AQI fell into the 'Poor' category: Patiala registered 255, Ludhiana 206, and Jalandhar 266. Bathinda was the only city with 'Moderate' air quality at 110. In Chandigarh, the AQI was marked as 'Very Poor' at 320. Haryanas air quality was also grim, with four cities recording 'Very Poor' AQI levels this morning: Gurugram at 376, Ambala at 336, Jind at 326, and Kurukshetra at 310. Twelve cities had AQI levels in the 'Poor' range, including Bahadurgarh at 284, Faridabad at 278, Bhiwani at 275, Kaithal at 260, and Daruhera at 257. Panchkula registered 249, Manesar 247, Hisar 246, Karnal 243, Ballabgarh 228, Fatehabad 233, and Charkhi Dadri 210. Only Palwal (129) and Mandikhera (136) recorded 'Moderate' air quality. Addressing a Diwali event in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasised the need for cooperation between the Punjab regions of India and Pakistan. She stated, Winds do not recognise boundaries; we must engage in diplomacy with the government of Indian Punjab, as smog has become a significant concern in Punjab, especially Lahore. I am thinking of writing to the CM of Indian Punjab for a joint war against smog and ask for a coordinated response to measures being implemented to prevent smog and environmental degradation. Until both Punjabs come together, we will not be able to tackle the smog issue.

Punjab sees 50% dip in post-harvest farm fires, yet no effect on Delhi's air quality

CHANDIGARH: Farm fires in Punjab, often blamed for the rise in Delhi's air pollution, have gone down by 50 per cent since last year in the post-harvest period, with little effect on the air quality in the national capital. From September 15 to October 27, Punjab has seen 1,995 farm fire cases as compared to 4,059 in the corresponding period last year, as per data from the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre. The farm fire incidents in the period have gone down by 75 per cent since 2022. The state recorded 8,147 farm fires in 2022 in this period. After paddy harvesting in October and November, stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana and states adjacent to Delhi are said to contribute to pollution in Delhi. Paddy procurement is underway in Punjab. On Sunday, Punjab saw 138 farm fires - Ferozepur with highest such incidents, followed by Sangrur and Fatehgarh Sahib, according to data. On the same day in 2022 and 2023, the state had seen 1,111 and 766 farm fires, respectively. The drop in farm fire cases, however, has not had a significant effect on air pollution in Delhi, where air quality was very poor with an AQI reading of 355. As the window for Rabi crops like wheat is very short after paddy harvest, some farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue for sowing the next crop. With over 31 lakh hectares of paddy area, Punjab produces around 180-200 lakh tonnes of paddy straw every year. Punjab recorded 36,663 farm fires in 2023, registering a 26 per cent drop in such incidents from the year before. The state recorded 49,922 fire events in 2022, 71,304 in 2021, 76,590 in 2020, 55,210 in 2019 and 50,590 in 2018 with many districts, including Sangrur, Mansa, Bathinda and Amritsar, witnessing a large number of stubble-burning incidents.

NIA arrests Khalistani terrorists key aide from Delhi airport

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested a close associate of Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh Dala alias Arsh Dala from the Delhi airport. Baljeet Singh alias Baljeet Maur of Bathinda, Punjab, was taken into custody by the NIA on his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport from the UAE, according to Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

NIA arrests key aide of Khalistan Tiger Force chief Arsh Dala in terror case

NEW DELHI : In a continued crackdown on the Khalistani terror network in India, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday arrested a close associate of designated terrorist Arshdeep Singh Dala, alias Arsh Dala, of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). The arrest was made at the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, officials said. Baljeet Singh, also known as Baljeet Maur, hailing from Bathinda district in Punjab, was taken into custody upon his arrival from the UAE, they added. According to officials, Baljeet was not only wanted in connection with terror activities linked to the banned KTF but was also a key accused in several other cases. A Look Out Circular (LOC) had been issued against him in February 2024, and a non-bailable warrant of arrest followed in June 2024. His apprehension is a significant development in India's ongoing battle against terrorism, especially concerning KTF and Arsh Dala's network, a senior NIA official said. The NIA's investigation revealed that Baljeet was instrumental in providing logistical support, identifying extortion targets, recruiting new cadres, and facilitating terror funding for the India-based associates of Arsh Dala. He was a key conspirator in KTF's plot to instill terror in Punjab, with the NIA registering a suo motu case in this regard on February 13, 2024. As per the NIA case, KTF operatives/members/handlers were engaged in raising terror funds through extortion activities, recruitment of new cadres, target killings, smuggling of arms and ammunition into India, the official said.