Punjab: Several govt buildings defaced with Pro-Khalistan graffiti in high-security zone in Bathinda; US-resident SFJ terrorist Pannun claims responsibility

As per reports, in the Pro Khalistan graffiti, the miscreants had written that there should not be any political party in Punjab, neither BJP, SAD, nor Congress.

Khalistan slogans on walls of Bathinda mini secretariat in high-security zone

Khalistan slogans on walls of Bathinda mini secretariat in highsecurity zone

Delhi-based political parties are like East India Company: Sukhbir Badal

Delhi-based political parties are like East India Company: Sukhbir Badal Bathinda: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday said Delhi-based parties were trying to capture Punjab in the same manner as done by the East India Company and urged them to vote for the Akali Dal to ensure peace and communal harmony [] The post Delhi-based political parties are like East India Company: Sukhbir Badal appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

BSP announces candidates for Fatehgarh Sahib, Bathinda Lok Sabha seats in Punjab

Hoshiarpur, Apr 25: The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) on Thursday announced two more candidates for Punjab for the Lok Sabha polls. The party fielded Kulwant Singh Mehto from Fatehgarh Sahib and Lakhveer Singh Nika from Bathinda. Punjab BSP chief Jasvir Singh Garhi said Nika, who is the party's district head from Bathinda, will contest from [] The post BSP announces candidates for Fatehgarh Sahib, Bathinda Lok Sabha seats in Punjab appeared first on Northlines .

Sidhu Moose Wala dad in fray from Bathinda?

While not confirmed officially, the buzz in Bathinda suggests that Balkaur Singh, father of the late Punjabi singer and rapper Shubhdeep Singh, also known as Sidhu Moose Wala, might run as an independent candidate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Jailed pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh to contest Lok Sabha polls, claims his lawyer

CHANDIGARH: Waris Punjab De Head and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh who is presently lodged at Dibrugarh jail in Assam under the National Security Act may contest the Lok Sabha elections from Khadoor Sahib, claimed his lawyer on Wednesday. Rajdev Singh Khalsa, the lawyer of Amritpal Singh, who is presently in Dibrugarh where he met the pro-Khalistani leader in the central jail there, told The New Indian Express over phone that he requested him to fight the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Khadoor Sahib as it will be a referendum on his arrest by the AAP-led Mann government. He told me that he will fight these upcoming polls, claimed Khalsa and added that his nomination papers will be filed once the process begins. Tarseem Singh, the father of Amritpal Singh, said, We have not met him for long and will be meeting him tomorrow at Dibrugarh jail. This issue of him (Amritpal) fighting the Lok Sabha polls has not been discussed with us at all and we have no knowledge of it. We are not in favour of him fighting these elections but only after we meet him and discuss it can we say anything. 3 turncoats, an outsider battle it out at NRI heartland of Jalandhar Meanwhile, Balkaur Singh, the father of slain singer-turned-politician Sidhu Moosewala, is likely to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Bathinda constituency as an independent candidate, said sources. But Balkaur or his family have not come out with an official statement on the issue. If he decides to fight these polls, he will be contesting against the sitting Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal besides Jeet Mohinder Sidhu of the Congress, Gurmeet Singh Khudian of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Parampal Kaur of the Bharatiya Janata Party. Earlier, the Congress had reportedly told Balkaur to fight on a Congress ticket but he said that he was not keen to get into the political arena. Moosewala had contested the 2022 assembly election from Mansa on a Congress ticket but was defeated by Vijay Singla of the AAP.

Punjab: Two Minors Killed In LPG Cylinder Explosion In Bathinda

The incident took place in Punjab's Bathinda after a fire broke out because of the explosion of the cylinder which caused the death of two children.

Two children killed in gas cylinder explosion at slum in Punjabs Bathinda, relief measures underway

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Punjab: 2 Sisters burnt alive in slum fire in Bathinda

Bathinda (Punjab): Two sisters died of burn injuries while several others were injured in a blaze that broke out in the slums of Oriya colony here in the Punjab district early Tuesday. According to the police, the fire broke out around 4 am when most of the people in the slums were fast asleep. Father of the deceased told the police that a family living in the slums was cooking late when the fire started. Strong winds caused it to spread quickly. Both his daughters were hiding in a room that had a cylinder in it. When the fire spread the cylinder exploded close to the girls and both were badly burnt. He had rushed them immediately to the Bathinda Civil Hospital, where the doctors declared them brought dead. Fire brigade officer Paramjit Singh said lack of roads in the slum made accessibility difficult and they could not reach the spot quickly. AAP MLA Jagroop Gill visited the spot and assured help to the families.

SAD announces candidates for five seats in Punjab, one in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) announced the names of candidates for five more Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab and one in Chandigarh on Monday. It's now official that President Sukhbir Singh Badal 's wife, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the sitting MP from Bathinda, will be the party's candidate from the same constituency for the fourth consecutive time. With the new announcements, SAD has declared candidates for 12 constituencies in Punjab. Sukhbir mentioned that the announcement of the Khadoor Sahib candidate will be made soon. BJP, SAD rule out re-alliance for 2024 Lok Sabhapolls During Badal's visit to Jalandhar to induct former Congress MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee into the party on Monday, he announced that his wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal's candidacy from Bathinda. Nardev Singh Bobby Mann has been given the ticket from Ferozepur, represented by Sukhbir, as the President has declared that he won't contest the Lok Sabha elections this time. Other candidates announced include Ranjit Singh Dhillon for Ludhiana parliamentary constituency, former cabinet minister Sohan Singh Thandal for Hoshiarpur, Mohinder Singh Kaypee for Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency, and Hardeep Singh Saini, former deputy mayor of Chandigarh, for Chandigarh.

Minister dropped but wife named in Punjab, Shivaji descendant in Maharashtra

NEW DELHI : The BJP dropped yet another Union minister from its 12th list of candidates for seven Lok Sabha seats, and instead fielded his wife from the Hoshiarpur constituency in Punjab. The party has also fielded a descendant of an erstwhile royal Maratha family of Chhatrapati Shivaji, who is currently a Rajya Sabha member, from the high-profile Satara seat. Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale received BJPs recognition on a seat from where Praful Patel of Ajit Pawar-led NCP, now a BJP ally in the ruling Maharashtra coalition government, was eager to contest. Bhosale won the Satara seat in 2019 as a candidate of the then-undivided NCP. A few months later, he resigned and joined the BJP. But in the bypolls that followed, Bhosale lost as a BJP candidate against NCPs Shrinivas Patil. Later, the BJP nominated him to the Rajya Sabha in April 2020. His term is due to end in 2026. The third notable BJP candidate on the list is Abhijit Das, who will lock horns with West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjees nephew Abhishek Banerjee, from Diamond Harbour that votes on June 1 in the final phase of the elections. Das is the former president of the partys South 24 Parganas district unit and is said to be very articulate. Das belongs to RSS and had unsuccessfully contested Lok Sabha elections in 2014. With his candidature, the party has announced all 42 candidates from West Bengal. In Punjab, the BJP dropped Union minister Som Parkash from Hoshiarpur, but fielded his wife Anita Som Parkash from the seat. The party believes Som Parkash holds subtantial influence in the constituency. The BJP had won the Hoshiarpur seat in 2014. In 2019, Som Parkash won the seat defeating Congress Raj Kumar Chabbewal. In the previous polls, the party was at loggerheads with its erstwhile ally SAD over the Hoshiarpur seat. The BJP has now fielded former IAS officer Parampal Kaur Sidhu from Bathinda that is currently represented by SADs Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Sidhu is the daughter-in-law of senior Akali leader Sikander Singh Maluka and joined the BJP recently with her husband Gurpreet Singh Maluka. A 2011-batch IAS officer, she would be pitted against Congress Jeet Mohinder Sidhu and AAPs Gurmeet Singh Khudian. Interestingly, SAD has not yet announced its candidate from Bathinda. The BJPs latest list came only three days ahead of the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The partys Central Election Committee also announced candidates in Uttar Pradesh. The party has so far fielded candidates for 430 seats out of the total 543 LS seats. In Uttar Pradesh, the party has fielded Vishwadeep Singh from Firozabad and Shashank Mani Tripathi from Deoria, dropping MPs from these seats. A party source said the anti-incumbency on these two seats was the prime factor behind dropping the MPs. Former IAS officer to fight from Bathinda The BJP has fielded former IAS officer Parampal Kaur Sidhu from Bathinda, currently represented by SADs Harsimrat Kaur Badal.Sidhu is the daughter-in-law of Akali leader Sikander Singh Maluka. She is pitted against Congress Jeet Mohinder Sidhu and AAPs Gurmeet Singh Khudian.

BJP Releases Second List of Candidates for Punjab Lok Sabha Polls

Amritsar: T he BJP unveiled its second list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Punjab on Tuesday. Among the notable changes, Union Minister Som Parkash has been replaced by his wife as the party's candidate for the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seat. Anita Som Parkash will now represent the party in the Hoshiarpur reserve parliamentary constituency, expressing gratitude to the party leadership for the opportunity. Hoshiarpur, previously won by the BJP in both the 2014 and 2019 polls, sees Anita Som Parkash taking over from her husband. The constituency was one of the three seats contested by the BJP in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal previously, but the BJP is now contesting independently. Anita will be facing AAP nominee Raj Kumar Chabbewal in the upcoming elections, with the Congress and SAD yet to announce their candidates for Hoshiarpur. Additionally, former IAS officer Parampal Kaur Sidhu has been nominated by the BJP for the Bathinda parliamentary seat, currently held by SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Sidhu, daughter-in-law of senior Akali leader Sinkander Singh Maluka, recently joined the BJP along with her husband Gurpreet Singh Maluka. She resigned from her position as a 2011-batch IAS officer before joining the party. Sidhu's opponents include Congress candidate Jeet Mohinder Sidhu and AAP's Gurmeet Singh Khudian, with the SAD yet to name its candidate for Bathinda. Moreover, former MLA from Baba Bakala seat Manjit Singh Manna Mianwind has been nominated by the BJP for the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat, currently held by Congress MP Jasbir Singh. Laljit Singh Bhullar is the AAP candidate for this seat. With these latest announcements, the BJP has finalized candidates for nine out of the total 13 seats in Punjab. The party had previously announced candidates for Ludhiana, Amritsar, Faridkot, Patiala, Gurdaspur, and Jalandhar. Polling for all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab is scheduled for the final phase on June 1. Arvind Kejriwal Seeks Court Permission for Video Consultation with Doctor Tragic Incident Unfolds: Mother and Infant Daughter Engulfed in Flames Two Arrested in Connection with Shooting Outside Salman Khan's Residence

LS polls: BJP announces 3 more candidates in Punjab; fields Parampal Kaur from Bathinda

BJP replaced Som Parkash with Anita in Hoshiarpur, facing Raj Kumar Chabbewal. Parampal Kaur Sidhu contests Bathinda. Polls for 13 Punjab Lok Sabha seats are on June 1; BJP named 9 candidates so far.

BJP announces 4 candidates for Lok Sabha polls in Punjab; fields ex-IAS officer Parampal Kaur from Bathinda

New Delhi, Apr 16: The BJP on Tuesday named seven more candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, fielding Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendant of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji, from Satara in Maharashtra. The ruling party dropped Union minister Som Parkash from Hoshiarpur in Punjab but decided to field his wife Anita Som Parkash to keep the [] The post BJP announces 4 candidates for Lok Sabha polls in Punjab; fields ex-IAS officer Parampal Kaur from Bathinda appeared first on Northlines .

LS polls 2024: BJP replaces Union minister Som Parkash with his wife in Hoshiarpur

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Tuesday named seven more candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, fielding Udayanraje Bhosale, a descendant of Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji, from Satara in Maharashtra. The ruling party dropped Union minister Som Parkash from Hoshiarpur in Punjab but decided to field his wife Anita Som Parkash to keep the influential local leader's support intact. It has fielded former IAS officer Parampal Kaur Sidhu, who comes from an influential political family long associated with the Akali Dal, from Bathinda. In Uttar Pradesh, the party has fielded Vishwadeep Singh from Firozabad and Shashank Mani Tripathi from Deoria, dropping its sitting MPs from the two seats. It has named Abhijit Das from Diamond Harbour in West Bengal. With the new list, the party has named its candidates for around 430 seats for the polls to 543 seats starting from April 19. The party also released its second list of 21 candidates for the Odisha assembly polls, fielding former minister Dilip Ray from Rourkela. So far, the BJP has named 133 candidates for the sate polls.

LS polls: BJP replaces Union minister Som Parkash with his wife in Hoshiarpur

The ruling party dropped Union minister Som Parkash from Hoshiarpur in Punjab but decided to field his wife Anita Som Parkash to keep the influential local leader's support intact. It has fielded former IAS officer Parampal Kaur Sidhu, who comes from an influential political family long associated with the Akali Dal, from Bathinda.

Lakha Sidhana is SAD (A) pick for Bathinda

Cong names candidates for 6 LS seats in Punjab, fields Charanjit Channi from Jalandhar

Cong names candidates for 6 LS seats in Punjab, fields Charanjit Channi from Jalandhar The Congress on Sunday named its candidates for six Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, fielding former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, along with two sitting MPs, an MLA and a former MP. The party has fielded Channi from the Jalandhar (SC) seat and sitting MPs Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Amar Singh from the Amritsar and the Fatehgarh Sahib (SC) seats respectively. The Congress nominated MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, former MP Dharamvira Gandhi from Patiala and former MLA Jeet Mohinder Sidhu from Bathinda. Polling on all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state will take place in the last phase on June 1. The Congress bet on Channi from the Jalandhar (SC) seat despite opposition from Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary. A few days ago, Chaudhary even resigned as the partys chief whip in the Punjab Assembly. Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, the son of two-time Congress MP Santokh Chaudhary, had pointed towards Channi's electoral defeats from both the Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur segments he had contested in the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls. Santokh Chaudhary died in January last year during Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra. His wife Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary had unsuccessfully contested the Jalandhar parliamentary bypoll in May last year. Channi belongs to the Scheduled Castes community which makes up nearly 32 per cent of Punjab's population. He represented the Chamkaur Sahib Assembly constituency in 2007, 2012 and 2017. Channi became the chief minister of Punjab in 2021 after the Congress replaced Amarinder Singh with him. The BJP has fielded sitting MP Sushil Rinku from the Jalandhar (SC) seat. Although AAP is yet to name its candidate, former Akali MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu, who joined the party on Sunday, is likely to be the party's nominee. The Congress fielded sitting MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla from Amritsar. Former deputy chief minister and MLA O P Soni's name was also doing rounds for this seat. Aujla won the Amritsar seat in the 2017 bypolls and was elected again in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. AAP has fielded Cabinet minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from the Amritsar seat. The Shiromani Akali Dal has named former MLA Anil Joshi as its candidate and the BJP Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Sitting MP from the Fatehgarh Sahib (SC) seat Amar Singh, a former bureaucrat, has been renominated by the Congress. In 2019, Singh defeated SAD candidate Darbara Singh Guru from the constituency. In the Sangrur seat, the Congress showed its faith in All India Kisan Congress chairman and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. Khaira, a firebrand leader, was elected as MLA in 2007 and 2017 from the Bholath seat. He had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. AAP has fielded Cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from the Sangrur seat, currently represented by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) MP Simranjit Singh Mann. The Congress has fielded former AAP MP Dharamvira Gandhi from the Patiala Lok Sabha seat. Gandhi, a doctor by profession, joined the party recently. Gandhi won the Lok Sabha election as an AAP candidate in 2014, defeating the Congress' Preneet Kaur from Patiala. After quitting AAP in 2016, he had formed his own political outfit Nawan Punjab Party, which he merged with the Congress. Gandhi has been pitted this time against BJP nominee Preneet Kaur and AAP candidate Dr Balbir Singh. From the Bathinda seat, the Congress has named former MLA from Talwandi Sabo Jeet Mohinder Sidhu. Sidhu rejoined the Congress last year after quitting the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Bathinda seat is currently held by SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. AAP has fielded Cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian from the seat.

Akali Dal names gangster-turned-activist as candidate from Bathinda seat

Akali Dal names gangsterturnedactivist as candidate from Bathinda seat

Congress fields Kanhaiya Kumar in North East Delhi against BJP's Manoj Tiwari

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday issued another list of 10 candidates for the Lok Sabha election in Delhi and Punjab, tapping former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi for the Jalandhar-SC Lok Sabha seat. According to the list, the party has fielded veteran politician J P Agarwal from the Chandni Chowk seat and youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar from the North East Delhi seat. Kumar will be pitted against BJP's Manoj Tiwari, the sole BJP candidate not replaced in the national capital. Free healthcare, equal pay for women, minimum daily wage: Key promises from Congress manifesto For the North West Delhi Lok Sabha seat, the party announced the name of former MP Udit Raj. In Punjab, the party renominated its sitting MPs Gurjeet Singh Aujla from Amritsar and Amar Singh from Fatehgarh Sahib (SC) Lok Sabha seat. Former MP Dharvir Gandhi will be contesting from the Patiala Lok Sabha seat. His candidature comes mere days after he joined the Congress leaving the Aam Aadmi Party. The party has nominated its All India Kisan wing chief Sukhpal Singh Khaira from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat and Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu from the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, which is currently represented by SAD chief's wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The Congress announced the name of Ujjwal Revti Raman Singh from Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad Lok Sabha seat. The opposition party also announced a list of 75 candidates for the Odisha assembly elections.

In a first, SAD will contest Amritsar, Gurdaspur seats

CHANDIGARH : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) released the first list of seven candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha election on Saturday. For the first time in more than two decades, the party will be contesting the Amritsar and Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seats. In this list, party stalwarts Daljit Singh Cheema and Prem Singh Chandumajra have been given tickets. Surprisingly, the name of former union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, is missing so far. She could either be fielded from her existing constituency Bathinda or Ferozepur. Interestingly, two Hindu leaders of the party have been given tickets by the panthic party. Former BJP Minister Anil Joshi has been fielded from Amritsar, thus creating trouble for BJP candidate Taranjit Singh Sandhu, a former Indian Ambassador to the United States. The Shiromani Akali Dal has given a ticket to its senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema from Gurdaspur, as Cheemas native village falls in this district, and he has studied here. Besides, the first ten years of his political career were active here. Cheema was eyeing a ticket from Anandpur Sahib, as he had remained an MLA from there and an education minister in the SAD-BJP Government. The party will be, for the first time in many decades, fighting polls on this seat, as in previous elections, it had an alliance with BJP. Thus, this seat fell in the share of the saffron party as per the seat-sharing arrangement with SAD. The party has nominated NK Sharma, a two-time former Dera Bassi MLA and realtor, to contest from Patiala. One advantage in his favour is the absence of opposition within Patiala. The party leadership is united in supporting him, and former minister Surjit Singh Rakhra has endorsed Sharmas candidacy.

SAD Releases First List of Candidates for Punjab Lok Sabha Polls

Amritsar: On the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, unveiled its initial list of seven candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for June 1. These candidates will be contesting from various parliamentary constituencies across Punjab. The lineup includes esteemed individuals such as former cabinet minister Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, nominated for Gurdaspur, ex-MP Prem Singh Chandumajra for Anandpur Sahib, former MLA NK Sharma for Patiala, Anil Joshi, a former cabinet minister, for Amritsar, Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, a former MLA, for Fatehgarh Sahib, Rajwinder Singh (the grandson of former cabinet minister Gurdev Singh Badal) for the Faridkot reserve constituency, and former MLA Iqbal Singh Jhundan for Sangrur. The decision to release their candidate list comes after the BJP's announcement on March 26 that it would contest all 13 parliamentary seats in Punjab independently, thus concluding negotiations with the SAD to re-establish their alliance before the Lok Sabha polls. Despite this, the SAD emphasized that principles outweighed political strategies for the 103-year-old party. Sukhbir Singh Badal, the party president who emerged victorious in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Ferozepur, declared that he would not be participating in the parliamentary elections this time. Notably, his wife and former Union minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, has not been named in the initial list. There is speculation that she might contest from either her current constituency, Bathinda, or Ferozepur. the bomb, that could destroy Iran's infrastructure Tragic Collision in Central Delhi: School Bus, Motorcycle, and Auto-Rickshaw Involved ED Attaches Properties worth 230 crore in West Bengal Teachers Recruitment Scam

Sufi songs in Punjab potboiler

CHANDIGARH : The son of one of the assassins of former prime minister Indira Gandhi will contest the Lok Sabha polls from Faridkot seat in Punjab as an independent candidate. The 45-year-old Sarabjit Singh is the son of Beant Singh, who along with Satwant Singh assassinated Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984 at her residence in New Delhi. Beant and Satwant were the then prime ministers bodyguards. Both fired over 30 bullets at her from point-blank range purportedly to avenge the humiliation of Sikhs and the desecration of the Golden Temple during Operation Blue Star in June 1984. Justice Jora Singh (retd), who had headed a commission to probe sacrilege incidents in Punjab, has also announced to contest an independent from Faridkot. The other candidates include singers and comedians Karamjit Anmol, a Punjab actor-cum-comedian, is the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate, while Sufi singer Hans Raj Hans is the BJP candidate. The Congress is likely to give ticket from this seat to its incumbent MP Mohammad Sadique, according to party sources. Sadique is a Punjabi folk singer. Sarabjit Singh had unsuccessfully contested the 2004 Lok Sabha polls from Bathinda getting 1.33 lakh votes. He contested the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from Fatehgarh Sahib on a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ticket and got on 12,683 votes and 2007 Punjab assembly polls from Bhadaur seat in Barnala and bagged 15,702 votes. His mother Bimal Kaur was elected as an MP from Ropar seat and grandfather Sucha Singh had won from Bathinda in 1989. Singh said he has decided to contest elections because many villagers urged him and he intends to seek punishment for those responsible for the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. Successive governments have failed to deliver justice in the sacrilege incidents and there is rampant drug problem. Also farmers issues remain unaddressed. So the people of Faridkot approached me and I decided to contest this poll, Singh told this newspaper. If I win, I will form my own party, he added. Asked what prompted him to enter the poll fray again when he had contested three elections in the past, Singh said, That time SAD were strong and dominant, thus I lost. Now people are fed up with all political parties. They voted for a change and brought in the AAP government but nothing has changed. Hence its anyones game now as the field is open. Justice Jora Singh (retd) had headed a commission under the SAD-BJP government to probe the sacrilege incidents in Punjab. He joined the AAP in December 2018 and was the party candidate from Jalandhar in the 2019 parliamentary polls but lost. He was head of the legal wing of AAP for two years. After that he quit the AAP and is now fighting an independent candidate from Faridkot. The report made by me on sacrilege incidents should be made public so that the culprits do not go scot free. The previous SAD-BJP and Congress governments sat on the report and so did the present AAP government, Justice Zora Singh told this newspaper. The top leadership of AAP did not find time to address the grievances of the legal fraternity, he added. In 2015, five sacrilege incidents took pace in Faridkot that sparked off statewide protests. The sacrilege incidents started on June 1, 2015 when the bir (a complete volume of a Sikh scripture as an individual corpus) was stolen from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village gurdwara. Later three derogatory posters threatening sacrilege were pasted at Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala villages on September 24 and 25, 2015. On October 12, 2015, torn pages of the bir were found scattered in front of a gurdwara in the adjoining Bargari village. The desecration of Guru Granth Sahib and police firing at anti-sacrilege protesters at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan occurred in 2015 in Faridkot. Two people were killed in the police firing. The issue was also a major setback for SAD, leading to its downfall in the 2017 Assembly polls that brought the Congress to power. Thirteen Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab will go to polls on June 1.

SAD takes action against leader a day after son, daughter-in-law join BJP

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal on Friday removed a senior party leader and former minister as a poll in-charge after his daughter-in-law, a former Punjab cadre IAS officer, and son joined the BJP. Sikander Singh Maluka was Akali Dal in-charge of Maur assembly segment in Bathinda Lok Sabha seat. His daughter-in-law Parampal Kaur Sidhu recently resigned from IAS and is likely to contest from Bathinda against former union minister and SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur, wife of party president Sukhbir Badal. Sources said Badal appointed senior party leader and former minister Janmeja Singh Sekhon as in-charge of Maur Assembly segment. Maluka, who was campaigning with Harsimrat Kaur in Maur two days back, said he will remain in the party. I have dissuaded my son Gurpreet and daughter-in-law from joining the BJP but this is their personal decision, he said. On the appointment of new incharge in place of him, Maluka said, Sukhbir Badal is the party president, and he can appoint anyone he wants. After Parampal Kaur Sidhu joined the BJP on Thursday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that her resignation has not been accepted by the state government. Sidhu was posted as Managing Director of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation and had sought voluntary retirement from service a week ago. Her application for voluntary retirement has been accepted by the Department of Personnel and Training, government of India. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri claimed that the resignation of Kaur was accepted a day before she joined the BJP. Sidhus BJP foray has intrigued observers in Punjab as her father-in-law is still an active member of SAD and also a member of Akali Dals manifesto panel. State-in-charge Maluka to not quit party Sikander Singh Maluka was Akali Dal in-charge of Maur assembly segment in Bathinda Lok Sabha seat. He said he will remain in the party. I have dissuaded my son Gurpreet and daughter-in-law from joining the BJP but this is their personal decision, he said. On the appointment of a new incharge in place of him, Maluka said, Sukhbir Badal is the party president, and he can appoint anyone he wants.

Punjab IAS officer Parampal Kaur joins BJP, CM says resignation not accepted yet

She may be fielded from the Bathinda constituency

IAS resignation not accepted yet, SAD neta's bahu joins BJP

Parampal Kaur Sidhu, daughter-in-law of Sikandar Singh Maluka, joined BJP after resigning from IAS. Inspired by BJP's development, she may contest the Bathinda seat against Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Gurmeet Singh Khuddian.

LS polls: Son of Indira Gandhi's assassin to contest from Faridkot seat in Punjab

LS polls: Son of Indira Gandhi's assassin to contest from Faridkot seat in Punjab The son of one of the assassins of late prime minister Indira Gandhi on Thursday said he will fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls from Faridkot seat in Punjab. Sarabjit Singh, 45, said many people from Faridkot asked him to fight the elections, adding that he will contest the poll as an independent. Singh is the son of Beant Singh, one of the two assassins. Beant Singh and Satwant Singh, who were the then-prime minister's bodyguards, killed Gandhi on October 31, 1984 at her residence. Singh had unsuccessfully fought the 2004 Lok Sabha polls from Bathinda seat and had polled 1.13 lakh votes. He had also unsuccessfully contested the 2007 Punjab assembly polls from Bhadaur seat in Barnala. Singh had again tried his luck in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Fatehgarh Sahib seat but lost again. His mother Bimal Kaur was elected an MP from Ropar seat in 1989. Polling for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held on June 1. The AAP has fielded actor Karamjit Anmol from Faridkot Lok Sabha seat while the BJP has named singer Hans Raj Hans for the polls. The Faridkot seat is currently represented by Congress MP Mohammad Sadique.

Akali leader Sikander Malukas daughter-in-law Parampal Kaur joins BJP, likely to contest against Harsimrat Badal from Bathinda

New Delhi, Apr 11: Parampal Kaur Sidhu, the daughter-in-law of former Shiromani Akali Dal minister Sikander Singh Maluka joined the BJP here on Thursday and is likely to be fielded from Bathinda Lok Sabha seat. Rohan Gupta, former head of Congress social media department, party spokesperson and confidante of late Congress veteran Ahmed Patel, also [] The post Akali leader Sikander Malukas daughter-in-law Parampal Kaur joins BJP, likely to contest against Harsimrat Badal from Bathinda appeared first on Northlines .

Punjab: 7 people detained ahead of Chetna March supporting Amritpal Singh in Bathinda

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Police confiscate firearms and ammunition from out-of-state individuals in Khargone

Police confiscate firearms and ammunition from out-of-state individuals in Khargone Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, police on Monday seized 24 country-made pistols and two magazines in Madhya Pradesh's Khargone district after apprehending two persons hailing from Punjab and Haryana, an official said. The arms and ammunition were worth Rs 5 lakh, police said. The two -- Gurmeet Singh, hailing from Bathinda in Punjab, and Vikram Jat a resident of Hisar, Haryana -- who had come to buy illegal weapons in Signur village of Khargone district, were caught by the police with illegal weapons, Superintendent of Police (SP) Dharamraj Meena told reporters here. ''We are interrogating them,'' he said. However, local resident Sikligar Ramesh Singh, an arms dealer, ran away from the spot and a manhunt has been launched to nab him, Meena added. The SP, citing the duo's social media accounts, said they suspect the two accused are linked to a big inter-state gang dealing in illegal weapons. The first phase of elections covering half a dozen Lok Sabha seats in Madhya Pradesh will be held on April 19. In run-up to elections, police generally intensify drive to seize illegal weapons to ensure peaceful voting.

The whole of Punjab is against BJP: AAP leader Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal

The whole of Punjab is against BJP: AAP leader Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Punjab Minister and AAP leader Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said the whole of Punjab is against the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Lok Sabha election in Punjab will be held in a single phase on June 1, 2024. Voting in Punjab will be held for 13 Lok Sabha seats. CM Bhagwant Mann today held a meeting with Amritsar MLAs to review preparations for Lok Sabha elections. The CM has given us certain guidelines for election campaigning. It was discussed how to increase the party's lead in the Amritsar seat in the elections. As the CM said, AAP will win all 13 seats including the Amritsar seat. The former envoy to the US, Sandhu ji has come to fight elections from Amritsar. He must have come here last during his young days. No votes will be cast in his favour. The whole of Punjab is against BJP. said AAP leader Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal. Earlier on April 2, the Aam Aadmi Party announced another list of two candidates for Punjab for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. A two-time MLA from Chabbewal assembly constituency, Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal has been fielded from Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha constituency. Raj Kumar Chabbewal recently quit the Punjab Congress to join the Punjab unit of the Aam Aadmi Party before the Lok Sabha elections. In its welcome message the AAP Punjab unit posted on X, The family of AAP Punjab strengthened, current MLA from Chabewal constituency of Hoshiarpur District Rajkumar Chabewal ji joined the Aam Aadmi Party after being influenced by the pro-people policies of the party. We welcome Raj Chabbewal to the party. The Aam Aadmi Party has also fielded Malvinder Singh Kang from Anandpur Sahib, who quit the BJP in 2020 while protesting against farm laws, and later joined Bhagwant Mann's government. On March 14, The Aam Aadmi party announced its first list of eight candidates for the Lok Sabha elections from Punjab.The list included five cabinet ministers-- Gurmeet Singh Khudian from Bathinda, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from Amritsar, Laljit Singh Bhullar from Khandur Sahib, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Sangrur and Dr Balbir Singh from Patiala.Former MLA Gurpreet Singh has been given the ticket from Fatehgarh Sahib and the name of Karamjeet Anmol has been announced to contest from Faridkot. There are 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab with four seats reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the Congress-led UPA alliance clinched 8 seats, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) managed to secure four. The AAP, which was contesting for the first time in the state won one seat. (ANI)

LS polls: Punjab police, BSF strategise to counter drug supply from across Indo-Pak border

LS polls: Punjab police, BSF strategise to counter drug supply from across Indo-Pak border In view of the coming Lok Sabha polls, Special Director General of Police Arpit Shukla on Thursday chalked out a strategy with the Border Security Force (BSF) to further strengthen the second line of defence and break the supply chain of drugs from across the border. He held a joint coordination meeting with BSF Inspector General (Punjab Frontier) Atul Fulzele and senior officers of CRPF, ITBP, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other central agencies to review security arrangements in the state's border areas and discuss matters pertaining to the parliamentary elections 2024, according to a statement. Giving a call for greater synergy and teamwork between the BSF and Punjab Police, Shukla exhorted both forces to work as one team to ensure free and fair elections in the state. He said being positioned at the first line of defence, the BSF needs to be more alert to prevent smuggling and infiltration bids by militants, terrorists or smugglers, the statement said. He also ordered to increase the number of police personnel deployed on night patrolling along the International border, it added. The Special DGP advised the BSF to use drone detection technology to counter the suspicious drone operations at Punjab borders, which have over time emerged as the modus operandi to smuggle drugs from across the Indo-Pak border, according to the statement. He also directed all the district police chiefs of border districts to conduct regular meetings with village level defence committee (VLDC) members and sensitise field staff to keep a strict vigil on the movement of drones. There were 325 drone sightings across the border in 2023, of which 118 drones were successfully recovered. Similarly, 26 drones have been recovered in 2024 so far, the statement said. Sharing details on security arrangements for the coming Lok Sabha elections, Shukla said security has been beefed up across the state and Punjab Police has mobilised 75 per cent of district police and 50 per cent force from other units for deployment during elections. He said police have already laid well-coordinated strong inter-state checkpoints at the points of 10 border districts in the state to stop the menace of liquor and drug smuggling. The 10 inter-state border districts include Pathankot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Ropar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Hoshiarpur and Bathinda. He said 25 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed in vulnerable districts of the state to instil confidence among the general public as well as to dominate sensitive and hyper-sensitive areas in the state.

Will take forward principles of AAP: Party LS poll candidate from Anandpur Sahib Malvinder Singh Kang

Will take forward principles of AAP: Party LS poll candidate from Anandpur Sahib Malvinder Singh Kang After getting a ticket from the Anandpur Sahib constituency for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, Aam Aadmi Party leader Malvinder Singh Kang on Tuesday said that he aims to take forward the principles of party which are centered on serving the public. BJP turncoat Malvinder Singh Kang was inducted into the Aam Aadmi Party in July 2021. He quit the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2020 in a disagreement over the farm laws with the ruling party. While speaking to ANI, Kang said, They trusted a simple worker of the party like me. By giving me the Lok Sabha seat, Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann have increased the respect of party workers. We aim to uphold the core principles of the Aam Aadmi Party, centered on serving the public good. Our focus is on promoting transparent and ethical politics of the Aam Aadmi Party. We will go door-to door in Anandpur Sahib to appeal for votes. The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday announced another list of two candidates for Punjab for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. A two-time MLA from Chabbewal assembly constituency, Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal has been fielded from Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha constituency and Malvinder Singh Kang has been fielded from Anandpur Sahib . On March 14, The Aam Aadmi party announced its first list of eight candidates for the Lok Sabha elections from Punjab. The list included five cabinet ministers- Gurmeet Singh Khudian from Bathinda, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from Amritsar, Laljit Singh Bhullar from Khandur Sahib, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Sangrur and Dr Balbir Singh from Patiala. Former MLA Gurpreet Singh has been given the ticket from Fatehgarh Sahib and the name of Karamjeet Anmol has been announced to contest from Faridkot. There are 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab with four seats reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the Congress-led UPA alliance clinched 8 seats, while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) managed to secure four. The AAP, which was contesting for the first time in the state won one seat. (ANI)

SC refuses to stay judicial probe into farmer's death

SC refuses to stay judicial probe into farmer's death The Supreme Court on Monday declined to stay the judicial probe ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court into the death of a 22-year-old farmer during a clash between farmers and security personnel at the Punjab-Haryana border. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and KV Viswanathan rejected the contention of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Haryana government, that the police would be demoralised by such an order for a judicial probe. The bench suggested waiting for the committee's report and stated that the judiciary would take care of the morale of the force and the people as well. Mehta further referred to the seriousness of the situation during protests and argued that o one can function like this in front of swords, weapons and tanks. I am not blaming the agitators but with people armed with lethal weapons, police will not be able to do anything, Mehta told the apex court. In public agitation, some kind of miscreant takes undue advantage of the situation, Justice Kant replied. The Solicitor General further said that 67 policemen were injured during the protests. The top court has now posted the matter for hearing on April 19. The Haryana government filed the special leave petition in the apex court on March 11 against the High Court's decision. The 22-year-old farmer, Shubhkaran Singh, a native of Bathinda in Punjab, lost his life on February 21 during a clash between security personnel and protesting farmers at the Khanauri border. The incident occurred when some protesting farmers attempted to head towards barricades and were stopped by security personnel from crossing the state border and marching to Delhi. The High Court had formed the Committee headed by retired High Court judge Jaishree Thakur to inquire into the various aspects of the case, saying the investigation regarding the death of Singh cannot be entrusted solely to Punjab or to Haryana for easons obvious as both states have several things to cover up. The committee was assisted by Punjab Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Promod Ban and Haryana ADGP Amitabh Singh Dhillon. (ANI)

The Return of controversys child in Mandi

The girl from Bhambla in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh was always ambitious, and a little outspoken. She wanted to be in medical profession, but failed to clear the pre-medical test. The teenager was restless and reached Delhi to become a model, and then Mumbai to become an actor. And thus Kangana Ranaut was reborn, being increasingly seen as a rebellious rabble-rouser by her critics. Controversies have followed her on and off-screen as an element of devilment replenished her persona, year after year. It was director Anurag Basu who spotted Kangana and signed her for her first movie Gangster when she was 18 years old. She gave many hits such as Tanu Weds Manu, Manikarnika The Queen of Jhansi and Tejas. Finally, Kanganas full-throated Jai Shri Ram at the consecration ceremony in Ayodhya gave away that part of her life thats unfolding in Mandi. The BJP candidate has arrived back home, fully loaded and unforgiving. Her actions have followed the roles that she has played of two most powerful women politicians in the country: Thalaivii in 2021 showed her as J Jayalalithaa, and the yet-to-release Emergency where she is portraying the role of former prime minister Indira Gandhi. Like all other times, controversy again followed her: the latest was when Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate allegedly posted an offensive comment against her on social media which she later deleted. Kangana responded saying she was considering legal action. She said the remarks made against her were insulting for Mandi, its public and the lands hugely revered saints and seers. If a young man gets a party ticket, his ideology is attacked, and if a young woman gets a nomination, her sexuality is attacked. Any derogatory word about a woman, be it a teacher, actress, journalist, politician or a sex worker, is condemnable. The dignity of a woman should always be maintained, especially when Mandi is also known as Mini Kashi, she asserted. Kangana admires Swami Vivekananda who has instilled nationalism in her and Sadhguru who has inspired her to become a karmayogi. She supported CAA before joining the BJP. She calls herself a common party karyakarta and is an ardent Narendra Modi fan. Dont think Kangana is a heroine, that she is a star. Consider Kangana your sister, your daughter. Everyone is my family, she said as she hailed PM Modi with Jai Shri Ram and asserted that the BJPs main agenda is development. Her name had figured among the probable party candidates in the 2021 bypolls for Mandi parliamentary seat after BJP MP Ram Swaroop Sharma died. Kangana, 37, is known for taking on bigwigs of Bollywood. Lyricist Javed Akhtar filed a defamation case against her in the court of the metropolitan magistrate in Mumbai in November 2020. He said that Kangana dragged his name while referring to an existing coterie in Bollywood during a TV interview after the death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. Actor Aditya Pancholi and his wife Zarina Wahab filed separate criminal defamation complaints against Kangana in an Andheri court in October 2017. Her strong views on farmers agitation landed her in the soup as Mahinder Kaur of Bathinda filed a defamation case against her in January 2021. Kaur alleged in an X post that Kangana compared her, when she was participating in the farmers protests on the Delhi-Haryana borders, with the Dadi at Delhis Shaheen Bagh. A case was registered against Kangana on November 23, 2021 at the Khar police station in Mumbai for allegedly portraying the Kisan Morcha as a Khalistani movement and calling the Sikh community Khalistani terrorists on the complaint of Amarjeet Singh Sandhu, a Mumbai-based businessman. The Himachal Pradesh BJP has posted the details of these cases on its X handle, @BJP4Himachal, in compliance with the guidelines of the Election Commission of India.

Punjab farmers fear wheat crop damage due to rains

Punjab farmers fear wheat crop damage due to rains With rains lashing many parts of Punjab on Saturday, wheat growers expressed fear that unseasonal showers could damage their standing crops. Rains with strong winds and hailstorms at some places lashed Punjab's several parts, including Bathinda, Fazilka, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar and Pathankot. Heavy rains with strong winds came at a time when the wheat crop was ready for harvesting. Wheat procurement season starts on April 1 in Punjab and Haryana. Several farmers rued that their crops got flattened because of rains and high-velocity winds, which will hit the crop yield. A farmer in Bathinda said the yield of his wheat crop will be affected because of untimely rains. Meanwhile, the Shiromani Akali Dal asked Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to order a 'girdwari' to assess crop damage due to rains and hailstorms. ''Unseasonal rain and hailstorms have flattened the wheat crop across vast swathes in the Malwa region of the state. This is a double blow to farmers who faced a hailstorm some time back. ''CM @BhagwantMann should order a girdawari to assess damage to the wheat crop as well as provide interim compensation to farmers immediately,'' SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said in a post on X. His wife and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, ''Today's hailstorm in the Malwa region, the second in a month, has flattened and destroyed wheat crops across vast swathes in Punjab. Farmers, who have not been compensated for the earlier crop damage, should be awarded interim compensation immediately till such time the girdwari is not ordered and completed''.

Haryana Police arrest farmer activist Jalbera

Haryana Police arrest farmer activist Jalbera The Haryana Police has arrested farmer activist Navdeep Singh Jalbera in connection with an FIR lodged during the farmers' 'Delhi Chalo' stir in February. The arrest comes ahead of a gathering by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and the Kisan Mukti Morcha on March 31 to pay homage to Shubhkaran Singh, a 21-year-old farmer from Bathinda, who was killed in a clash at Punjab-Haryana border on February 21. The Ambala Police Thursday arrested Jalbera from Mohali. He was later produced in court for a two-day remand by the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of the Haryana Police. Police said Jalbera was arrested in connection with a case registered here on February 13 under various IPC Sections, including 307 (attempt to murder) and assault on policemen. Jalbera, a native of the eponymous village near Ambala, became famous as the ''water cannon man'' for climbing on top of a police water cannon in November 2020 during the farmers' movement against the now-repealed farm laws. In 2020, thousands of farmers marched towards Delhi and held agitation for several months at the national capital's Singhu and Tikri border despite heavy police barricading. Rohit Jain, counsel for Jalbera, said police have arrested three people, including him, in connection with the February case. The FIR names 20 farmers including several top leaders. Jain said the farmers have denied the police charges. Police pleaded in the court that Jalbera's remand was required to recover his car and other weapons used in the agitation. Farmers camping at the two border points of Punjab and Haryana had recently said they would continue their agitation until their demands are met. The SKM (non-political) and the Kisan Mukti Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee for the minimum support price. The farmers from Punjab have been camping since February 13 at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points. Both border points have a police deployment and a total barricading. Shubhkaran Singh was killed during a clash with police at Khanauri border point on the Punjab-Haryana border. Twelve police personnel were also injured in the clashes The clash occurred when some farmers rushed to the barricades to breach them and were stopped by security personnel.

Bathinda Lok Sabha Seat Harsimrat Kaur Badal ? | Khabar Pakki Hai

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Guava 'scam': Enforcement Directorate seizes over Rs 3 crore in cash during raids in Punjab

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday said it seized Rs 3.89 crore in cash and incriminating documents during raids in several premises in Punjab, including that of two IAS officers, as part of a money laundering case liked to an alleged guava orchard compensation scam. The central agency, however, did not clarify what was recovered from where. The searches were launched on Wednesday and a total of 26 residential and business premises in Ferozepur, Mohali (SAS Nagar), Bathinda, Barnala, Patiala and Chandigarh were raided. The premises of two IAS officers, Punjab Excise Commissioner Varun Roojam and Ferozepur Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Dhiman were also searched apart from some revenue and horticulture department officials and private persons. The money laundering case stems from an FIR of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau against alleged main accused Bhupinder Singh, Jasmine Kaur and others. During the search, incriminating evidence, property documents, mobile phones and cash worth Rs 3.89 crore were seized, the ED said in a statement. The case pertains to 2016 when the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) initiated the process of acquiring land of various villages of SAS Nagar (Mohali) for setting up an Aerotropolis Residential Project near IT City and an aerocity in the same district, it said. Private persons close to officers of GMADA, Revenue department and Horticulture department were aware of the fact that compensation for fruit-bearing trees (guava trees) would be assessed separately from the value of land acquired and additional compensation was to be granted as per the quality, age and various other parameters related to guava trees planted. Accordingly, persons involved in the scam (beneficiaries, officers of GMADA, Revenue and Horticulture departments) colluded amongst themselves and created false, forged records and reports regarding existence, age, quality and density of guava trees to avail wrongful compensation, the ED alleged. It claimed that the total proceeds of crime identified in the case so far was about Rs 140 crore.

Punjab | ED Conducts Raids In Case Linked To Guava Orchards Compensation Scam

CHANDIGARH, Mar 27: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted searches in multiple cities of Punjab as part of a money laundering investigation linked to an alleged Rs 137-crore guava orchards compensation scam, official sources said. Premises in Chandigarh, Mohali, Patiala, Ferozepur and Bathinda were raided by the federal probe agency under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the sources said. Various news media platforms also broadcast visuals of searches being carried out at the residences [] The post Punjab | ED Conducts Raids In Case Linked To Guava Orchards Compensation Scam appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Punjab: Revenue official held for accepting Rs 34 lakh in bribes, including shoes worth Rs 3 lakh

Chandigarh, Mar 26 (PTI) A revenue official was arrested on charges of accepting bribes over Rs 34 lakh, including Pakistani juttis' (shoes) worth Rs 3 lakh, Punjab Vigilance Bureau said on Tuesday. Gurwinder Singh, Revenue 'Patwari' posted in Ludhiana, surrendered before police after his bail application in the matter was rejected by the Punjab and Haryana High court, a spokesperson of the bureau said. Singhs father and brother, and his agent Nikku have also been booked in the corruption case. The case was registered on the basis of a complaint lodged by Babbu Tanwar, a resident of Bathinda, against Singh and his agent. The complainant had alleged that the accused had accepted a bribe amount of Rs 40,000 for sanctioning the mutation of a property of his father, located near Ludhiana bus stand. The complainant further alleged that the 'patwari' and his agent Nikku had also taken Rs 3.40 lakh for purchasing two Apple iPhones and smart watches. He also accepted Pakistani juttis' worth Rs 3 lakh as bribes, the complainant added. In addition to this, the complainant had to spend Rs 80,000 for Nikkus birthday party. The vigilance bureau spokesperson said during the probe it was found that the 'patwari', his accomplice Nikku, his father Parmjeet Singh and brother Balwinder Singh accepted another Rs 27.50 lakh as bribes on four occasions from the complainant. The 'patwari' neither did the mutation of property in question nor returned the money to the complainant, said the spokesperson. PTI CHS SKY SKY Disclaimer: This article is published from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Deccan Chronicle team

CBSE cancelled the recognition of 20 schools from 10 states...here is the list

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled the recognition of 20 schools in different states of the country. These 20 schools are in many states of the country including Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has cancelled the recognition of 20 schools in different states of the country. Apart from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, these 20 schools are also from Kerala and Uttarakhand. CBSE Secretary Himanshu Gupta said in this matter that these 20 schools were not only behaving against the rules but were also involved in malpractices. How many schools are there in which state? States whose schools have been cancelled. Among them, there are 5 schools in Delhi and three in Uttar Pradesh. There are two schools each in Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. Whereas, there is one school each in Jammu-Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Assam whose recognition has been cancelled by the Central Board of Secondary Education. Recognition of these schools was cancelled Siddharth Public School, Delhi-81 Marigold Public School, Delhi-39 Bharat Mata SaraswatiBalMandir, Delhi-40 National Public School, Delhi-40 Chand Ram Public Senior Secondary School, Delhi-39 Loyal Public School, Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh Crescent Convent School, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh Trinity World School, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh Prince UCH Secondary School, Sikar, Rajasthan Global Indian International School, Jodhpur, Rajasthan Dronacharya Public School, Raipur, Chhattisgarh Vaikan School, VidhanSabha Marg, Raipur, Chhattisgarh Rahul International School, Thane, Maharashtra Pioneer Public School, Pune, Maharashtra PV's Public School, Malappuram, Kerala Mother Theresa Memorial Central School, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala Kartar Public School, Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir SAI RNS Academy, Dispur, Guwahati, Assam Sardar Patel Public School, MisroadHuzur, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh Gyan Einstein International School, Dehradun, Uttarakhand CBSE downgraded the recognition of these schools Among these three schools is Shri Ram Academy, Barpeta, Assam. The Vivekananda School, Narela, Delhi and The Shri Dasmesh Senior Secondary Public School, Talwandi Sabo, District Bathinda, Punjab.

Punjab: IPS officer Deepak Pareek takes charge as Bathinda's new SSP

Punjab: IPS officer Deepak Pareek takes charge as Bathinda's new SSP Ahead of Lok Sabha elections in the country, IPS officer Deepak Pareek on Saturday took charge as Bathinda's new Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and said that every activity in the district will be closely monitored. Security has been beefed up in the district ahead of the upcoming general elections. A paramilitary force has been deployed in Bathinda. Moreover, the district police have also been deployed at interstate locations. Security will be further tightened, and there will be more paramilitary deployments. Blockades will be done so that trafficking of weapons, liquor, and other illegal activities can be prevented. While speaking on this occasion, the SSP said that work would be done only according to the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. He further added that doing so would make the district crime-free and that the upcoming general elections could be done peacefully. Meanwhile, on Friday, to facilitate voters in Punjab during the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the ECI recognised 12 additional documents as proof of identity, in addition to the Election Photo Identity Card (EPIC), for casting votes on June 1, 2024. Any of these documents can be presented by the voter as proof of identity at the polling station. The ECI has issued directives stating that voters who do not possess an EPIC can use 12 alternative documents to establish their identity. Quoting the directives of the Election Commission of India, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Punjab, Sibin C, informed that voters without an EPIC can still cast their votes if they possess any of the following alternative documents: Aadhaar card, MGNREGA job card, Bank or Post office passbooks with photographs, Health insurance smart card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour, Driving License, PAN card, Smart card issued by RGI under NPR, Indian Passport, Pension documents with photograph, service ID cards (with photograph) issued by Central or State governments or Public Sector Undertakings/Public limited Companies, official identity card issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs, and Unique Disability ID (UDID) issued by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. (ANI)

Punjab: IPS officer Deepak Pareek takes charge as Bathindas new SSP

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Punjab Congress party chiefs wife may get Bathinda ticket

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Congress might drop two party MPs in the Lok Sabha polls and, though Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Raja Warring and leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa have shown their reluctance to contest, the party could ask them to take the poll plunge. It is likely that Warrings wife Amrita may get the party ticket from Bathinda. Besides, there is a possibility of a swap of seats between Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu and Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari. Party sources said though a clarity on seats and candidates is yet to emerge, discussions within the party indicate that at least two MPs may not get the ticket following their poor rating in party surveys. An AICC-appointed screening committee headed by Bhakta Charan Dass reportedly discussed at least thrice the outcome of party surveys, especially on dropping or swapping some MPs. The party is undecided over accommodating family members of senior leaders in the ticket distribution. A clarification is expected by next week. A screening committee will shortlist the names, said a party leader. Party sources said Warring and Bajwa, a former minister and general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Congress Sukhjinder Randhawa and former speaker Rana KP Singh are reluctant to contest. A final decision is yet to be made. These leaders, including former CM Charanjit Channi, could be asked to contest the elections, said a senior leader. The grand old party appears in wait-and-watch mode to avoid dissensions before the names of the contesting candidates are approved by the partys working committee. The Congress is watching developments in SAD and BJP, with reports that a formal alliance between the former allies is in the offing. Sources said, SAD was hesitant to re-align with the BJP due to unresolved issues.

In a 1st, SAD to toe 1 family, 1 ticket line, BJP talks on

CHANDIGARH: For the first time the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) will follow one family, one ticket rule while picking candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, party leaders said. Only one person from the Badal family will contest polls. Harsimrat Kaur Badal, sitting MP from Bathinda, is likely to contest. Her husband Sukhbir Singh Badal, the party president and also MP from Ferozepur, is not likely to contest, a party leader said. Meanwhile Union Home Minister Amit Shah said the BJP is in negotiations with its former partner SAD for an alliance in Punjab. Speaking at a conclave hosted by a private news channel on Wednesday, Shah said, Negotiations with Akali Dal are going on. During the negotiations, sometimes they come with an offer and sometimes we give them the offer. We want all old NDA allies to join us. However at the same time, the interest of party workers is to be ensured by getting adequate share in seats. Things will be clear in two to three days. Sources in SAD said the bone of contention between the two parties has been the issue of release of Sikh political prisoners (Bandi Singhs) and farmers demands. SAD wants assurance from the BJP on these issues. The core committee meeting of the party will be held on Friday where a decision is expected as many of the party leaders are in favour of the alliance but want commitment from the saffron party on these issues, a party leader said. Sukhbir is expected to be in Delhi on March 23 after taking a four-day break from the ongoing Punjab Bachao Yatra, party leaders said. Sources in both the parties said negotiations have reached final stages and seat-sharing agreement is being worked out. BJP wants six seats (Amritsar, Patiala, Ludhiana, Hoshiarpur, Anandpur Sahib and Gurdaspur) but SAD wants to give them five seats out of the 13 in Punjab, the sources said.

Age bar flouted? Centre seeks Moose Wala parents IVF details

Union health ministry investigates Sidhu Moose Wala's mother's IVF process as she conceived the child at the age of 58 in Bathinda, which is against the ART act. According to the law, the ART Act, 2021 age limit is 21-50. Penalties for violations include fines and imprisonment. Punjab's principal secretary is involved.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval Conferred Doctorate Degree by Central University of Punjab

Chandigarh: The Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, conferred a Doctorate degree in Literature (D.Litt) upon National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, with the honour being presented by former President Ram Nath Kovind. Ajit Doval, a retired Indian Police Services (IPS) officer of the Kerala cadre, and former Indian intelligence and law enforcement officer, received this recognition. Additionally, Ajit Doval emphasized the significance of strategic partnerships in regional security during the International Strategic Engagement Programme (IN STEP). This program, designed as a two-week strategic engagement at the National Defence College (NDC) in New Delhi, was organized under the auspices of the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). During his keynote address to 29 international delegates from 21 countries and 8 Indian officers, Doval highlighted the necessity of strategic partnerships in regional security and advocated for a collaborative approach towards nation-building processes. In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, and evolving threats, collaboration and knowledge-sharing among decision-makers are increasingly crucial. By fostering mutual respect and dialogue, shared options can be explored to enhance international security cooperation and foster resilient communities, stated Doval. Shashi Tharoor Accuses CPI of Dividing Anti-BJP Vote Former IPS Officer RS Praveen Kumar Joins Bharat Rashtra Samithi BJP MLA Ketan Inamdar Resigns, Cites Inner Voice

NSA Ajit Doval conferred D.Litt at Central University in Bathinda

NSA Ajit Doval conferred D.Litt at Central University in Bathinda National Security Advisor Ajit Doval was on Tuesday honoured with D.Litt at the Central University of Punjab here. Doval, who has made a significant contribution to the nation during his decades-long illustrious career in national security, was honoured with the degree at a convocation event. He was conferred D.Litt (honoris causa) by the university vice-chancellor in the presence of former President Ram Nath Kovind. Addressing the gathering, Doval said, ''It is a privilege for me to be here. I extend my warmest thanks and greetings to the university, vice-chancellor and chancellor for conferring this award which is a matter of great pride and honour for me.'' ''I also take this opportunity to congratulate my younger friends who are going to make a great career ahead,'' he said on the occasion. Doval told the students at the convocation that ''it is for you to decide what are you going to do with this nation. It is very important... it is not only what this nation has contributed for your growth, your self-actualization, for your education and profession. What is more important is the expectations of this country for you to lead a better India hereafter.'' ''All of you are very lucky, you are members of that generation who are going to see a very powerful, a very prosperous and a very progressive India, which in the comity of nations will have a very great place,'' he said.

CPI hopes to get at least 15 seats in 8 states as part of INDIA

NEW DELHI: The Communist Party of India (CPI) has identified at least 15 constituencies in eight states including Bihar, Assam, Manipur and Jharkhand, where it wants to contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections under electoral pact of opposition parties as part of Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA). The general secretary of the CPI, D Raja said that the party might soon announce its nomination for the identified seats subject to its negotiation with INDIA bloc members mainly with the Congress. The Left party has zeroed in one seat each in Manipur, Telangana, Maharashtra, Punjab, Assam and Jharkhand under the electoral alliance from the Congress. The CPI has already announced its candidate for one of the two seats in Manipur. It has fielded partys senior member and state unit general secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) Laishram Sotinkumar Singh in the Inner Manipur constituency. Miffed over Wayanad, CPI says Congress must keep coalition dharma In Telangana, it is seeking Warangal Lok Sabha seat. In Maharashtra, it is expecting Shirdi constituency, Bathinda in Punjab and Jharkhands Hazaribagh. Notably, its state leadership in Jharkhand last week announced to go alone and to contest in eight seats in the state. We have decided to contest the Lok Sabha polls on our own, CPI state secretary Mahendra Pathak told PTI. In west Bengal, the CPI is staking claim to three seats including Ghatal and Medinipur from which it has been winning in the past. Raja further stated that talks are underway for three constituencies in Bihar too. The probable seats are Banka, Begusarai and Madhubani. Raja said that our state leaders are holding talks with their counterparts of political parties including Congress, which are part of the alliance and he is optimistic about a positive outcome. He added that hopefully the Congress would demonstrate maturity like what Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president MK Stalin showed in the state while sparing seats for coalition partners. Discussions pertaining to the identified seats are being held at state level. In case, something is to be conveyed to the national leadership or my intervention is required, I will talk. Seat sharing in Tamil Nadu has already been finalised and the CPI will be contesting on two seats in the state. Stalins seat-sharing arrangement illustrates maturity and understanding of prevailing political situations. The Congress should also be accommodative to each member of the alliance because the target is to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said Raja. As part of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), the CPI got four seats to contest in KeralaWayanad, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur and Mavelikkara.

Slain Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala's parents welcome baby boy

BATHINDA: The parents of late Punjabi singer Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, on Sunday welcomed a baby boy, nearly two years after the artiste was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa district. Balkaur Singh, Moosewala's father, announced the birth of the newborn on his Facebook page saying he and his wife Charan Kaur were blessed with Moosewala's younger brother. With the blessings of lakhs and crores of people who love Shubhdeep, the Almighty has blessed us with Shubh's little brother, Balkaur posted in Punjabi. The family is healthy and I am grateful for the immense love of all well wishers, he added. In his post, Balkaur also shared his picture holding the baby in his arms along with a welcome cake and Moosewala's photo in the background. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jindal Heart and IVF Bathinda (@jindal.heart.ivf) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Balkaur Singh (@sardarbalkaursidhu) In an Instagram post, Balkaur posed with the staff of the medical facility where the baby was born. According to sources, Balkaur, around 60, and Charan Kaur, 58, had opted for the IVF technique. There were reports that Moosewala's parents were expecting a child, but days ago Balkaur had asked fans to not believe in rumours. We are grateful to Sidhu's fans who are so worried about our family. There is a lot of speculation going on about my family. I request you not to believe all these rumours. Whatever news there is, the family will share it with all of you (sic) he had said in a social media post. Moosewala was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29, 2022. The singer-rapper had unsuccessfully contested the Punjab Assembly elections in 2022 on a Congress ticket from Mansa. Home Ministry designates mastermind of Sidhu Moosewala murder Goldy Brar as terrorist under UAPA

Lok Sabha polls 2024: Politically influential Malwa belt holds key in Punjab

As far as the parliamentary polls are concerned, eight seats - Ludhiana, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Faridkot (SC), Fatehgarh Sahib (SC), Patiala, Anandpur Sahib and Sangrur fall in the Malwa region. Two seats - Hoshairpur (SC) and Jalandhar (SC) - are in the Doaba region. The Majha region broadly comprises three parliamentary seats - Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Khadoor Sahib.

Lok Sabha polls: Politically influential Malwa belt holds key in Punjab

CHANDIGHAR: The Malwa belt in Punjab is always considered the biggest and politically influential region particularly during assembly elections, where if a party secures maximum assembly seats in this belt, it can easily form the government in the state. Punjab can broadly be divided into three regions Malwa, Majha and Doaba. Beyond the Sutlej river, it is called the Malwa region, the Doaba region falls between the Beas and Sutlej rivers, while Majha falls between the Ravi and the Beas rivers. As far as the parliamentary polls are concerned, eight seats Ludhiana, Bathinda, Ferozepur, Faridkot (SC), Fatehgarh Sahib (SC), Patiala, Anandpur Sahib and Sangrur fall in the Malwa region. Two seats Hoshairpur (SC) and Jalandhar (SC) - are in the Doaba region. The Majha region broadly comprises three parliamentary seats Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Khadoor Sahib. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress won eight parliamentary seats in Punjab, bucking the pro-Modi trend seen across northern and central India in that general election. It won Ludhiana, Anandpur Sahib, Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot from the Malwa region, and Amritsar and Khadoor Sahib in the Majha region. It also won Jalandhar which is in the Doaba region. However, in the 2023 by-election, AAP wrested the Jalandhar seat from the Congress. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won from Bathinda and Ferozepur, which are in the Malwa region. AAP managed to win the Sangrur seat, which is also in the Malwa belt. The BJP won the Hoshiarpur (Doaba) and Gurdaspur (Majha) seats. However, in the 2022 by-elections, SAD (Amritsar) won the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat while AAP won the Jalandhar seat in 2023 by-election. The Malwa region has 69 assembly seats out of total 117 in the state. This region's sway over Punjab politics can be gauged from the fact that many leaders like Parkash Singh Badal, Amarinder Singh, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal, Beant Singh, Bhagwant Mann who became chief ministers of the state hailed from this belt. The Malwa belt was the epicentre of the farmers' agitation in 2020-21 against the now-repealed Centre's three farm laws. In the 2022 assembly polls, AAP swept the Malwa belt by winning 66 out of 69 seats in this region. The Majha region is also significant as far as politics is concerned. It is called the Panthic' belt. This belt is home to the Golden Temple in Amritsar. The Doaba belt has a sizeable population of the scheduled caste (SC) community. The SC community constitutes around 32 per cent of Punjab's population which is the highest in the country. Maximum non-resident Indians (NRIs) in Punjab also come from this region.

2 gangsters involved in multiple crimes arrested in Punjab: Police

2 gangsters involved in multiple crimes arrested in Punjab: Police The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of the Punjab Police has arrested two members of a gang that is allegedly involved in multiple crimes, officials said on Friday. Two pistols and 10 live cartridges were seized from the possession of the arrested men, they added. A preliminary investigation has revealed that the accused were carrying out criminal activities on the directions of two absconding gangsters, police said. ''In a major breakthrough, #AGTF, #Punjab has arrested two associates of Gurpreet Lehmbar and Jassa Nurwala gang: Jagdeep Singh @ Rinku and Balwinder Singh @ Babbu. The gang is involved in multiple heinous crimes such as murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, extortion in the areas of #Ludhiana, #Jagraon, #Moga, #Bathinda and #Sangrur,'' Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X. He said the arrested accused have a criminal history. ''Rinku was a proclaimed offender in an attempt-to-murder case registered in Moga. The other accused, Babbu, in June 2023 had fired upon an STF team at Neelon, Ludhiana and was absconding since,'' the officer said. The preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused were carrying out criminal activities on the directions of absconding gangsters Lehmbar and Nurwala, he added. Two pistols and 10 live cartridges have been seized from the possession of the accused, police said.

Kuldeep, Gurmeet in AAP's candidates list of eight for Punjab

AAP unveiled 8 candidates for Punjab's Lok Sabha polls, featuring Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Gurmeet Singh Khudian, and Dr. Balbir Singh. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal is set to contest from Amritsar, meanwhile Gurmeet Singh Khudian will contest from Bathinda.

LS Polls: AAP releases first list of 8 candidates for Punjab, fields 5 Cabinet ministers

LS Polls: AAP releases first list of 8 candidates for Punjab, fields 5 Cabinet ministers The Aam Aadmi Party Thursday released its first list of eight candidates for Punjab, fielding five Cabinet ministers for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. According to the list, Cabinet ministers Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal has been fielded from Amritsar, Laljit Singh Bhullar from Khadoor Sahib, Gurmeet Singh Khudian from Bathinda, Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from Sangrur and Balbir Singh from Patiala. Jalandhar MP Sushil Rinku has again been fielded from the seat. The party named Gurpreet Singh GP its candidate from the Fatehgarh Sahib seat. Singh, a former Congress MLA from Bassi Pathana, had recently joined the AAP. Punjabi actor Karamjeet Anmol has been fielded from Faridkot seat.

Farmers march to mahapanchayat, cops on toes

CHANDIGARH/NEW DELHI: With farmers in thousands from Punjab heading to the national capital for the kisan mahapanchayat on Thursday, the Delhi Police has said that it has given permission to the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) to hold the protests at Ramlila Ground after the umbrella organisation submitted that there would be no problem with law and order. However, the SKM said that they would hold sit-ins and block railway traffic if they are stopped from entering Delhi. DCP (Central) M Harsh Vardhan said, We have given the farmers a no-objection certificate and they have assured us that they will not get involved in activity which could create a law and order situation. They have given us an undertaking in this regard. The DCP said 5,000 people would be allowed to gather at Ramlila Maidan. No tractor-trolley, or procession will be allowed, he said, adding that the police have also sought deployment of paramilitary forces. If an inflammatory speech is made, the public address system will be turned off and speakers would be removed from the stage, the DCP said, adding that the farmer leaders have been asked to conclude their programme by 3pm. SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said that thousands of farmers, agriculture workers and rural people have started marching towards Delhi to participate in the mahapanchayat. If farmers are be stopped from reaching the national capital, it could lead to sit-ins and rail roko protests, he said. The farmers have been agitating for a law on the minimum support price (MSP) among other demands. Sources said more than 50,000 farmers from Punjab are heading to Delhi to attend the mahapanchayat on buses, trucks and trains. Traffic advisory The traffic movement will be regulated from 6 am to 4 pm on Thursday on Jawahar Lal Nehru Marg, Barakhamba Road, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, Tolstoy Marg, Asaf Ali Road, Jai Singh Road, Sansad Marg, Baba Kharag Singh Marg, Minto Road, Ashoka Road among other areas. 50,000 farmers Sources said more than 50,000 farmers from Punjab are heading to Delhi for the mahapanchayat in buses, trucks and trains. Farmers from Barnala, Sangrur, Amritsar and other places have boarded trains. Buses from Bathinda, Sangrur, Moga, Mansa and Patiala have left for Delhi.

PM Modi Unveils 112 National Highway Projects Worth Rs 1 Trillion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has kickstarted the development of 112 National Highway projects totaling around Rs 1 trillion in value across India. Making his way to Gurugram in Haryana for the ceremony, PM Modi not only initiated the projects but also launched the Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway, aimed at easing traffic between Delhi and Gurugram along NH-48. The Haryana segment of the Dwarka Expressway, stretching 19 kilometers and featuring eight lanes, has been constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 4,100 crore. It encompasses two sections: the 10.2-kilometer Delhi-Haryana Border to Basai Rail-over-Bridge (ROB) and the 8.7-kilometer Basai ROB to Kherki Daula. This expressway promises direct connectivity to Delhi's IGI Airport and the Gurugram Bypass. Among the major projects inaugurated by PM Modi are the 9.6-kilometer six-lane Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II)- Package 3 in Delhi, the Lucknow Ring Road in Uttar Pradesh, the Anandapuram - Pendurthi - Anakapalli section of NH16 in Andhra Pradesh, the Kiratpur to Nerchowk section of NH-21 in Himachal Pradesh, and the Dobaspet - Heskote section in Karnataka, among others. These projects, valued at Rs 20,500 crore, span various states across the nation. Additionally, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for several other National Highway projects, including the Bengaluru - Kadappa - Vijayawada Expressway in Andhra Pradesh, the Belgaum - Hungund - Raichur Section of NH-748A in Karnataka, the Shamli - Ambala Highway in Haryana, the Amritsar - Bathinda corridor in Punjab, and 39 more projects across India, amounting to Rs 32,700 crore. These initiatives are expected to significantly enhance the National Highway network, stimulate socio-economic growth, create employment opportunities, and bolster trade and commerce nationwide. PM Modi Distributes 1000 Kisan drones to 1000 NaMo Drone Didis New Elevated Highway Opens: Delhi to Dwarka in Just 30 Minutes

PM Modi holds roadshow in Gurugram, to inaugurate 112 National Highway projects

PM Modi holds roadshow in Gurugram, to inaugurate 112 National Highway projects Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Gurugram on Monday, as he arrived in the city to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 112 big-ticket National Highway projects spread across the country worth about Rs one lakh crore. To help improve traffic flow and ease congestion between Delhi and Gurugram on NH-48, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Haryana section of the landmark Dwarka Expressway. Right before the event, PM Modi along with Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inspected the Dwarka Expressway. The 19 km long Haryana section of the 8-lane Dwarka Expressway has been built at a cost of around Rs. 4,100 crore and includes two packages of 10.2 km long Delhi-Haryana Border to Basai Rail-over-Bridge (ROB) and 8.7 km long Basai ROB to Kherki Daula. It will also provide direct connectivity to the IGI Airport in Delhi and Gurugram Bypass. Other major projects that were inaugurated by the Prime Minister include the 9.6 km long six-lane Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II)- Package 3 from Nangloi - Najafgarh Road to Sector 24 Dwarka section in Delhi; three packages of Lucknow Ring Road developed at cost of about Rs. 4,600 crores in Uttar Pradesh; Anandapuram - Pendurthi - Anakapalli section of NH16 developed at a cost of about Rs. 2,950 crores in the state of Andhra Pradesh; Kiratpur to Nerchowk section of NH-21 (2 packages) worth around Rs. 3,400 crores in Himachal Pradesh; Dobaspet - Heskote section (two packages) worth Rs. 2,750 crores in Karnataka, along with 42 other projects worth Rs. 20,500 crores in different states across the country. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for various National Highway projects across the country. Major projects for which the foundation stone will be laid include 14 packages of Bengaluru - Kadappa - Vijayawada Expressway worth Rs. 14,000 crores in Andhra Pradesh; six packages of Belgaum - Hungund - Raichur Section of NH-748A worth Rs. 8,000 crores in Karnataka; three packages of Shamli - Ambala Highway worth Rs. 4,900 crores in Haryana; two packages of Amritsar - Bathinda corridor worth Rs. 3,800 crores in Punjab; along with 39 other projects worth Rs. 32,700 crores in different states across the country. These projects will significantly contribute towards the growth of the National Highway network as well as help in boosting socio-economic growth, enhance job opportunities and promote trade and commerce in regions across the country. (ANI)

PM Modi holds roadshow in Gurugram, inaugurates 112 National Highway projects

PM Modi holds roadshow in Gurugram, inaugurates 112 National Highway projects Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a roadshow in Gurugram on Monday as he visited Haryana city to inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of 112 big-ticket National Highway projects spread across the country worth about Rs one lakh crore. To help improve traffic flow and ease congestion between Delhi and Gurugram on NH-48, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Haryana section of the landmark Dwarka Expressway. Right before the event, PM Modi along with Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari inspected the Dwarka Expressway. The 19 km long Haryana section of the 8-lane Dwarka Expressway has been built at a cost of around Rs. 4,100 crore and includes two packages of 10.2 km long Delhi-Haryana Border to Basai Rail-over-Bridge (ROB) and 8.7 km long Basai ROB to Kherki Daula. It will also provide direct connectivity to the IGI Airport in Delhi and Gurugram Bypass. Other major projects that were inaugurated by the Prime Minister include the 9.6 km long six-lane Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II)- Package 3 from Nangloi - Najafgarh Road to Sector 24 Dwarka section in Delhi; three packages of Lucknow Ring Road developed at cost of about Rs. 4,600 crores in Uttar Pradesh; Anandapuram - Pendurthi - Anakapalli section of NH16 developed at a cost of about Rs. 2,950 crores in the state of Andhra Pradesh; Kiratpur to Nerchowk section of NH-21 (2 packages) worth around Rs. 3,400 crores in Himachal Pradesh; Dobaspet - Heskote section (two packages) worth Rs. 2,750 crores in Karnataka, along with 42 other projects worth Rs. 20,500 crores in different states across the country. The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for various National Highway projects across the country. Major projects for which the foundation stone will be laid include 14 packages of Bengaluru - Kadappa - Vijayawada Expressway worth Rs. 14,000 crores in Andhra Pradesh; six packages of Belgaum - Hungund - Raichur Section of NH-748A worth Rs. 8,000 crores in Karnataka; three packages of Shamli - Ambala Highway worth Rs. 4,900 crores in Haryana; two packages of Amritsar - Bathinda corridor worth Rs. 3,800 crores in Punjab; along with 39 other projects worth Rs. 32,700 crores in different states across the country. These projects will significantly contribute towards the growth of the National Highway network as well as help in boosting socio-economic growth, enhance job opportunities and promote trade and commerce in regions across the country. (ANI)

PM Modi to inaugurate, lay foundation stone for 112 National Highway Projects today

PM Modi to inaugurate, lay foundation stone for 112 National Highway Projects today Continuing his whirlwind campaign across 12 states over 10 days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will, on Monday, arrive in Haryana's Gurugram, inaugurating and laying the foundation stone for 112 National Highway projects spread across the country worth about Rs 1 lakh crore on Monday. To help improve traffic flow and ease congestion between Delhi and Gurugram on NH-48, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate the Haryana section of the landmark Dwarka Expressway, the PMO stated in an official release. The 19-km-long Haryana section of the 8-lane Dwarka Expressway has been built at a cost of around Rs 4,100 crore and includes two packages of 10.2 km long Delhi-Haryana Border to Basai Rail-over-Bridge (ROB) and 8.7 km long Basai ROB to Kherki Daula. It will also provide direct connectivity to the IGI Airport in Delhi and the Gurugram Bypass. Other major projects that will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister include the 9.6 km long six-lane Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II)- Package 3 from Nangloi - Najafgarh Road to Sector 24 Dwarka section in Delhi; three packages of Lucknow Ring Road developed at cost of about Rs. 4,600 crores in Uttar Pradesh; Anandapuram - Pendurthi - Anakapalli section of NH16 developed at a cost of about Rs 2,950 crores in the state of Andhra Pradesh; Kiratpur to Nerchowk section of NH-21 (2 packages) worth around Rs. 3,400 crores in Himachal Pradesh; Dobaspet - Heskote section (two packages) worth Rs. 2,750 crores in Karnataka, along with 42 other projects worth Rs. 20,500 crores in different states across the country, the PMO stated. Prime Minister Modi will also lay the foundation stone for various National Highway projects across the country. Major projects for which the foundation stone will be laid include 14 packages of Bengaluru - Kadappa - Vijayawada Expressway worth Rs. 14,000 crores in Andhra Pradesh; six packages of Belgaum - Hungund - Raichur Section of NH-748A worth Rs. 8,000 crores in Karnataka; three packages of Shamli - Ambala Highway worth Rs. 4,900 crores in Haryana; two packages of Amritsar - Bathinda corridor worth Rs. 3,800 crores in Punjab; along with 39 other projects worth Rs. 32,700 crores in different states across the country, the statement added. These projects will significantly contribute towards the growth of the National Highway network as well as help boost socio-economic growth, enhance job opportunities and promote trade and commerce in regions across the country, the PMO added. (ANI)

Train traffic hit in Punjab as farmers squat on tracks

In Punjab, farmers sat on railway tracks at many locations in 22 districts, including Amritsar, Ludhiana, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Firozpur, Fazilka, Sangrur, Mansa, Moga and Bathinda. Because of the disruption of train services, passengers experienced inconvenience.

'Rail roko' protest: Farmers squat on rail tracks in Punjab

CHANDIGARH: Farmers on Sunday squatted on railway tracks at many places in Punjab as part of a 'rail roko' protest called by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha to press the Centre to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP). Farmers raised slogans against the Centre for not accepting their demands. Because of the disruption of train services, passengers will experience inconvenience. The protest will be held from 12 noon till 4 pm. In Punjab, farmers had announced that they would sit on railway tracks at 52 locations in 22 districts, including Amritsar, Ludhiana, Tarn Taran, Hoshiarpur, Firozpur, Fazilka, Sangrur, Mansa, Moga and Bathinda. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher asked people to join the protest in large numbers. Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan), BKU (Dakaunda-Dhaner) and Krantikari Kisan Union, farmer bodies which are part of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, are also participating in the 'rail roko' agitation. Farmers protests: Tractor march in Haryana; dharnas outside residences of three Punjab BJP leaders The SKM, which had spearheaded the farmers' 2020-21 agitation, is not part of the 'Delhi Chalo' protest but has extended its support to the ongoing farmers' agitation at Shambhu and Khanauri points on the Punjab-Haryana border. The SKM (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mukti Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the government to accept their demands. Besides a legal guarantee of MSP, the farmers are demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commission's recommendations, pension for farmers and farm labourers, no hike in 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. The protesting farmers from Punjab have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13, when security forces stopped them from marching towards Delhi. The farmer leaders have rejected the Centre's proposal for procurement of pulses, maize and cotton at the MSP by government agencies for five years, saying it was not in farmers' favour. Our voice curtailed more & more everyday: Haravoo on farmers' protest docu dropped from film festival

Two held in Rajasthan with 70 gm heroin

Jaipur, March 9 (IANS) Two persons on Saturday were arrested in Rajasthans Pilibanga town, the police said, adding 70 gm of heroin was seized from their possession. The arrested individuals were identified as Jajwinder Singh and Baljindra Singh residents of Punjabs Bathinda district. Superintendent of Police, Vikas Sangwan, said that a special anti-drug abuse []

HC orders judicial probe into farmers death on Punjab-Haryana border

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday ordered a judicial inquiry into the death of 22-year-old farmer Shubhkaran Singh, who lost his life at the Punjab-Haryana border in alleged police firing. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji was hearing pleas regarding farmers protest on the killing of the young farmer. The bench also constituted a three-member panel comprising a retired High Court judge and two ADGP-rank officers from Haryana and Punjab to probe the matter. Investigations cannot be given to Punjab or Haryana for obvious reasons, the bench observed orally. The bench questioned Haryana on the kind of bullets and pellets used on protesters before observing that the death was a case of excess police force. Advocate Udhay Partap Singh, who is also the petitioner in the case, said that the court ordered the judicial probe into the death of Shubhkaran Singh. The probe will be conducted by a retired high court judge and two Additional DGP rank officers from Punjab and Haryana, he said. Reacting to the high court orders, the Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Partap Singh Bajwa said that the prime focus of the committee would be to find out the jurisdiction in which Shubhkarans death took place. It would also investigate the type of weapon used in the killing of the young farmer. The AAP government is still attempting to establish that Singhs death occurred in the jurisdiction of the Garhi police station of the Jind district of Haryana. However, the narrative failed to convince the division bench. Killed during protest A native of Bathinda, Shubhkaran was killed and 12 police personnel injured in clashes at Khanauri border point on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21. The incident took place when some protesting farmers were trying to head towards barricades.

HC says 'sad state of affairs' on armed youngsters, children in farmers' protest; forms panel to probe farmer's death

HC says 'sad state of affairs' on armed youngsters, children in farmers' protest; forms panel to probe farmer's death The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday formed a panel headed by a retired HC judge to probe farmer Shubhkaran Singh's death during a clash between protesting farmers and Haryana security personnel. It also expressed anguish that youngsters were seen with weapons and women and children were ''paraded in the front'' during the protest. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji, which was hearing petitions on the farmers' agitation, said that ''it was a sad state of affairs'' that youngsters were ''armed with lathis and at certain places with swords and spears and sharp-edged weapons'' and children were ''being exposed to violence''. The bench formed the committee headed by retired HC judge Jaishree Thakur to inquire into the various aspects of the case, saying the investigation regarding the death of Subhkaran, 21, cannot be entrusted solely either to Punjab or to Haryana for ''reasons obvious as both states have several things to cover up''. The committee will be assisted by Additional Director General of Police (Punjab) Promod Ban and ADGP (Haryana) Amitabh Singh Dhillon, according to the order. Shubhkaran, a native of Bathinda, was killed and 12 police personnel injured in clashes at Khanauri border point on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21. The incident took place when some protesting farmers were trying to head towards barricades and were stopped by security personnel from crossing the state border and marching to Delhi. ''In such circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that the matter needs to be supervised by a Committee headed by a retired judge of this court,'' said the court. ''The committee will give a report as to whether which of the police authorities will have jurisdiction to investigate the death of Subhkaran since the place of occurrence and the death firstly has to be confirmed as one state is shirking its responsibilities whereas the other is yearning to get its hands on the investigation,'' according to the order. The cause of death of Subhkaran and from which type of weapon the bullet/pellet emanated would also be within the domain of the committee, said the order. The committee shall also examine the issue of whether the use of force was commensurate with the situation and give its report, it said. The issue of compensation to be awarded on account of the death of Subhkaran shall also be worked on. After the Haryana government showed some pictures of the protesting gatherings showing the presence of some children and women, the court said it was a sad state of affairs that children who should be studying were being exposed to violence. ''Counsel for the State of Haryana has also handed over photographs of the gathering on the various dates i.e. 13th, 14th, 20th and 21st of February, 2024 which rather go on to show that apart from the younger elements which were armed with lathis and at certain places with swords and spears and sharp-edged weapons, they were also accompanied by women and unfortunately even children were paraded in the front. ''The claim of the counsel espousing the cause of the farmers also, after perusing the photographs which are taken on record, can be seriously doubted. ''It is a sad state of affairs that children who should be studying at the schools are being taught and are being exposed to violence when they are not supposed to be. ''Young minds being exposed to violent acts would lead to have a damaging effect on the psychology of such children and apart from that the threat of being injured on account of stone pelting which was taking place in the apparent riot-like situation,' said the order. The court ordered that both Punjab and Haryana will provide all facilities to the retired HC judge and the officers shall provide full assistance to her. ''It will be the discretion of the retired judge where to hold the meetings and make site visits in order to ascertain the responsibilities which have been fixed. The state of Haryana shall provide the necessary conveyance facility, it said. The exercise is to be completed within a month, according to the order. The said retired judge will be paid remuneration of Rs 5 lakh for the period of each month which will be shared equally by both the states. ''Both the states shall also ensure that adequate security by way of one PSO each is provided to the retired high court judge,'' it said. The court has fixed April 10 as the next date of hearing. The Punjab government has already registered a murder case in a Zero FIR in the matter. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops and a farm loan waiver. The protesting farmers have been staying at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana after their ''Delhi Chalo'' march was stopped by the security forces.

Punjab & Haryana HC orders judicial probe into death of farmer Shubhkaran Singh

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana High Court Thursday has ordered a judicial probe into the death of farmer Shubhkaran Singh , who died last month during clashes between farmers and the Haryana security personnel at Khanauri border. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji was hearing a bunch of petitions pertaining to the farmers' agitation. Advocate Uday Partap Singh, who is also a petitioner in the matter, said the court ordered the judicial probe into the death of Shubhkaran Singh. He said that the probe will be conducted by the retired HC judge and two ADGP rank officers of Punjab and Haryana. Shubhkaran, 21, a native of Bathinda, was killed and 12 police personnel injured in clashes at Khanauri border point on the Punjab-Haryana border on February 21. The incident took place when some protesting farmers were trying to head towards barricades. The Punjab government has already registered a murder case in a zero FIR in the matter. Farmers stir nationwide, says leader; Shubhkaran Singh's death caused by 'metallic pellets' The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march to press the government to accept their demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops and a farm loan waiver. The protesting farmers have been staying at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana after their Delhi Chalo march was stopped by the security forces. They began their march on February 13 but were stopped by the security forces, which led to clashes at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points on the Haryana-Punjab border. Farmer injured at Khanauri border: Amarinder Singh condemns 'barbaric' act by Haryana Police

Punjab Budget focuses on health, education

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year, totalling Rs 2,04,918 crore, was presented on Tuesday without the introduction of any new taxes. The budget prioritises education, featuring special proposals for Schools of Brilliance and Schools of Happiness. Health is another significant focus, though the anticipated financial assistance of Rs 1,000 for women above 18 years of age was not announced due to the states challenging fiscal situation. The budget encompasses numerous new initiatives, including the transformation of 100 government senior secondary schools into Schools of Brilliance and 100 primary government schools into Schools of Happiness. Cheema said that the government would not impose any new taxes and expects total revenue receipts to be Rs 1,03,936 crore in 2024-25, with Rs 58,900 crore from its own tax revenue. Additionally, the state anticipates receiving Rs 22,041 crore as its share of central taxes and Rs 11,748 crore as grants-in-aid from the Centre. The finance minister announced an allocation of Rs 16,987 crore for the education sector, which represents approximately 11.5% of the total projected expenditure. While presenting the budget, Cheema highlighted that the Aam Aadmi Party government has provided over 40,000 jobs in two years. He also mentioned that Rs 13,784 crore has been allocated to the agriculture sector and Rs 16,987 crore to the education sector. Cheema elaborated on the transformation of 118 government schools into state-of-the-art Schools of Eminence, with 14 such schools already operational. The government has allocated Rs 100 crore for this initiative in the upcoming fiscal year. He further explained the Schools of Brilliance program, aiming to elevate the quality of education and transform rural schools into learning centres for students from grades 6 to 12, with an initial allocation of Rs 10 crore earmarked for this purpose. Moreover, Cheema said that the government plans to transform 100 primary government schools into Schools of Happiness. This program will focus on providing well-ventilated classrooms, dedicated play areas, resource rooms, and activity corners, with a budget of Rs 10 crore allocated for this initiative in the fiscal year 2025. The budget allocates Rs 7,780 crore to cover zero electricity bills for domestic consumers receiving 300 units of free power. The free bus travel facility for women will continue, with a budget of Rs 450 crore allocated. Additionally, Rs 9,388 crore has been set aside for various social welfare schemes, including Rs 5,925 crore for social security pensions. The industry sector received an allocation of Rs 3,367 crore, including subsidies for power consumption. An outlay of Rs 2,695 crore has been earmarked for improving road connectivity. Cheema emphasized the governments success in consolidating the states revenue resources, achieving a 13% annual growth rate in State Own Tax Revenue. He also mentioned that the government has been providing an average of 55 jobs per day. In sports and youth services, Cheema proposed establishing 1,000 sports nurseries across all districts of Punjab for approximately 60,000 sportspersons aged 6 to 17 years. The government has also proposed the Malwa canal project, aiming to reduce reliance on groundwater and optimize the underutilized state share of Beas-Sutlej river water during the Rabi season. The new canal project aims to irrigate approximately 1.78 lakh acres, benefiting farmers in the Bathinda, Faridkot, Muktsar, and Ferozepur districts.

Farmers to intensify agitation, plan to stop trains on March 10

Bathinda: Farmers will stop trains across the country from 12 noon to 4 pm on March 10 on the call of Samyukt Kisan Morcha. On March 6, farmers from various states, except Punjab and Haryana, will head towards Delhi via buses, trains and other means. Call for protest in Delhi on March 6 Farmers from [] The post Farmers to intensify agitation, plan to stop trains on March 10 appeared first on Northlines .

Protesters to resume Dilli Chalo march on March 6

Chandigarh, March 3 (IANS) The Dilli Chalo will resume on March 6, protest leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said on Sunday. Pandher said this after the bhog ceremony of a protester, Shubhkaran Singh, in Punjabs Bathinda town. He said both the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (non-political) have decided the farmers across the []