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Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann flags off 50 vans to take Gurus message to 13k villages
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Governor Kavinder Gupta distributes artificial limbs to 15 beneficiaries in Shimla
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Over 30 social media accounts blocked amid Chanot water protest row in Hansi
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Haryana govt to host its 1st film festival in Nov
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Haryana raises rural sanitation workers salary by Rs 2,100
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After unprecedented summons, Akal Takht gives Punjab govt a month to change anti-sacrilege law
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Sunil Jakhar Criticizes CM Bhagwant Manns Actions
Chandigarh, June 29: BJP leader Sunil Jakhar has responded to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns statement regarding Aam Aadmi Party ministers and MLAs respectfully accepting the decisions of the Akal Takht. In a conversation with a news agency, Jakhar expressed his views on social media platform X, stating that the theatrics being performed by Mann ... Read more Sunil Jakhar Criticizes CM Bhagwant Manns Actions
Sunil Jakhar Criticizes Punjab CM Bhagwant Manns Actions
Chandigarh, June 29: BJP leader Sunil Jakhar has responded to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns statement regarding Aam Aadmi Party ministers and legislators respectfully accepting the decisions of the Akal Takht. In an interview with a news agency, Jakhar stated that he had posted on social media platform X, asserting that the drama being staged ... Read more Sunil Jakhar Criticizes Punjab CM Bhagwant Manns Actions
Chamba records first instant triple talaq case since 2019 act
Govt bound to consult Akal Takht on Sikh religious affairs: Warring
UPSC to shortlist panel for regular Punjab DGP today
Ajnala youth drowns in Slovakia; kin seek help to bring back body
AAP to examine Akal Takhts proposed amendments: Cheema
Congress, BJP, Akalis step up attack on AAP over anti-sacrilege law
Passing anti-sacrilege law without reading it is shameful: Badal
Cong attacks AAP over handling of anti-sacrilege law, Akal Takht proceedings
BJP slams legislators who gave assent to anti-sacrilege bill without reading it
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Hooda blames Saini govt for water, power crisis
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Governor hails Shoolini Fair as symbol of HPs cultural heritage
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BJP wins mayoral posts in Mandi, Congress retains Palampur; Dharamshala, Solan polls deferred
37 World's top 2% Scientists participate in Chandigarh University's 10th International Faculty Development Program 2026
Akal Takht directs Punjab govt to address objections on anti-sacrilege law within one month
CHANDIGARH: Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj on Monday directed the Punjab government to address objections concerning the anti-sacrilege law within a month. He passed this direction at a gathering of all Sikh MLAs and Cabinet ministers of Punjab after being summoned by Akal Takht in Amritsar. Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, on June []
Scuffle breaks out between 2 Nihang Sikh groups at Punjab's Sohana gurdwara
A minor scuffle briefly disrupted a felicitation ceremony for four Nihang Sikhs released on bail in the Karnaprayag clash case. The event, attended by Akal Takht jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, saw a brief altercation between two Nihang groups, quickly resolved by gurdwara management. No injuries were reported. The four were honored after securing bail following a June 16 clash in Uttarakhand.
Punjab and Haryana High Court Announces Recruitment for 167 Positions
Chandigarh, June 29: A significant opportunity has emerged for those seeking employment in the High Court. The Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh has officially announced vacancies for 167 positions, including cleaning staff. Among the 167 vacancies, there are 75 posts for cleaning staff (sweepers) and 92 for gardeners. The online application process commenced ... Read more Punjab and Haryana High Court Announces Recruitment for 167 Positions
Bhakra Beas Management Board Announces Recruitment for Apprenticeship Positions
Chandigarh, June 29: The Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has announced the recruitment of 10 apprenticeship positions for various trades under the 220 kV substation in Kurukshetra for the year 2026-27. The board has released a notification on its official website regarding this recruitment. Among the vacancies announced by BBMB, there is one position for ... Read more Bhakra Beas Management Board Announces Recruitment for Apprenticeship Positions
Punjabs Power Crisis: Akali Leader Criticizes CM Bhagwant Manns Governance
Chandigarh, June 29: Vikram Singh Majithia, General Secretary of the Shiromani Akali Dal, has criticized the Punjab government over the ongoing electricity crisis and its impact on farmers and paddy cultivation. He also commented on the recent video controversy involving Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Majithia stated, The Aam Aadmi Party government has failed on all ... Read more Punjabs Power Crisis: Akali Leader Criticizes CM Bhagwant Manns Governance
Doctors turn to jugaad QR codes, reels to manage OPD crowds at PGI
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Kataria launches Pulse Polio drive in Sector 22 MIC
Over 2,000 candidates take PU LLB entrance test
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Complete voter verification before July 14: Panchkula DC
Kashmir Sankalp Yatra: The longest expedition in-exile on Kashmir & Kashmiri Hindus
FRAGRANCE OF IDEAS When around two decades of exile of the Hindu minorities of Kashmir were coming to a near close in 2007, Panun Kashmir, in its annual general meeting at Jammu in January 2007, decided to raise the issue of Kashmir and Kashmiri Hindus in an unusual but effective manner throughout the country. It was, in the context of the Kashmiri Pandit struggle, surely an unconventional way of pushing the agenda on a public platform actively and consistently. Accordingly, it was decided to organise a two-month expedition to bring to light the coveted issue at the national level. The security situation in the entire Jammu and Kashmir state was, as usual, nearly out of gear, and the Kashmiri Pandit community continued to face apathy and neglect at the hands of both the governments, the central government and the state government, after experiencing the worst scenario of living as refugees in their own country due to their genocide and ethnic cleansing. Terrorism was active, and people were getting killed almost every day. There was a Congress-PDP government in the state under the chief ministership of Gulam Nabi Azad, and the Central government was governed by the Congress-UPA under the leadership of Manmohan Singh as the Prime Minister of India. It was expected that the expedition would be led by this author in the capacity of his being the President, Panun Kashmir. However, I was working in the State Bank of India, and it would have been almost impossible to snatch months together to plan, execute and lead the expedition that was named as 'Kashmir Sankalp Yatra' (KSY). In the month of March 2007, I was inspired to go for voluntary retirement from my service in SBI and devote full time to the community service, paving the way for joining the proposed KSY. It was surely an unprecedented act that could have brought disaster to the entire family in the future course of time. There was definitely some spiritual inspiration that drove me to take such a tough step in my life. My family didn't take any serious objection to it and backed me fully, thereby becoming a part of the whole thinking process. I hence applied for the same and was relieved by the bank on 30 June, 2007. With this, I ended my 25-year career with the SBI, which could have ordinarily lasted for ten years more. I was now having 24x7x365 days' availability for socio-political activity in the name of Kashmir & Kashmiri Hindus under the banner of Panun Kashmir. Immediate future plans included: to raise enough finances for the Yatra, inspiring activists to join the KSY as per their time availability, counseling with key KP organizations in Jammu and other places and also with the RSS and other nationalist organisations, making friends with the local and national media, publishing the desired literature in at least two languages -English and Hindi and making foolproof travel plans spanning near two months covering 9 states and 2 union territories. It took nearly four months to make all preparations regarding the KSY. It was finally decided to begin the Yatra on 11 November 2007 from the Kashmir valley. An elaborate press conference was organised in the first week of November 2007 at Jammu in which the dates for the Yatra were officially announced. A nine-member team was finalised to go to the valley. The advance party comprised Upinder Kaul, Vinod Mattoo, Shiban Krishen Raina, Nanaji Dembi, Ashwani Bhat and Bittoo ji. This team reached Srinagar on 10 November 2007 and started making all arrangements needed for the Yatra. On the same day, a 'press conference on road' was organised in the Old Secretariat complex, Jammu, where a demonstration was also held on certain pressing issues pertaining to the displaced community. In the early morning of 11 November, 2007, a three-member team led by this author left Jammu for Srinagar by air. The other members included Prof. H.L.Jalali and S.N.Dulloo. Adequate arrangements were made by the government to provide the necessary security cover to the KSY team in the trouble-torn valley; thanks to Kuldeep Khuda, the then DGP of the J&K state, for doing so. As we came out of the airport at Srinagar, we kissed the land of Kashmir and were joined by the security personnel and the advance party of the KSY outside the airport. It was for the first time in exile that a group of the displaced activists was visiting Kashmir on such a mission. From the airport, we straightaway drove to historic Sheetalnath-Sathu and paid our obeisances to the presiding deity - Sheetalnath Bhairav there. We also paid our tributes to the martyrs of the 1967 agitation at their 'samadhi' in the complex. At the end, we took an oath to keep the flame of our struggle alive till we achieve our Homeland in Kashmir. Upinder Kaul collected some sacred earth from the temple-steps to take it along with to Jammu. We later sent a part of it to the Shri Ramjanambhumi Nyas at Ayodhya when the foundation of the grand Shri Ram temple was laid there after the court verdict to enable its mingling with the sacred earth of the thousands of Tirthas of the country. The local Muslim neighbourhood at Sheetalnath gathered in the complex on noticing our arrival, but kept watching our activities keenly. The whole Sheetalnath complex, including the temple, was in shambles. The Hindu High School board was changed to 'H. High School. But there was a silver lining also to be observed, and it was the concrete wall all around the complex. The administration had taken that step some time ago and deserved kudos for that. From Sheetalnath, we went to Hanuman Mandir, Amirakadal and then to the ancient Pandrethan temple in the Badami Bagh cantonment area. Ultimately, we reached the Zeethyar temple in the Dal lake area under heavy security escort and stayed there for the night. It was a sight to be seen; the whole complex was so developed that it fascinated all of us. It was a grand achievement under the circumstances. We also had the sacred darshan of the presiding deity there and stayed in the complex for the night. It was surely a very hard and fearful night in the deep woods of the Zabarwan hills. That night before going to bed, we had an aarti in the temple of goddess Jeshtha Mata. The next day, in the morning, as per schedule, we organised things for the press conference to be held at Hotel Welcome near Nehru Park. The hotel complex was surrounded by the security forces. At exactly 11 am, the press conference started and lasted for an hour. After having an informal chat with the media after the press conference, the three-member team again went to the Srinagar airport and boarded the aircraft bound for Jammu. The advance party of six members stayed for the night at Zeethyar and returned to Jammu via Nagrota camp on 13 November, 2007. On the next day, ASKPC held a reception for the whole team of KSY at Geeta Bhawan, Jammu, under the leadership of its General Secretary, H.L.Chatta. With this came to an end the first phase of the KSY. On 15 November 2007, a press conference was held at Jammu in which the details of the first phase were shared with the media. Simultaneously, the schedule and other details about the next three phases were also placed before them. On 16 November, the second phase of the yatra began with the visit of the entire team of Panun Kashmir to all camps of the displaced persons at Muthi, Purkhoo, Mishriwala and Nagrota. The team in the next two days paid visits to Bavey Wali Mata, Raghunath Mandir and Pashupatinath Mandir in Jammu. The second phase of the yatra from Jammu to Ahmedabad was initially joined by one hundred activists comprising men, women and the youth. The first stop was at Amritsar, where we visited Darbar Sahib and were specially felicitated by the Head Granthi there. Thereafter, the yatra also visited Jallianwallan Bagh and Durgiyana Mandir, followed by a press conference the next day. The Kashmiri Pandit Sabha, Amritsar, made all arrangements for the stay and meals of the yatris. Hereafter, the KSY moved on towards Delhi via H.P., Chandigarh, Chandigah and Haryana in a Sumo jeep with a select group. Programmes and press conferences were held at all the main places where the yatra stopped for a halt throughout. It included Chandigarh and Ambala. A number of programmes were held in Delhi, Faridabad and Ghaziabad (UP). All India Kashmiri Samaj and Kashmiri Sahayak Sabha, Faridabad, under the leadership of M.K.Kaw and J.N. Kaul, respectively, organised special reception programmes for the KSY at their offices. A press conference was held in the Press Club of India. Here in Delhi, Utpal Kaul, a senior activist of the community and Panun Kashmir, joined the yatra team up to Jodhpur. The next destinations included Jaipur, Udaipur and Jodhpur in Rajasthan, where impressive gatherings and media conferences were organised. Thereafter, the yatra reached Ahmedabad and stayed there for four days. The programmes there included visits to Aksher-Dham, Sabarmati Ashram, Kashmiri Pandit Milchar association and a press conference. Here, the second phase was concluded, and the third phase began, for which we reached Nagpur (Maharashtra) by train. The other members of the team changed here, and a new team reached Nagpur directly from Jammu. The team was welcomed in Nagpur, Nanded Sahib and Pune, where big programmes and press conferences were organised. Thousands of people attended those programmes. The Yatris were specially felicitated in the Nanded Sahib Gurudwara; the Rotary Club also invited the yatra team, especially over a programme followed by dinner. In Nagpur, the team went to the RSS headquarters and paid tributes at the Smriti Mandir. In all the programmes throughout, the issue of Kashmir and the Kashmiri Hindus was discussed and debated at length, giving out the full perspective of Islamic terrorism and its effects on the Kashmiri Pandit minorities. The causes of displacement and the neglect thereafter were also put in detail in the RSS-organised programme in the RSS office at Pune. From Pune, the yatra reached Pathankot (Punjab), where it was joined by hundreds of yatries who came from Jammu and organised a grand programme on the banks of the river Ravi. Amarnath Vaishnavi, the President of ASKPC, joined the yatra here and was the Chief guest in the programme. From the banks of the river Ravi, the yatra reached the Lakhanpur bridge. It was here that the third phase of the yatra got concluded, and the fourth and the last phase began, which was to be completed on foot up to Jammu. Vimla Chrungoo, Secretary-DOPK, volunteered to accompany this author for 'pad-yatra' from Lakhanpur to Jammu, which consumed seven days with night halts at Kathua, Hiranagar, Chichi-Mata Samba, Vijaypur, Greater Kailash and Vaishnavi Dham, Railway Station, Jammu. On 28 December 2007 (Margdarshan Day), the Kashmir Sankalp Yatra reached the banks of the Ranbir Canal at Rajinder Park, Jammu, where a grand reception was held by the leaders and the activists of various organisations led by veteran H.N.Jattu. For the next three days, the yatra team had a round of all the displaced camps and the Har-ki-Pauri on the banks of the river Tawi near Bahu fort. On 31st December 2007, the Yatra concluding programme was held on the foundation day of Panun Kashmir at TRC-Hall, Jammu, which was attended by the major organisations of the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community and the Sikh community. With this came to an end the 'Kashmir Sankalp Yatra' of 2007, which was the longest expedition of the displaced activists during their exile on the issue of Kashmir and the Kashmir Hindus. The details of the KSY during the years ahead will need another day to come to light....! (The author is a senior BJP and KP leader, Human Rights Defender and a columnist and can be reached at: ashwanikc2012@gmail.com )
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'Pain Has No Religion': Kashmiri Pandit Filmmaker's Message of Unity
Romaish Pandita's Dugh Chei Kunie highlights shared suffering of Pandits ,Muslims Srinagar: Kashmiri Pandit filmmaker Romaish Pandita, originally from Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district, has produced a film titled Dugh Chei Kunie (Pain is the Same), portraying the shared suffering of Kashmiris during the decades-long conflict. Pandita's family migrated from the Kashmir Valley during the peak of militancy in the 1990s and is now settled in Chandigarh. Despite living away from his homeland for decades, he says his connection with Kashmir remains deeply rooted, inspiring him to tell a story of pain, hope, and reconciliation. Speaking to Rising Kashmir, Pandita said the film was shot in different parts of the Kashmir Valley and focuses on the emotional trauma experienced by both Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims. The central message of the film is that pain has no religion. The suffering of a Kashmiri Pandit is the same as that of a Kashmiri Muslim, whether they live on this side of the Banihal Tunnel or the other. Kashmiri Pandits are incomplete without Kashmiri Muslims, and Kashmiri Muslims are incomplete without Kashmiri Pandits, he said. Explaining another important dialogue from the film, Pandita said the Valley cannot truly reclaim its centuries-old Rishi-Sufi tradition until the displaced Kashmiri Pandit community returns to its homeland. Kashmir is incomplete without the return of Kashmiri Pandits. Only when they return can the true spirit of Kashmiriyat and the Rishi tradition be restored, he said. Pandita also expressed optimism over the increasing number of Kashmiri Pandits visiting the Valley in recent years. He said that large numbers of devotees have visited the historic temple at Mattan in Anantnag, participated in the annual Kheer Bhawani Mela in Ganderbal, and recently visited the Abhinavagupta Cave at Beerwah in Budgam district. This was the first time in decades that such a large number of Kashmiri Pandits visited the Abhinavagupta Cave at Beerwah. It gives hope that those who left the Valley nearly 36 years ago are gradually reconnecting with their roots, he said. Pandita also thanked the residents of Beerwah for warmly welcoming the visiting Kashmiri Pandits. I am grateful to the people of Beerwah for their hospitality and support. Their warm welcome reflects the spirit of brotherhood and strengthens hope for lasting peace and reconciliation in Kashmir, he added. Through this movie, Pandita seeks to promote a message of communal harmony, shared suffering, and the hope of rebuilding bonds between communities that once lived together in the Valley.
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Vikram Singh Majithia Criticizes Punjab Government Amidst Power Crisis
Chandigarh, June 28: Vikram Singh Majithia, a leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal, has launched a strong attack on the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab. In a post on the social media platform X, he stated, The Punjab government has gone back on all its promises. Farmers are not receiving electricity for farming. Currently, ... Read more Vikram Singh Majithia Criticizes Punjab Government Amidst Power Crisis
Ladakh fines Rs 2 lakh penalty on four tourists for illegal off-roading in protected areas
Ladakh authorities have levied a Rs 2 lakh fine on four tourists for illegal off-roading in protected wildlife areas, including Pangong Lake. This marks the first stringent action against such violations, aimed at preserving the region's fragile ecosystem. The offenders, from Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, were caught driving through sensitive zones, leading to vehicle impoundment until penalties were paid. The administration vows continued strict enforcement.
Kargil, June 28: The Ladakh Administration has launched a strict crackdown on illegal off-roading in ecologically sensitive areas, imposing a total penalty of 2 lakh on four tourists for violating the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Acting on the directions of Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena, the Wildlife Department fined four vehicle owners 50,000 each for illegally driving into Pangong Lake and other protected wildlife areas in Changthang and Nubra. The offenders hailed from Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Officials said the action marks the first time such stringent penalties have been imposed in Ladakh against tourists damaging fragile ecosystems through illegal off-roading. The vehicles were impounded during the investigation and released only after the penalties were paid. Lieutenant Governor Saxena urged tourists to act responsibly and avoid venturing into protected wildlife habitats, warning that off-road driving in or around such areas is a punishable offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. He said the administration will continue to take strict action against violators to safeguard Ladakhs fragile ecosystem and endangered wildlife.
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