Deepak Abbot, co-founder of Indiagold, has sparked a debate over quality of life in Indian cities after saying Gurgaon offers him a combination of lifestyle and earning opportunities that he has not found elsewhere. His comments on X drew mixed reactions, with users praising Gurgaon while others pointed to Chandigarh and the challenges faced across Indian cities.
Punjab govt responsible for violence in Lovely Professional University, says BJP
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 28 (IANS) Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) General Secretary Anil Sareen on Monday condemned the unpleasant incidents that took place at the Lovely Professional University (LPU) in Jalandhar. Sareen held the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government responsible for the incident. He said that people who had come from outside, carrying weapons, entered the university premises and attempted to enter the girls' hostels and misbehaved. He questioned who these people were who vandalised and indulged in arson at the university in the presence of the police. He added that students studying at the university could never set fire to their own classrooms and laboratories. Sareen said the level of the Punjab government had fallen so low that if one of its Rajya Sabha members, upset over the party's policies and corruption, joined another political party, adding that such politics was played against him. Questioning the law and order situation in the state, Sareen said that people who had come from outside were able to set the university on fire and leave, while the Punjab Police remained mere spectators. No steps were taken to ensure the safety of the students studying at the university, which is a matter of serious concern, he added. Sareen demanded a high-level and impartial investigation into the matter and strict action against those responsible. Meanwhile, Lovely Professional University blamed the entry of outsiders for the violence on its campus, which witnessed protests, vandalism and arson amid unrest among students. The university said that it was taking steps to strengthen security and maintain peace on the campus following the incident. The university's claim comes amid allegations by students that outsiders were involved in vandalism and arson during the unrest. However, the role of alleged outsiders and the circumstances leading to the violence are subject to investigation. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav visited the campus amid tension following violent student protests over the past two days. The visit comes after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann directed the DGP to visit the university and take stock of the situation following incidents of violence, vandalism and three police vehicles being set on fire during student protests.
AAP's Gayatri Bishnoi vacates Chandigarh bungalow
Bishnoi, who is the AAP's observer in Punjab, landed in the eye of a political storm after Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, in a video released on X, made an off-colour remark alleging that Bishnoi was staying at a Chandigarh government bungalow with former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia. Bungalow number 960 in Sector 39A had been allotted to minister Ravjot Singh.
Central team visits Kangra, Chamba, assesses damage caused by monsoon
Haryana CM asks officers to ensure effective monitoring of welfare schemes
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has directed officers to ensure that the benefits of government schemes reach eligible beneficiaries with complete transparency and that the effectiveness of these schemes is ensured at the grassroots level. He said that the objective of the best pracices adopted by departments should not merely be to increase figures, but to deliver tangible benefits to farmers, rural communities, women, youth and the general public. The Chief Minister was chairing a review meeting of key departments of the state government in Chandigarh on Monday. During the meeting, works being undertaken and technological improvements being introduced by the Departments of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Horticulture, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Development and Panchayats, Irrigation and Water Resources, and Cooperation were also reviewed in detail, a release said. The Agriculture and Farmers
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Laptops, sweets, courier goods: LPUs Uni Mall shops looted, damaged amid violence
Punjab Police handled LPU situation professionally, says AAP leader Baltej Pannu
The 72nd National Film Awards ceremony was held last week, on September 22, and among the proud attendees was Nidhi Parmar Hiranandani. Her production house, Chalk N Cheese Films, produced Srikanth (2024) with T-Series, and the Rajkummar Rao-starrer went on to win the Best Hindi Feature Film award. Understandably, Nidhi is on cloud nine. Chalk N Cheese Films has carved a distinct niche for itself. All three of its films so far Saand Ki Aankh (2019), Srikanth and the Marathi film Ata Thambaycha Naay (2025) have been inspired by remarkable real-life stories and presented in a mainstream, entertaining manner. Saand Ki Aankh and Srikanth, incidentally, were directed by Tushar Hiranandani, who is also Nidhi Parmar Hiranandanis husband. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Hungama, conducted just before her birthday, the enterprising producer opened up about Srikanths National Award win, her journey into films, her working equation with Tushar, her fascination with Karan Johar and a lot more. Where were you when you learned that Srikanth won the National Award? We were in Goa at my cousins place to celebrate Tushars birthday. I was sitting by the pool with a friend while he was sleeping inside. Suddenly, he came running out and said, Nidhi, we won the National Award. I thought he was dreaming! I told him, You must have dreamt about it. Go back to sleep. He replied, No, really, I just got a call from someone. We were staying in a remote area and neither of us had network on our phones. However, my friend did. She switched on the live stream of the announcement and thats when we saw that Srikanth had indeed won the National Award. It took us a minute to believe it. Soon, we were flooded with congratulatory calls. With Srikanth, an important point has been proven, or rather, disproven, that you need to lobby to win an award. We didnt do anything of that sort. The National Award jury did its job. They saw the film, liked it and awarded us. Even now, people ask us, How did you guys win? or Did you know so-and-so? When we went for the ceremony, we got a chance to meet people from different film industries across the country. Several of them told us that Srikanth deserved the National Award. Two encounters particularly stood out. Aanand L Rais wife told Tushar that the film really deserved to win. Shashwat Sachdevs father hugged Tushar and said that Srikanth was one of his favourite films. That felt really nice. How did the real Srikanth Bolla react to the National Award honour? He has been expecting this award from the very beginning (laughs). Ever since the day we narrated the final script to him, he kept saying, Our film will win the National Award. During the promotions, we literally had to tell him, Please dont say such things! He also dreamt of an Oscar. And he wasnt too far off, because Srikanth was among the films considered to be Indias official entry to the Oscars. It even made it to the top five! So, when we won the National Award, he was his usual nonchalant self. He simply said, I told you we would win! Often, films enjoy strong word of mouth but still struggle to find an audience because of the sheer number of releases. Srikanth, however, arrived at a time when there was hardly any major competition for almost three weeks. Do you think that worked in the films favour? The film had been ready for a while and we were looking for the right release window. The date shifted two or three times. Rajkummar Raos Mr & Mrs Mahi (2024) was also being planned for release around the same time, but it eventually arrived three weeks after our film. May 10, 2024, looked like a great date to us. We met Bhushan Kumar ji and requested him to release the film on May 10 because we felt it was an ideal window. He agreed, and thats how we announced the date. And yes, it turned out to be a dream release for us. What changes for you from here on? I feel we must have done something right to win the National Award, and wed like to continue on that path. At the same time, as makers, we want to evolve. We do want to explore more commercial cinema, but content will always come first for us. Even if we make something more commercial, it still has to have a strong story at its core. After Srikanth, we made Ata Thambaycha Naay, which was a small Marathi film. Its been a year since that film and two years since Srikanth, but its not as if we havent received offers or come across subjects to make. We did try going down the route of putting together a more commercial package, but we realised thats not really how we function. We need to connect with the script. So, even when we do make a commercial film, it will have to be something that genuinely speaks to us. How challenging was it to make Srikanth within a certain budget? I feel I was a very lucky producer because Tushar was the director. I would give him 100 out of 100. Hes a dream director for any producer because hes extremely mindful of the budget. Hes also a master at making a film mounted on a modest budget look beautiful. His DOP is very important to him, so he takes his time finalising the cinematographer. Sudhakar Reddy Yakkanti shot Saand Ki Aankh, while Srikanth was shot by Pratham Mehta. Pratham gave it his absolute best as well, and full marks to him. I dont understand the technical aspects too much. My only brief to Pratham was, Every shot should look like this is a Rs. 50 crore film, even though our COP was Rs. 20 crores! He and all our HODs worked within the budget and still delivered their A-game. Why is your production house called Chalk N Cheese Films? (Smiles) Thats because Tushar and I are like chalk and cheese! We are complete opposites as personalities, right from the kind of food we like and the way we dress to the places we like to visit. So, whenever we make a movie, both of us have to like it, which is actually very difficult! We have to meet somewhere in the middle and find common ground. Even our approach to filmmaking and shooting is very different. How did you get into this profession? I am from Chandigarh and I came to Mumbai to become a director. I was studying to become a CA, although I hated every bit of it. I hated accounts! I was a scholarship student and had topped Economics, which is why I was studying Commerce. Then, I went to watch Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998) with my mother and I went mad over the person who had made the movie (Karan Johar)! I didnt go crazy over Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol or Rani Mukerji. Instead, I kept wondering, Who is this person who has created this world? Thats when I started trying to understand what a director actually does. In the process, I became obsessed with KJo. He opened my mind to a medium that I had never taken seriously before. It completely changed my world, and that was the day I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in cinema. I left everything and came to Mumbai. I did a course at XIC (Xavier Institute of Communications) and started working. Later, I even got the opportunity to work at Karans company, Dharma Productions! So, in a way, he is the reason I came to Mumbai from Chandigarh. Are you still in touch with him? Of course. Karan will always have the warmest place in my heart (smiles). Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Srikanth makers Tushar Hiranandani and Nidhi Parmar Hiranandani announce Ragda 25; film based on Indian Armys first experimental batch of 25 women
After LPU violence, students head home as classes suspended; DGP warn vandals of action
Majithia alleges AAP revenge plot, Dipke flags 'outsiders' as LPU violence sparks political slugfest
'Leave us alone': 3 students say LPU posted rape 'truth' video without consent
Three female students from Lovely Professional University stated that a video of them was released without their consent. This video allegedly dismissed claims of a rape incident on campus involving a plumber. Following the allegations, students protested and vandalized property and blocked a highway for over 15 hours.
LPU unrest: 'Nobody will be spared', says Punjab top cop
DRDO, CSIR to develop lightweight bulletproof glass for armoured vehicles
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has joined hands with CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR-CGCRI) as technology partner for a Rs 50-crore project to develop indigenous advanced lightweight bulletproof glass for armoured vehicles. The four-year project, being executed with DRDO laboratories including the Naval Materials Research Laboratory (NMRL) in Maharashtra and TBRL in Chandigarh, is at an advanced stage and seeks to take the technology from laboratory development to large-scale manufacturing with an industry partner to be selected by DRDO. The technology is aimed at replacing imported transparent armour while reducing its weight and thickness by up to 50 per cent. The Rs 50-crore project is aimed at developing advanced indigenous bulletproof glass technology for defence applications and aligns our R&D capabilities directly with national strategic requirements, CSIR-CGCRI Director Bikramjit Basu told PTI. The project is focused on ..
'We have a serious problem': CJP's Abhijeet Dipke reacts to LPU unrest
Protests erupted at Lovely Professional University in Punjab following allegations of a rape committed on campus. Students vandalized property and clashed with police, resulting in several injuries and damaged vehicles. In response to the unrest, the university suspended classes for ten days and advised students to stay indoors. A police investigation into the alleged rape is underway, while the university denied the claims as rumors.
Students atop MiG-23, military tank: Dramatic visuals from LPU capture protesters torching vehicles
Free mein shopping: Videos show students looting LPU campus mall amid violent protest
Students say no rape incident happened in LPU video, then allege it was scripted
Lovely Professional University has taken precautionary measures by postponing mid-term examinations and halting regular classes for ten days. This decision follows disruptive protests concerning an alleged rape case involving a student. Students are advised to prioritize safety by returning home or remaining in their residences. The police investigation is underway with the identity of the suspect still unknown. University officials are appealing for calmness and cooperation from all parties involved.
Now, protest & violence rock LPU over 'rape-suicide' claims
201cr released to develop 3,763 SC majority villages as model villages
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Building collapse kills four workers, injures 9 in Ambala; several trapped
Cool spell keeps city pleasant, warm-up from Tuesday
Conduct has to be within Constitution: ED ex-deputy director quits Amritpals outfit after 4 days
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In Pakistan, plan for monument at Bhagat Singhs birthplace
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Bhagat Singh monument planned in Pakistans Faisalabad ahead of birth anniversary
LPU row escalates: Police lathicharge students, stones pelted, vehicles set ablaze
2 killed, 15-20 feared trapped as under-construction building collapses in Ambala
Waris Punjab De taps Sikh diaspora for poll push
1st ODI: Breaks can disrupt rhythm, continuous cricket keeps me going, says Prasidh Krishna
Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 27 (IANS) India fast bowler Prasidh Krishna on Sunday said he prefers playing continuous cricket over frequent breaks, noting that staying on the field helps him maintain his bowling mechanics and running rhythm. Prasidh is returning to action after a short breather via the first India-West Indies ODI in Thiruvananthapuram following the Test tour of Sri Lanka, where India won 1-0. It is exciting, actually. Three weeks of rest after Sri Lanka... coming back hot and sunny today, looking forward to this. There was a lot of rain in the last couple of days, so coming here to the ground and seeing this is pretty exciting. Absolutely, we're all upbeat, Prasidh said in a pre-game chat with the broadcasters on Sunday. Highlighting the double-edged nature of rests for fast bowlers, Prasidh, who has 50 ODI scalps in 28 games, explained that while downtime offers physical recovery, it can disrupt a pacer's operational flow. I'm enjoying the way I'm bowling. The preparation also has been great. I just like the fact that I'm playing continuously, which makes me be in that rhythm of going and bowling. Breaks are good and bad sometimes, because you tend to lose that rhythm, the running form, and the bowling mechanics. So, otherwise, I'm enjoying and happy to be out there playing every game for the country, he added. India and the West Indies will play further ODIs in Guwahati and New Chandigarh on Wednesday and Saturday, respectively. Quizzed on the challenges posed by modern and fast-paced 50-over cricket, Prasidh stated that precision in line and length has become non-negotiable for bowlers given how aggressively batters operate today. It's a combination of having a great length and line because the format has become such that no matter where we play, the batsmen have upskilled to a place where any little error that you make, they're in a position to punish you. As bowlers, we look at the lengths and lines we're bowling. It's pretty important for us to keep adapting to what the pitch and the conditions are, he concluded.
Saina Nehwal Flags Off Tri-City Marathon, Advocates Daily Fitness for All
Olympic medalist Saina Nehwal emphasizes the importance of daily fitness during the Tri-City Marathon in Chandigarh. Saina Nehwal Flags Off Tri-City Marathon, Advocates Daily Fitness for All
Unrest in another private university of Punjab over 'rumours'; students block highway
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 27 (IANS) Hundreds of students at a private university on the outskirts of Punjabs Jalandhar protested late on Sunday over rumours circulating on social media that a student had been raped on campus by an outsider, damaging property, setting fires and blocking a national highway, officials and students said. Police had not confirmed any rape complaint at the time of filing this report, and there was no independent confirmation of the alleged assault. The unrest at Lovely Professional University (LPU) resulted in protesters blocking the Jalandhar-Phagwara section of the National Highway for several hours, while property on the university campus was damaged and some items were set on fire, the police said. The LPU denied the allegations being circulated on social media. There is no truth in the rumours currently being circulated, LPU Registrar Monica Gulati said in a statement. She urged students, parents and the public not to believe or amplify the rumours and to rely on information issued through official university channels. Gulati said the university has come to know that anti-social elements were spreading what she described as false and fabricated information through social media and other channels, creating confusion among students and disrupting the academic environment. She said the circulation of the information appeared to be a deliberate attempt to malign the university and tarnish its reputation. Students protesting on campus said they wanted the authorities to register a first information report (FIR) and investigate their concerns. Some protesters alleged that a sexual assault had taken place and accused the university authorities of refusing to accept it. The students also alleged that outsiders were involved in the vandalism. The incident was the second major student protest at a private university in Punjab in the last two days, following unrest at Chitkara University in Rajpura in Patiala district. Hundreds of students protested at Chitkara University on late Friday and early Saturday after unverified social media rumours claimed two female students were missing. The unrest escalated into clashes with police, vandalism of two police vehicles and property damage on the campus. Both incidents highlight the speed with which unverified information circulating online can trigger big student gatherings and disruption at university campuses. Authorities in both universities were continuing to assess the situation and verify the claims that have widely circulated on social media.
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Punjab: Congress asks CM Mann to vacate ministerial houses from illegal occupants
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 26 (IANS) Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Saturday asked Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to get all ministerial houses vacated from illegal occupants. He also demanded that the government charge penal rent from the occupants, as had been done in previous cases. Warring criticised Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Gayatri Bishnoi for using foul language against Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, saying such abuse was unacceptable and Punjabis would neither forget nor forgive it. He held Mann responsible, alleging that the Chief Minister had surrendered before his Delhi bosses and was acting as a mute spectator. Who has allowed and authorised such people to occupy the ministerial houses, while the ministers in whose names these houses have been allotted are forced to stay outside? Warring asked. He referred to the allotment of a house in Chandigarh to then AAP MP Raghav Chadha, who has since joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Warring also alleged misuse of Punjab Police personnel and vehicles during Chadhas wedding in Udaipur, claiming public money was squandered. He further said Chadha had been allotted a palatial house in Chandigarh and an entire floor in Punjab Bhawan, New Delhi, exclusively for his use. Warring alleged that ministerial suites were allotted to personal assistants of AAP leaders. At the same time, other rooms in Punjab Bhawan were given to AAP workers from different states during campaigning in Delhi. The Congress leader questioned under what rules Gayatri Bishnoi and her parents had been allotted a ministerial house in Chandigarh. Even if this has been allotted for the treatment of her father, how many people from Punjab who come for treatment to Chandigarh are allotted such houses? he asked. Directing his criticism at CM Mann, Warring said, Did the people of Punjab elect you for this, that Punjabs ministers are not allowed to stay in their allotted houses and outsiders are allowed to occupy them? He added that Kapurthala House and Nabha House in New Delhi, as well as Circuit Houses, were being misused. This is not misuse, but complete abuse, and this has never happened before in Punjab, Warring remarked.
Sunil Jakhar accuses Punjab govt of taking credit for Centre schemes
Digital Desk | Chandigarh, Sep 26 (IANS) Former Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Sunil Jakhar on Saturday accused the Bhagwant Mannled government of trying to conceal its alleged financial mismanagement by taking credit for a Union government scheme and spending public money on advertisements. Addressing the media, Jakhar referred to newspaper advertisements publicising a Rs 750crore scheme for villages with a substantial Scheduled Caste population. He said the advertisements falsely portrayed the scheme as a state government achievement. Jakhar claimed that the funds were being provided under the Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY), which he described as a 100 per cent centrally funded scheme. According to him, the Union government bears the entire cost, with no financial contribution required from the Punjab government. He said the scheme has been operated in its current form since 202021 and provides development grants to villages where Scheduled Castes account for more than 40 per cent of the population. The Union government had identified 3,763 villages in Punjab for the scheme. Funds had already been released for 1,200 villages, and the remaining villages were expected to receive funds shortly. Displaying large newspaper advertisements carrying Chief Minister Bhagwant Manns photograph, Jakhar accused the state government of using public funds to claim credit for a centrally funded programme. He alleged the government had undertaken no comparable initiative of its own for village development and instead promoted its image through advertisements. Jakhar demanded an immediate apology from the state government. He also said the BJP would examine whether previously released funds had reached the intended villages or whether any money had been diverted to advertising before reaching beneficiaries. Jakhar criticised the state governments Mawan Dhian Satkar Yojana, saying the programme had failed to address the concerns of women from families affected by drugrelated deaths. He alleged that mothers and daughters were approaching the government seeking justice for sons and brothers who had died because of drugs, but were instead being offered Rs 1,000. He claimed the government was humiliating rather than respecting the women and suggested renaming the scheme Mawan Dhian Tiraskar Yojana, or the Disrespect for Mothers and Daughters Scheme. On the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Jakhar accused the Congress and AAP of staging protests for publicity rather than using the formal process available to voters. He questioned why the two parties were holding demonstrations instead of filing objections with the Election Commission if they believed legitimate voters had been removed from the rolls.
