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Himachal Congress will be re-constituted within three months, says State unit chief Vinay Kumar
CHANDIGARH: With an eye on the 2027 assembly elections, the Himachal Pradesh Congress unit president Vinay Kumar said the Himachal Pradesh Congress will be re-constituted within three months. He said that the block presidents would be appointed first, followed by district presidents and then the state working committee. Kumar emphasised the need for unity within the party, highlighting his strong relationships with party members and his aims to bring equality and adequate representation for women and youth, especially from panchayat elections, in preparation for the 2027 assembly polls. All posts come with challenges. For the past year, there has been no Congress organisation in the state. I have been appointed as the state Congress president to unite everyone, as I have good relations with all. Once the team is in place, we will start preparing for the 2027 Assembly elections to repeat the 2022 success, said the three-time MLA from Renukaji Assembly constituency. He said that the diligent efforts were made by the state government during the recent monsoon disaster, particularly evident in the hardest-hit area of Mandi. An upcoming event will commemorate three years of Congress governance and focus on informing the public of the governmental efforts, he added. The 47-year-old Kumar was appointed as the new Congress state chief on November 22 after more than a year without a leader. He took charge on November 30. On November 6, 2024, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge dissolved the Pradesh Congress Committee in Himachal Pradesh, along with the district and block units, effective immediately. Despite this, Pratibha Singh remained in her position as state Congress chief.
Punjab: Railways to revive century-old QadianBeas line
CHANDIGARH: With 14 months remaining before the Punjab Assembly elections, the wait for the 40 km QadianBeas rail line is finally nearing an end after 100 years. The Indian Railways has officially decided to restart work on the project, even though construction had begun nearly a century ago under the British. The line had remained in the freeze category for years due to alignment constraints, land acquisition issues, and local political roadblocks. Sources said that a letter from the Chief Administrative Officer (Construction), Northern Railway, states that the Railway Board has sought the immediate defreezing of the project and the re-submission of the detailed estimate for early sanction so construction can begin. Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Singh, alias Bittu, directed officials to defreeze the project. He said his focus remains on initiating new projects, completing pending ones, and reviving those abandoned due to unforeseen challenges. I knew the importance of this project. Hence, I asked the officials concerned to remove all impediments and restart construction work. This track will give a major boost to the struggling industrial units of Batala, the regions steel town. He further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw have made it clear that funding will not be a hurdle for Punjabs railway development. This rail track was planned and sanctioned in 1929 by the British government. The line was to be constructed by the North Western Railway. However, in 1932, the project was halted after nearly 33 per cent of the track had been completed. It resurfaced in the 2010 Railway Budget under the socially desirable projects category, which focuses on inclusive transport access regardless of profitability. However, financial concerns raised by the Planning Commission once again stalled progress. Welcoming the fresh initiative by the Ministry of Railways to revive the long-delayed project, Senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa expressed hope that the New Year would finally bring the breakthrough the people of the region have awaited for nearly a century. Bajwa extended gratitude to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and MoS Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu for moving the project out of a prolonged bureaucratic freeze. He recalled that the QadianBeas link was first strongly pursued during his tenure as a Member of Parliament, when he persuaded then Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee to prioritize it. He also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017, urging him to initiate work on the project. He said the rail link represents not merely an infrastructure requirement but a century-old aspiration of the people, as work on this line was first initiated under British rule in 1928 and has faced repeated delays despite its formal sanctioning in 2010. Bajwa noted that the 40-km line, originally estimated at 205 crore, has now escalated to around 840 crore due to years of administrative inertia. The demand highlights the collective will of residents, industrialists, and religious communities across Qadian, Beas, and Batala for its early completion. He emphasized the immense socio-economic value of the project, particularly for Qadian, which serves as the international headquarters of the Ahmadiyya sect and receives a steady flow of domestic and global visitors. He added that the rail link would significantly benefit Batalas industrial sector by providing direct access to the AmritsarDelhi corridor, and would also facilitate the movement of pilgrims visiting Dera Beas and the Baba Namdev Dera at Ghuman, thereby enriching the regions spiritual and cultural connectivity. Bajwa further stressed the strategic importance of the QadianBeas line, explaining that it would provide an alternative supply route to Jammu and Kashmir and greatly strengthen military logistics a factor of considerable national interest. He urged the Ministry of Railways to approve the detailed estimate without delay so that work on the ground may begin promptly.
Himachal: Man loses fingers in explosion; police probe manufacture of explosives as cause
HAMIRPUR: A man lost four fingers in an explosion that occurred at a shop in Barsar town in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur district on Saturday morning, police said. The explosion was sudden and so intense that it took locals by surprise. Atul (22), a resident, sustained serious injuries to his fingers and hand. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital in Barsar, from where he was transferred to the PGI, Chandigarh, for treatment. Atul was working on the roof of his friend's bike repair shop when the loud explosion took place. An eyewitness said that three people were present at the scene, and police are currently searching for the other two individuals using CCTV footage. In his statement to the police, Atul noted that the explosion was caused by Diwali firecrackers. However, the police reckon the evidence at the scene suggests a different scenario, and have registered a case, expressing suspicions regarding the incident. The police are working to identify and locate the two other individuals who were allegedly present at the scene. The team inspected the site and collected evidence, police said. Confirming the incident, DSP Lalman said that the police were investigating every aspect leading to the blast. While Atul claims that firecrackers caused the explosion, authorities have launched an investigation to explore the possibility of explosives being manufactured at the location.
Punjab LoP moves HC seeking extension of nomination deadline for Zila Parishad, Block Samiti polls
CHANDIGARH: Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking an extension of the last date for filing nomination papers for Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections. They are alleging that widespread incidents of tearing, snatching and destruction of nomination forms on December 4 had prevented several candidates from filing valid nomination forms Also, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) demanded that the deadline for filing nominations in all areas where there were complaints of highhandedness and discrimination should be extended to allow for free and fair polls. In his petition, Bajwa maintained, Cases of illegal detentions, persons being waylaid and picked up, and candidates not allowed to reach the venue, etc., took place. There were videos and photos captured that showed persons running away with candidates nomination papers, fights taking place, brawls breaking out, candidates not allowed to reach the venue, NOCs not issued, and officials concerned nowhere to be found, Bajwa added. If, during an election, the very police that are supposed to ensure free and fair elections would start indulging in the abuse of power, undermining the law of the land and restraining the Opposition candidates from filing nomination papers, the faith of the people would be shaken in the democratic process. Therefore, an immediate time-bound investigation is initiated by a Central agency in the matter concerned, he said. Punjab Congress leader Warring accuses AAP government of patronising gangsters to win elections Bajwa sought directions to the State Election Commission to constitute an independent monitoring mechanism or appoint observers to ensure peaceful, fair and transparent polls. He also pressed for an inquiry by the CBI or any other Central agency into the conduct of Patiala SSP Varun Sharma, following the surfacing of an alleged audio recording purportedly directing police personnel among other things to disrupt the nomination process. Advocate Arshpreet Khadial appeared for Bajwa before the Chief Justice to make an oral mention. The request was allowed by the High Court, and now the matter will be taken up on December 8. Senior SAD party leader Dr Daljit Singh Cheema also called for nomination of independent Observers for the polls, besides demanding stringent action, including charge sheeting of police and civil officials who had vitiated the election atmosphere by acting as stooges of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The party will also submit the names of Returning Officers who have acted in a partisan manner and rejected forms of opposition leaders en masse, and appeal that they should not be put on duty in the general elections in 2027. Cheema also came down heavily on the State Election Commission (SEC). Buzz over former Punjab CM Amarinder's advocacy for BJP-SAD alliance sparks possibilities of revival of ties He said it was condemnable that at a time when democracy was being murdered in the State, and the SEC had chosen to look away. This raises disturbing questions about the integrity of the SEC as it has failed to supervise the elections fairly and impartially and has also refused to take action against police officers, including Patiala SSP Varun Sharma, who specifically directed police officials to stop opposition candidates from reaching the offices of Returning Officers by resorting to illegal and unconstitutional means. Meanwhile, giving details of mass-level rejection of SAD candidates, Cheema said that in the case of Tarn Taran, out of 72 Zila Parishad seats, forms of party candidates had been rejected in 41 seats. He said in case of Block Samitis, in Tarn Taran, 31 forms across 63 seats had been rejected, in Gandiwind 37 forms across 52 seats, in Khadoor Sahib 43 forms across 151 seats, in Patti 56 forms across 75 seats, in Bhikhiwind 77 forms across 100 seats, in Valtoha 56 forms across 78 seats and in Naushehra Pannuan 40 forms across 83 seats had been rejected. Cheema said similarly in the Block Samiti seats in Majitha, 12 SAD candidates were not allowed to file nominations. He said in Bhoa and Zira, no SAD candidate was allowed to file a nomination. He said in Raja Sansi candidature of 25 out of the 35 SAD contestants were rejected for the Block Samiti elections, and in the case of Baba Bakala, 18 forms across 49 seats were rejected. He also disclosed how in Fatehgarh Churian, 2 forms out of 4 Zila Parishad seats and 14 forms across 25 Block Samiti seats were rejected. He also added that a large number of SAD candidates were not allowed to file their nominations in Qadian, Jaitu, Ghanaur, Nurpur Bedi, Patran, Khanauri, Jandiala and Ajnala
Chandigarh extends exemption for establishments with up to 20 workers under Punjab Shops Act
Chandigarh has adopted the Punjab Shops and Commercial Establishments (Amendment) Act, easing compliance for small businesses. Establishments with up to 20 workers are now exempt from most provisions, while those with more than 20 employees will receive registration approval within 24 hours, streamlining the process and reducing the 'Inspector Raj'.
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Punjab farmers disrupt rail traffic to protest Electricity (Amendment) Bill
Jaggi Johal belongings untraceable from police custody: Advocate
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HP assembly sends land reforms amendment bill to Select Panel
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PGI panel to review inclusion of faculty children as co-authors on research papers
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Panel objects to teachers being assigned election duties
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NGT seeks report on violations of biomedical waste disposal in Sangrur
400 new e-rickshaw permits to be issued across HP
Himachals women voter gender ratio rises to 983
Call special session on Chandigarh issue: Hooda
Haryana amends guideline on foreign visits of officers
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Tanya smashes own record, wins hammer throw gold at KIUG
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CS raps officials over poor response to PM Surya Ghar
Annual sports meet of Institute for the Blind
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2 Jind varsity assistant professors booked for sexual harassment
14 village panchayats want to come out of MC limits
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Remove waste from Dadumajra, UT upkeep is your responsibility
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Amid rampant waste burning, Safai Sewaks & ragpickers trained to keep Mohali clean & smoke-free
Central Govt makes U-turn, cancels Gang Canal anniversary celebration fearing backlash in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: With Punjab Assembly elections just 14 months away and fearing political backlash, the BJP-led Union Government made a U-turn by cancelling the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Gang Canal, which had been scheduled for today at Hussainiwala in Ferozepur. The canal carries water from Punjab to parts of Rajasthan, and the event was considered politically sensitive. This marks the fourth reversal in a little over a month by the Centre in order to avoid further controversy. Sources said Union Minister of Law and Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Member of Parliament from Bikaner, had landed at Amritsar International Airport on Thursday evening en route to Ferozepur. However, he did not leave the terminal and instead boarded a return flight after reportedly being asked to return. According to sources, the decision was taken because holding the event risked unrest, with farmers and political parties preparing protests against the celebrations. Senior Punjab BJP leaders had also alerted the central leadership that proceeding with the event could turn sour for the party in the state. Already the intelligence agencies had warned that Meghwals visit might lead to protests once news of the function became public late yesterday, said an official. Punjab BJP leader Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, formerly with the Congress, had been organising the event at Hussainiwala in Ferozepur district, where the canal originates. For many Punjabis, the mention of the Gang Canal reopens a century-old wound. Sources said top state leaders of the saffron party had instructed the central leadership that the state unit should not be associated with the event. The party has nothing to do with this program, as the interests of the state are paramount, it was an individual event organised by Rana Sodhi. We told the central leadership how this can backfire for the party in the state, and thus the minister was then accordingly instructed by the centre to return. We are grateful that the centre understood the sensitivity of the issue well in time, as the Gang Canal is a contentious issue in Punjab due to water sharing concern, said a senior party leader on condition of anonymity. Despite repeated attempts, Rana Sodhi was not available for comment. Senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa had already condemned the BJP for its insensitive and politically provocative decision to celebrate the centenary of the Gang Canal from Punjab's soil. The BJP has once again demonstrated its disconnect from Punjab's history and the emotions of its people, he said. Bajwa reminded that the Gang Canal was constructed by the British in the early 20th century, primarily to appease the Maharaja of Bikaner, whose loyalty to the British Crown was rewarded through generous allocations of Punjab's river waters. To organise a celebratory event on Punjab's land is nothing short of reopening these painful wounds, he said. Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said, Punjabs water crisis cannot be papered over with staged events and speeches. The BJP is glorifying a canal that historically drained Punjabs waters, while our fields remain parched. We are not against acknowledging history, but against hypocrisy. First, safeguard Punjabs water rights, fix the canal system, stop water theft, and ensure clean water for every farmer only then celebrate. The Gang Canal project, inaugurated on December 5, 1925 and named after Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner, was built to address famine and irrigation issues in the Bikaner region. Stretching 1,398 kilometers including distributaries, the canal runs along the northeastern Indo-Pak border and remains a vital water source for both regions. This is not the first reversal by the Union Government in the recent past. Earlier, it withdrew the notification regarding the Panjab University senate and syndicate polls, clarified that no final decision had been taken on the proposed bill to include Chandigarh under Article 240 (which would allow the President to appoint a separate Lieutenant Governor for the Union Territory), and rejected the Haryana governments proposal to construct a separate Assembly building in Chandigarh.
CHANDIGARH: Member of Parliament from Chandigarh, Manish Tewari, on Friday introduced a private members bill in the Lok Sabha proposing to extend the tenure of the Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation from the current one year to five years. The bill seeks amendments to the Punjab Municipal Corporation Law (Extension to Chandigarh) Act and related provisions to bring the tenure of the three top municipal posts at par with the five-year term of the Municipal Corporation itself. The primary aim of the bill is to provide administrative stability, strengthen urban governance and ensure long-term planning for Chandigarh. At present, the Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor serve only a 12-month term, resulting in an annual change in leadership. This disrupts major development projects, causes discontinuity, frequently shifts administrative direction and, due to political instability and yearly contestation, hampers governance. The proposed five-year tenure aligns Chandigarh with governance models of several major Indian municipal corporations and international urban local bodies. LIVE | Winter Session Day 5: Lok Sabha passes pan masala cess bill; TMC raises Bengali deportation row While introducing the bill, Tewari argued that Chandigarh is a modern, fast-growing urban centre where key projects, particularly in infrastructure, waste management, choe rejuvenation, mobility, housing reforms and environmental restoration, require multi-year continuity. He noted, A one-year mayoral term is far too short for a city of Chandigarhs scale. The annual leadership change disrupts execution and accountability. A five-year term will provide the stability needed to implement long-term development strategies. The key provisions of the private members bill proposed by Tewari include a five-year tenure for the Mayor, Senior Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor, with all three positions holding office for the full duration of the Municipal Corporations five-year term. It also proposes amendments to related and incidental provisions, seeking alignment of election procedures, rules for vacancy, removal and no-confidence motions, administrative powers attached to the posts, and continuity of ongoing projects and policy frameworks under the proposed five-year structure. If enacted, the bill would trigger a structural transformation in Chandigarhs municipal governance. It would eliminate yearly mayoral elections and associated political friction, strengthen long-term urban planning, bring continuity to major civic initiatives like choe rejuvenation, mobility plans, smart city projects, housing reforms and sewerage upgrades, enhance accountability by allowing one leadership team to see projects through from conception to completion, said Tewari Urban governance experts see this as potentially one of the most significant reforms in the history of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, he added . As a private members bill, it will require government backing, support across party lines in Parliament and a possible examination by a Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Explained: From Nehru to Modi, Why Chandigarh Remains a Wound for Punjab
Modi government may have aborted its moves in Chandigarh, but it ended up reopening old wounds in Punjab.
Punjab Congress leader Warring accuses AAP government of patronising gangsters to win elections
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring warned the AAP government over promoting anarchy and bloodshed by patronising gangsters to win elections. He also accused AAP of following a strategy of manipulation and coercion, citing former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodias saam, daam, dand, bhed approach. Warring warned that AAP turned police officers into `yesmen. We will neither forget nor forgive, he made it categorically clear to all such officers. He said AAPs reluctance to hold Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections showed that they feared defeat. Notably, Congress candidates faced intimidation and obstacles in filing nominations, sparking fears that their papers might be rejected during scrutiny due to AAPs grip on the election machinery. He said that the ruling party was scared and panic-stricken of losing the elections as it had already realised that the ground had slipped from beneath its feet. He added that it was only after the intervention of the court that the government was forced to hold the elections. He gave graphic details from across the state about how the Congress candidates for the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections were intimidated and prevented from filing their nomination papers. He expressed strong apprehensions that the nomination papers of even those who have somehow managed to file might get rejected at the time of scrutiny, as the ruling party has completely hijacked the election machinery. Replying to a question on the purported audio clip whereby the SSP Patiala is allegedly issuing directions to his subordinates as to how to prevent Opposition candidates from reaching the venue of filing nomination papers, Warring said, the matter must be investigated. He said, if found true, such officers must be dismissed from the services. Most of the SSPs, the DSPs heading police subdivisions and the SHOs and those heading police posts have completely surrendered themselves to the AAP and turned into its errand boys, he said in a scathing attack against the police partiality. Warring asserted that all such officers will be held accountable under the law once the government changes. He said, if a few police officials believe that they will get away in the next regime by doing the same thing for the party in power, then they are mistaken. This must end, and we will end it, he asserted. He denied that Congress patronised gangsters, challenging AAP to explain their own record. Warring highlighted that AAP is bringing gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria from the Assam jail for Tarn Tarans byelection.
AIIMS INI SS 2025 list of shortlisted candiates for Stage 2 released: Check details here
AIIMS and PGIMER Chandigarh have released the list of candidates shortlisted for Stage-II (Departmental Assessment) under the INI Super-Speciality Online Test for DM/M.Ch. courses, January 2026 session. Shortlisted candidates, who cleared Stage-I on 22nd November 2025, will appear for video-conferencing-based assessments between 9th and 13th December 2025. Official updates and the list are available on www.aiimsexams.ac.in
Bhakra Dam in Himachal is set to be delisted, centre forms panel to oversee the process
CHANDIGARH: For the first time since its commissioning, the Bhakra Dam is set to undergo a desilting operation, with sedimentation having reduced the storage capacity of the Gobind Sagar reservoir by nearly 25 per cent since 1963. The Union Jal Shakti Ministry has constituted a 10-member committee to oversee the process, following the Himachal Pradesh governments in-principle approval to the Bhakra Beas Management Boards (BBMB) proposal for desilting the Sutlej River at Bilaspur, upstream of the dam. According to highly placed BBMB sources, the state government will now place the proposal before the Assembly for formal approval. If cleared, BBMB plans to conduct the desilting as a one-year pilot project. Officials said the reservoir currently receives an estimated 3839 million cubic metres (MCM) of silt annually, significantly higher than the originally projected 3334 MCM. The dam was designed to handle 33.61 MCM of silt each year. Experts estimate that nearly 2526 per cent of the reservoir has already been filled with silt. Though sediment is still about 10 km from the dam, the steadily advancing deposits are eroding its water-holding capacity. If unchecked, the reservoirs capacity could shrink by 3540 per cent by 2050, they warned. Bilaspur has been identified as the most feasible site for the desilting operation because water levels there remain low for nearly eight months a year, making excavation easier. Its location along the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) corridor also allows for smooth transport of extracted sediment. NHAI will be requested to use the excavated material for road embankments and earth-filling, potentially reducing construction costs. As per the proposed revenue-sharing plan, proceeds from the mineral-rich silt will be divided among Himachal Pradesh, BBMB and the partner states. Himachal, being home to the dam and its reservoir, will receive the largest share, including standard royalties from sand mining, while BBMB will retain additional revenue. Separately, BBMB has proposed a Rs 6,500-crore, 1,500 MW pumped-storage project as an extension of the Bhakra Dam at Dobar village, about five kilometres upstream from the existing structure. Planned under the public-private partnership (PPP) model on a build-own-operate basis, the project follows surveys that identified four viable sites across the reservoir.
Northern India shivers as temperatures plunge; Delhi chokes under very poor air
North India continued to reel under sharp winter conditions on Friday, with large parts of Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana recording minimum temperatures well below normal, even as Kashmir saw a brief improvement in the cold due to overcast skies. Delhi, meanwhile, remained choked under very poor air quality as a cold wave was forecast for the day. Rajasthan recorded the lowest temperature in the region, with Fatehpur in Sikar district plunging to 1.9C on Friday morning. The Jaipur Meteorological Centre said minimum temperatures stayed below 10 degrees Celsius across several districts, including Sikar at 3C, Nagaur at 3.1C, Lunkaransar at 3.2C, Churu at 4.5C and Pilani at 4.8C. Dry conditions are likely to persist over most parts of the state for the next week, it added. Bone-chilling cold also gripped Punjab and Haryana. Faridkot, at 3C, was the coldest among the two states. In Punjab, Bathinda recorded 3.2C, while Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur reported lows between 5.5C and 6.2C. In neighbouring Haryana, Narnaul was the coldest at 3.5C, while Hisar recorded 3.7C. Karnal, Rohtak, Bhiwani and Sirsa registered temperatures ranging between 5.4C and 7.7C. Chandigarh, the shared capital, reported a minimum of 6.1C. Kashmir, however, witnessed an improvement in night temperatures as cloud cover pushed the mercury above those recorded in recent days. Srinagar, which had plunged to 4C the previous night, recorded a low of 0.4Cover four degrees higher. Qazigund reported 0.2C, Kupwara 0.2C, Kokernag 0.8C, Pahalgam 1.8C and Gulmarg 0C. Konibal in Pulwama district remained the coldest in the Union Territory at 3C. The weather office said light snowfall is possible in the higher reaches later on Friday, while another brief spell is likely on December 8. In Delhi, there was no respite from toxic air as the Air Quality Index stood at 323 at 9 am, firmly in the very poor category. Bawana recorded the highest AQI in the city at 373, while 30 monitoring stations reported very poor levels. The capital saw fluctuating pollution levels through the week, with the AQI rising from 279 on Sunday to 372 on Tuesday before settling at 304 on Thursday. The IMD said a cold wave is expected through the day, with the minimum temperature dipping to 5.6C, nearly four degrees below normal. The maximum temperature is likely to hover around 22C, while relative humidity touched 100% in the morning. (With inputs from PTI)
Malayali women's Kashmir adventure fuelled by teen love for thump
It was something they had dreamt of since they were teenagers. A dream that sprouted from a shared fascination for motorcycles, and the thump. They wanted to be riders. For Shyni C V, that passion has now become as essential as breathing. For Uma Mahesh, the enduring love has slowly turned into a realisation. And for Nishi Khan, it felt like finally coming home. The three women, all in their 40s, recently completed a Kanniyakumari-to-Kashmir ride. That teenage dream has now evolved into a lifestyle for the trio. Uma, who heads a business in Kochi, knew how to ride a motorcycle by 18. But she mustered the confidence to get one for herself only last year. When I was a young woman, people looked at me differently for riding a motorcycle, she recalls. Stare I got meant I had to stop. And I was given a gender-appropriate two-wheeler instead. But the call of the thump persisted. After years spent building a career and family, she finally decided to go full throttle. I met Shyni, who is an ace rider. She had done five all-India trips, Uma says. Nishi Khan, Shyni C V and Uma Mahesh pose in front of the CRPF camp in Jammu Nishi, too, received her licence as soon as she turned 18. But I was never able to buy a motorcycle for myself, she rues. It was during the lockdown that I rekindled my dream, thanks in part to social media reels. Soon, she bought her dream machine. She also came to know of Shyni during a Womens Day celebration. Quite poetic, isnt it? The trio soon decided to embark on an adventure: a Kanniyakumari-to-Kashmir ride with a cause Say No To Drugs. Among riders in India, Shyni is a familiar figure. Her driving school in Thiruvananthapuram trains women to ride motorcycles. And taking Nishi and Uma on their maiden long-distance ride is something she was always happy to do. The trio set off from Kanniyakumari. But as we started crossing geographies, things became difficult, recalls Uma. What kept us on the road was that thrill, that excitement of reaching a new place. They reached Delhi amid a flood. Our planned schedule drowned in the waters and we were stuck there for a week, Nishi says. Rain followed them all the way to Kashmir. There were floods. All the roads were damaged. It was pouring everywhere, says Uma. The trio at Kanniyakumari It took the trio 20 days to cover over 3,400km from Kanniyakumari to Kashmir. After spending a few days there, Uma returned to Kochi via Goa and Nishi took a detour from Chandigarh with another biker group headed to Ladakh, before returning to Thiruvananthapuram. Shyni, who accompanied Uma till Goa, headed back to Rajasthan for another impromptu all-India ride. Called the first woman Iron Butt of India, she is on her sixth cross-country trip. I reached Guwahati from Patna today. And after speaking at a school to students about the dark side of drugs and addiction, I will ride on first to the ongoing Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, and then to Arunachal Pradesh, Shyni says over phone. Inspired, Uma and Nishir are dreaming of even more journeys.
Row erupts amid Punjab rural polls: FIR, HC plea, SEC complaint in a day
CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu informs HP House about OPS beneficiaries as BJP walks out
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Haryana minister Anil Vij listens to public complaints, directs action
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HC declines anticipatory bail to accused in Ludhiana influencer murder case
Mother appeals for justice in Rohtak bodybuilders murder case
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Rice milling crippled amid FRK delays, stricter checks on upgraded rice
2 burnt alive as trailers catch fire after collision near Charkhi Dadri
Cops prevented me from entering SDM office: Majitha MLA Ganieve Kaur Majithia
Himachal govt suspends SP Rajesh Verma
Punjab & Haryana HC initiative to help Burail jail inmates get new skills
AAP alleges vote theft, but is now stealing an entire election: Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar
Raise issue of Punjabi youth misled into joining Russian army: Congress MLA Pargat Singh
Dera Ballan head, BJP leaders invite PM Modi for Guru Ravidas Jayanti
6 school seniors booked for forcing kid to perform obscene acts
RS MP questions govt after Pak denies entry to Hindu pilgrims
High court refuses interim relief to suspended Punjab DIG arrested in corruption case
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Ask Putin to send our son home: Moga kin seeks PMs help
After court statement, woman farmer says no intention to forgive Kangana
Governor awards degrees to 951 students at RBU convocation
CHANDIGARH: A major political storm has erupted in Punjab ahead of the upcoming Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections as the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers stopped their candidates from filing nominations for the upcoming polls on the last day before the deadline ended. Alleging abuse of power by the ruling AAP government, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said, This shows that the AAP has lost ground and has seen the writing on the wall. That is why it's resorting to such desperate attempts to misuse police and official machinery. He said if the government was confident about its performance, why did it need to use such tactics. This only reveals the sense of panic, desperation and frustration as the government has realized its support was eroding, he added. Earlier, during an informal interaction with reporters, Warring said the abuse of police and government machinery is a hallmark of the AAP government in Punjab. He said what was purportedly being discussed by police in an audio clip that went viral was already happening all over Punjab and being recorded by the public. He alleged that a Congress leader, whose wife was scheduled to file nomination papers, was picked up by the area SHO illegally detained for the entire night. Meanwhile, the SAD filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday to register a FIR against Patiala SSP Varun Sharma as well as order his immediate suspension pending a CBI probe into the audio clip released earlier by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal. In the clip, the SSP is purportedly heard directing the district police force in a conference call to prevent opposition candidates, particularly those from the SAD, from reaching the office of the Returning Officer to file their nomination papers. Badal alleged that similar directions had been issued to the police force across the state at the instance of the Aam Aadmi Party government and demanded the intervention of the Election Commission besides approaching the high court. The court has issued a notice to the state government as well as the State Election Commission for Monday. The petition, filed as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by former legislator Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, sought urgent judicial safeguards to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections to the Block Samitis and Zila Parishads in the state. The petition called for deployment of the Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF) or independent observers until the completion of the elections and counting process in Patiala district. Following the circulation of the purported audio clip, the Patiala Police issued a strong clarification, stating that it is fake and AI-generated. In an official statement, the police said the clip was created with malicious intent to mislead the public, spread disinformation, and disturb law and order during the election period. Appropriate and stringent legal action will be taken against the culprits, it said. Urging citizens not to fall for doctored or fabricated content, the Patiala Police reaffirmed that they remain fully committed to ensuring free and fair elections. Meanwhile, BJP Punjab General Secretary Anil Sareen alleged that the AAP government in Punjab, fearing defeat in the upcoming Zila Parishad and Block Samiti elections, is utilizing the police machinery and civil officers, much like its party workers. Pressure is being created on opposition candidates to stop them from filing nomination papers. Not only this, in several constituencies, the police have been conducting raids on candidates houses, locking their gates, picking up family members, tearing their documents, and blocking roads to obstruct their movement, he said. Sareen said, The police are no longer upholding the law. They are functioning like the AAPs B-team. He also showed a purported audio clip in which the police were seen picking up Vikas Pandey, husband of BJP candidate Priyanka Pandey, from Jandali in Patiala district, at around 5 a.m., and incidents of tearing the nomination papers of candidates in Rajpura and Ghanaur. Alleging that the AAP government is indulging in dirty politics, Sareen claimed that a systematic plan is being executed to prevent opposition candidates from filing their nomination papers.
Centre says 2.90 lakh beneficiaries deleted under National Food Security Act in Punjab
CHANDIGARH: The Union Government has stated that under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 23.79 lakh cases were flagged in Punjab. Over 2.90 lakh beneficiaries have been deleted, and the verification of 20.69 lakh has not been completed. Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had alleged that the centre had deleted 8 lakh beneficiaries, and he would not allow any beneficiary to be removed. In reply to a question asked by Punjab Congress president and Member of Parliament from Ludhiana, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Union Minister of State for the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya stated that there are 40,93,003 ration cards as of date and 1,51,67,073 beneficiaries under the NFSA in Punjab. Of these, e-KYC of 20,69,338 beneficiaries was not completed. While 23,79,400 cases were flagged and 2,90,940 beneficiaries were removed after field verification and due process. Sharing the number of ration cards, it also stated that 40,93,003 are as of date in 2025, while last year the number of ration cards was 41,76,455 and in 2023 the figure stood at 37,87, 561 and in 2022 the number was 40,67,879. In response to a query regarding whether the Union government issued repeated reminders and deadlines to the Punjab government to complete Aadhaar-based e-KYC and beneficiary verification under the National Food Security Act, The department of food and public distribution has issued multiple communications to all state governments, including the government of Punjab, urging the timely completion of Aadhaar based e-KYC and beneficiary verification under NFS A. These include repeated reminders, DO letters, and reviews through video conferences. Various communications by this department were sent to states, followed by several review meetings via video conference, advising the state to take immediate corrective action on the large number of flagged cases reflected in the Rightful Targeting Dashboard and to expedite eKYC completion. While identification of eligible households under Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) and Priority Households (PHH) is the statutory responsibility of the State Governments under the NFSA, the Union Government supports States through regular monitoring and technological interventions to ensure rightful targeting, stated the reply. Regarding steps taken by the government to ensure that eligible poor families in Punjab do not lose access to subsidised food grains, the reply noted that while identification of eligible households under Antyodaya Anna Yojana and Priority Households is the statutory responsibility of state governments under NFSA, the union government supports states through regular monitoring and technological interventions to ensure rightful targeting. Key initiatives include the development and provision of the Rightful Targeting dashboard, which analytically highlights flagged beneficiaries to enable states to verify these cases on the ground and sanitise their databases, regular advisories, correspondences. Review meetings with the government of Punjab to ensure timely e-KYC completion and verification, and the removal or retention of flagged cases under the Rightful Targeting dashboard after field verification by the state government so that genuine beneficiaries are not deleted. In August this year, CM Mann had said, As long as I am the CM of Punjab, no beneficiary will be deleted. The Centre allegedly asked the Punjab Government to delete 8,02,493 ration cards under the Public Distribution System (PDS), claiming they did not fulfil the eligibility criteria. This means that 32 lakh beneficiaries of Punjab will be deprived of subsidised wheat. Of the 1.53 crore beneficiaries, the state government has verified 1.29 crore beneficiaries according to the original checklist, he said. Mann added that he has requested a six-month extension from the Centre and intends to raise the issue at the highest levels of the Union Government.
Nearly 20 per cent cashless treatment requests of road accident victims rejected since March 2024
NEW DELHI: Out of the total 6,833 treatment requests raised by road accident victims under the Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme so far, only 5,480 victims have been found eligible, and the remaining 1,353 cases (nearly 20 per cent) have been rejected by the police, Parliament was informed on Thursday. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, in a written reply to Lok Sabha, said the total fund disbursed under the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund is Rs 73,88,848. Out of the total number of 6,833 treatment requests raised, 5,480 victims have been found eligible. The remaining cases have been rejected by the Police, Gadkari said. On March 14, 2024, the ministry launched a pilot programme in Chandigarh, which was later expanded to six states to provide cashless treatment to road accident victims. Under the Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025, the victims are entitled to cashless treatment up to Rs 1.5 lakh per victim per accident for a maximum period of 7 days from the date of the accident and applicable to all road accidents caused by the use of a motor vehicle on any category of road. Out of the 2,644 claims raised by hospitals and approved by concerned State Health Agency, payment of Rs 73,88,848/- has been disbursed to hospitals, he added. The minister said the reimbursement to hospitals is being done through the Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (MVAF), which is funded through contributions from General Insurance companies. A total of 32,557 hospitals have been empanelled under the National Health Authority for the cashless treatment of accident victims. Recently, road secretary V Umashankar had said the government will soon formally launch a cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims across India after making suitable modifications in the scheme by incorporating technical and project learning during the pilot project. The scheme is aimed at reducing the number of deaths arising from road accidents every year due to a delay in timely medical intervention. Any person being a victim of a road accident, arising out of the use of a motor vehicle, occurring on any road, shall be entitled to cashless treatment in accordance with the provisions of this scheme, the notification had said. Responding to another question, Gadkari said the pace of highway project awards has slowed down over the two previous financial years, mainly due to strictly ensuring 90 per cent right of way (ROW) before start, forest & wildlife clearances and approved general arrangement of drawing (GAD) for ROBs/RUBs; and stricter scrutiny of projects. These measures are aimed to ensure smooth implementation without substantial delays, he said.
The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings for very heavy rainfall in coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Kerala, with schools in Chennai and Tiruvallur closed due to incessant rain. Meanwhile, parts of North India are experiencing cold wave conditions and dense fog, impacting mobility and traffic. The IMD has warned of cold wave conditions for Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and north Rajasthan.
Saini releases 2nd installment of Lado Laxmi Yojana
Punjab govt to establish advanced horti centre at Ladhowal
A chilling child murder spree has been uncovered in Haryana, with a 34-year-old woman, Poonam, confessing to drowning at least four children, including her own toddler son. Driven by an urge to kill children more attractive than her own, she meticulously staged the deaths as accidents. The latest victim was a six-year-old girl at a wedding.
