CHANDIGARH: A 30-year-old kabaddi player-cum-promoter died after unidentified gunmen opened fire on him after he arrived with his team to take part in a tournament in Mohali on Monday, police said. Kanwar Digvijay Singh alias Rana Balachauria was critically injured in the attack and was rushed to the Fortis Hospital in Mohali where he was declared dead, police said. The incident took place at Sohana in Mohali where a private kabaddi tournament had been going on for the past few days, SSP Harmand

Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal will contest the 2027 Punjab assembly elections from Gidderbaha. This announcement followed intense pressure from party workers. Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikramjit Singh Majithia's bail plea in a money laundering case was dismissed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Majithia was arrested in connection with illicit fund transfers.

CHANDIGARH: With the assembly elections in Punjab scheduled to be held after 14 months, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday made the surprise announcement that he will fight these polls from Gidderbaha assembly constituency instead of Jalalabad. Interestingly, the Gidderbaha seat was represented by his late father and former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal from 1969 to 1985. Sukhbir made the announcement following an intense demand from party workers while inaugurating

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 lo

CHANDIGARH: After weeks of protests and massive political backlash across Punjab and Chandigarh, the Union government has finally approved the dates for the Panjab University Senate elections to be held next year, with the Vice-President, who is also the Chancellor, approving the poll schedule. The central government has accepted a key demand of protesting students at Panjab University, with Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan, who is also the Chancellor of the university, approving the Senate elec

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal issued a passionate appeal for unity among all Panthic factions, asserting that only collective strength could help Sikhs regain political power and protect their institutions. Addressing the gathering at the 350th martyrdom anniversary event of Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, organised by the SGPC at Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Anandpur Sahib, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal appealed to the Sikh community to unite under

CHANDIGARH: The ruling Aam Aadmi Party has retained the Tarn Taran assembly seat in Punjab, with its candidate Harmeet Singh Sandhu defeating his nearest rival and Shiromani Akali Dal nominee Sukhwinder Kaur Randhawa by 12,091 votes. An independent candidate supported by the rebel Akali faction finished in third position, while the Congress and BJP trailed in the fourth and fifth positions respectively. Sandhu secured 42,649 votes against Randhawa's 30,558 after the completion of all 16 rounds o

CHANDIGARH: Around 60.95 per cent of voters exercised their franchise in the Tarn Taran Assembly by-election in Punjab on Tuesday amid tight security, with polling concluding peacefully. This marks a decline of nearly five percentage points from the turnout recorded in the 2022 general elections for the same seat. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab, Sibin C, informed that approximately 60.95 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 6 pm in the Tarn Taran Assembly constituency. He added that th

CHANDIGARH: The Election Commission on Saturday issued directions for the suspension of Tarn Taran Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr. Ravjot Kaur Grewal, three days ahead of the November 11 assembly by-election. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar has been given the additional charge of SSP, Tarn Taran, with immediate effect. No reason was mentioned for Grewals suspension. She had been posted as the Tarn Taran SSP in September. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) had recently lo

CHANDIGARH: The Pentagons latest directive rolling back the move that allowed beards for soldiers in the US military has drawn flak from Sikh groups and political parties in Punjab. In his speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had said, If you want a beard, join special forces. If not, shave. We dont have a military full of Nordic pagans. He added that the era of rampant and ridiculous shaving profiles through waivers for medical or religious reasons is over.

Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal appealed to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Badal requested action on the US Army's beard ban for Sikhs. This appeal followed US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's recent statement. Badal stated Sikhs worldwide are concerned. He urged the minister to ensure Sikhs can practice their faith freely. This decision affects religious identity.

CHANDIGARH: The political controversy over the Union Government denying permission for a Sikh jatha (group of pilgrims) to visit Pakistan for the Parkash Parb (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, in November this year refuses to die down. On Tuesday, both the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to allow the devotees to travel to the neighbouring country, respecting Sikh sentiments. Senior Congress lea

CHANDIGARH: Citing security concerns, the Union Government has denied permission for a Sikh jatha (group of pilgrims) to visit Pakistan for the Parkash Parb (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism, in November this year. This move has triggered a political row in Punjab, with all major political parties criticizing the BJP-led central government and accusing it of double standardsparticularly in light of the government allowing a T-20 cricket match between India and Pakista

CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Monday announced to provide certified wheat seed to farmers for one lakh acres of land and distribute 500 trucks of maize silage and compressed hay. SAD also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to announce a Rs 20,000 crore package for the flood victims. Announcing the partys relief package after an emergency meeting of senior leaders and district presidents who have been charged with implementing it, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, while attending the launch of the fifth phase of Tamil Nadu's Chief Ministers Breakfast Scheme in Chennai on Tuesday, praised the initiative and said he would explore implementing a similar scheme in Punjab. However, his presence at the event drew sharp criticism from opposition parties in Punjab, as the state continues to grapple with severe flooding. Mann lauded Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin for the initiative, which aims to reduce schoo

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau today filed a 40,000-page charge sheet against senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who is the brother-in-law of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, in a Prevention of Corruption Act case in the Mohali court. Sources claimed that over 200 witnesses have been cited in the case in the charge sheet, which runs into approximately 40,000 pages. These documents reportedly detail financial transactions, property records, and other evide