Page 14 - Punjab

Groundwater in Punjab, Haryana contaminated with uranium, arsenic: Report

The Central Ground Water Board report attributes the rising uranium levels to leaching from agricultural land. Intensive use of fertilisers has exacerbated the problem

Kejriwal finding ways to become Punjab CM, says BJP's Manjinder Sirsa

Sirsa was replying to the dissent rumours of AAP Punjab MLAs and alleged that Kejriwal's real aim is to target the leadership of Punjab's Chief Minister

Will AAP survive in Punjab? BJP and Congress claim party in crisis

AAP's Punjab government faces turbulence as BJP sees its fall coming and Congress accuses Kejriwal of consolidating power amid widening internal rifts

Punjab govt can fall anytime, Kejriwal will never win again: Brij Bhushan

Former BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh Monday claimed the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab can fall anytime and Arvind Kejriwal would never win an election again. Addressing an event to unveil the statue of former BJP MLA late Dashrath Singh in Nipania, he said, "I do not predict, but today I am saying that the future of Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party is in trouble. The AAP government in Punjab can fall anytime. AAP national convener Kejriwal will never win any election again, he predicted, following AAP's rout in the Delhi Assembly elections and growing speculation about internal dissent in the party's Punjab unit. Over many saints condemning Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's "not Hindus" jibe at the BJP and demanding an apology from him, the former president of the Wrestling Federation of India said, "These are political issues and saints gave their opinion. I will not say anything on this." About the huge crowd during Kumbh, he said, "I do not go during Kumbh, I take a bath

After Delhi, Punjab also want freedom from 'AAP-da': BJP's Tarun Chugh

Chugh claimed that the countdown of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has started

Kejriwal to meet Punjab leaders on Feb 11 after setback in Delhi polls

Earlier, Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa claimed that over 30 AAP legislators in Punjab are in touch with the Congress and ready to switch sides

Punjab Police busts terror module near Amritsar airport, 3 arrested

The police recovered one AK-47, a few rounds, a pistol of 0.3 bore and one of 0.32 bore with cartridges from them

Why did plane carrying deportees land in Amritsar and not Delhi: AAP

Accusing the Centre of meting out step-motherly treatment to Punjab, the ruling AAP has asked why the US aircraft that brought back 104 illegal Indian immigrants landed in Amritsar and not Delhi. Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla also raised the same question and slammed the Centre for not protesting the deportation of its citizens. The US military plane landed at the Shri Guru Ramdas Ji International Airport in Amritsar at 1.55 pm on Wednesday. Of those deported, 33 each are from Haryana and Gujarat, 30 from Punjab, three each from Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, and two from Chandigarh. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Punjab AAP president and cabinet minister Aman Arora accused the Centre of meting out "step-motherly" treatment to Punjab on every issue. "Deportees were from across the country. (Deportees) from other states were more than those from Punjab... (but) it (plane) landed in Amritsar. I am not objecting to them coming here but by leaving the national capital and landin

US military plane carrying 104 illegal Indian immigrants lands in Amritsar

Opposition parties allege that the deportees were handcuffed and humiliated

US flight carrying 104 deported Indian migrants lands in Amritsar

The deportation comes after US President Donald Trump, who took office last month, intensified efforts to clamp down on illegal immigration

NAPA urges Punjab govt to set up fund for rehabilitation of deported youths

The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) on Wednesday urged the Punjab government to establish a rehabilitation fund to support young boys and girls being deported from the United States. In a statement, NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal said lack of support and resources for these returnees could lead to severe social and economic challenges for the state. He warned the Punjab government that negligence in addressing this growing crisis would only create more problems for the state, exacerbating unemployment, mental health issues and potential involvement in illegal activities. This comes amid reports that a US military plane carrying 205 illegal immigrants hailing from Punjab and neighbouring states is likely to land at the Amritsar airport on Wednesday afternoon. "Many of these young individuals leave their homes with dreams of a better future but find themselves deported due to immigration challenges. They return with shattered hopes, financial distress, and ...

Punjab gets Rs 5,421 cr, Haryana Rs 3,416 cr for rail infra boost: Vaishnaw

The government has allocated Rs 5,421 crore to Punjab and Rs 3,416 crore to Haryana in the Union Budget to strengthen its rail infrastructure, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnav said on Monday. This year's allocation was 24 times more than what Punjab received from 2009-2014 (Rs 225 crore), the Railway Minister said in a video conference. Haryana received Rs 315 crore for its railway projects between 2009 and 2014 and this year's allocations is 11 times that number, the minister said. Vaishnav said 30 Amrit stations are being developed in Punjab at a cost of Rs 1,122 crores, and that 34 Amrit stations are being developed in Haryana at a cost of Rs 1,149 crore. In Punjab, Amrit stations are being developed in Abohar, Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib, Beas, Bathinda, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar Cantt, Mansa and Malerkotla, among others. In Haryana, Ambala Cantt, Ambala City, Bahadurgarh, Ballabhgarh, Bhiwani Junction, Charkhi Dadri, Faridabad, Faridabad New Town, Gohana, Hansi, .

'Punjab once again ignored,' says CM Mann reacting to Union Budget

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed disappointment over the Union Budget on Saturday, claiming that the border state has been "ignored" once again and not given anything. Describing it as an "election budget", the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said it only made announcements for Bihar. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her eighth budget in Parliament on Saturday. Reacting to the budget, Mann alleged that Punjab has once again been "ignored" in the budget presented by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Centre. "The Union government has not given anything to the farmers and youngsters of Punjab," he said in a post on X. The chief minister criticised the Centre for not announcing a minimum support price (MSP) for crops or any package for the state's industry. "The Centre has neither given an MSP to farmers on their crops nor has the state been given any package for any industry. Punjab has not been given anything that can improve its economy and future," he ..

Punjab CM should resign immediately: Athawale on Ambedkar statue vandalism

He further said that the incident of the vandalism incident should be dealt with strict legal action according to the provisions of the Constitution

Delhi polls: BJP's Parvesh Verma alleges AAP bringing people from Punjab

Verma also targeted AAP over a vehicle seized from outside Delhi's Punjab Bhawan allegedly with alcohol, cash, and AAP campaign material

Anti-Constitution: BJP slams AAP over vandalisation of Ambedkar's statue

Shehzad Poonawalla further alleged that AAP was not fulfilling promises made to the Scheduled Castes during the Assembly election in Punjab

Punjab CM condemns attempt to vandalise Ambedkar's statue in Amritsar

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday condemned the attempt to damage a statue of B R Ambedkar in Amritsar, and said strict action will be taken in the matter. Police on Sunday arrested a man hailing from Moga district of Punjab, who allegedly attempted to damage the statue of Ambedkar at the Town Hall on Heritage Street that leads to the Golden Temple. The Amritsar Police Commissionerate arrested the accused after registering an FIR. Mann, in a post on X, said the incident is highly condemnable and no one will be forgiven. "Whoever is responsible for the incident, he/she will be severely punished. No one will be allowed to break the brotherhood and unity of Punjab," Mann said. The chief minister further said, "instructions have been issued to the administration to investigate it and take strict action against the culprits." A purported video of the incident went viral on social media in which the man could be seen climbing up the statue using a long steel ladder and carr

Odisha fiscally healthiest; Punjab, AP, WB laggards: NITI Aayog report

Serious concern on debt sustainability in West Bengal, Punjab, says report

BJP alleges 'misuse' of Punjab administration in Delhi polls; CM hits back

BJP candidate from the New Delhi seat in the upcoming Assembly polls in the capital, Parvesh Verma, accused his rival Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday of "misusing" the official machinery of the AAP-ruled Punjab in the constituency. Reacting to the allegation, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said Verma has "insulted" Punjabis and demanded an apology from Union Home Minister Amit Shah. At a press conference here, Verma claimed that fearing an "imminent" defeat from the seat, Kejriwal is getting Chinese CCTV cameras installed in the constituency's slums just for the show with the help of the Punjab government. He further claimed that the Chinese CCTV cameras, installed in a "hurried manner", pose a security threat. "Punjab government's teachers and employees are being brought to Delhi for election campaigning. These individuals are masquerading as AAP workers," Verma said. He claimed that two teachers hailing from Amritsar were arrested by the police here. "Thousands of vehicles with

Take decision on Balwant Singh's mercy petition by March 18: SC asks Centre

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to take a decision by March 18 on the mercy petition of death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the 1995 assassination case of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. "We are granting you time by way of a last chance. Either you take a decision or otherwise we will hear it on merits," a bench headed by Justice B R Gavai told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Centre. The bench, also comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and K V Viswanathan, was hearing Rajoana's plea seeking directions to commute his death sentence to life term due to the "inordinate delay" in deciding his mercy petition. At the outset, Mehta referred to the sensitivity involved in the matter and said the mercy petition was under consideration. He requested the bench to grant six weeks time. Rajoana's counsel told the bench that he has spent around 29 years in jail. "We will hear it on merits on March 18," the bench said, adding, "By