Page 16 - Punjab

Political business: Fadnavis' Maha return, Sukhbir Badal dodges death

Devendra Fadnavis' return to Maharashtra throne, assassination attempt on Sukhbir Singh Badal in Punjab and more in this week's political news wrap

'Dilli Chalo' march today: Traffic jams likely on NH-44, Delhi-NCR roads

Farmers protest today: Over 100 farmers are set to march towards Parliament at 1 pm on Friday; central paramilitary forces deployed on the Haryana side of the border

Punjab, Haryana impose Rs 2.3 cr penalties on farmers for stubble burning

Punjab and Haryana have imposed fines exceeding Rs 2.1 crore and Rs 21 lakh respectively, on farmers for stubble burning in 2024, with more than 50 per cent of penalties collected

Delhi gears up for farmers' march demanding legal MSP and debt relief

Farmers will resume their march from Shambhu border today to Parliament, demanding legal MSP amid tight security and barricading at Delhi's borders

Day after attack, Sukhbir Badal performs sewa at Takht Sahib in Punjab

A day after he survived a bid on his life, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday performed the duty of 'sewadar' outside Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Punjab's Rupnagar district amid tight security. The former deputy chief minister, a Z+ protectee, arrived at the Ananadpur Sahib shrine surrounded by security personnel. Dressed in blue 'sewadar' uniform, Badal sat at the entrance of the gurdwara with a spear in one hand. He is undergoing religious punishment pronounced by the Akal Takht, the temporal body of Sikhs, for "mistakes" committed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government and his party in Punjab from 2007 to 2017. Besides the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Akal Takht has asked Badal to perform the service of 'sewadar' at Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Takht Damdama Sahib, and Darbar Sahib in Muktsar and Fatehgarh Sahib for two days each. On the second day of his penance at the Golden Temple on Wednesday, Badal had a narrow escape as a former Khalistani terrorist fired

Amritsar explosion caused due to 'tyre blast', not major incident: DSP

Earlier, on Wednesday, the news of tyre blast was reported as 'major bomb blast' incident, according to several media reports

Punjab CM condemns attack on Sukhbir Badal, praises cops for swift action

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly condemned the attack on Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, who was fired at while performing 'sewa' outside the Golden Temple on Wednesday morning, and directed police to investigate the incident. The chief minister also lauded the promptness of the Punjab Police in nabbing the attacker. The man missed Badal as he was overpowered by police. The audacious attack was captured on cameras of media persons who had gathered outside the Sikh shrine to cover the second day of Badal's penance for "mistakes" committed by the SAD government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017. "Punjab Police prevented a major incident from happening today. It is the result of the promptness of the Punjab Police that the conspiracy to defame Punjab and Punjabis has failed," Mann said in a post on X. "The police achieved great success by arresting the assailant on the spot with their promptness... I strongly condemn the attack on Sukhbir Badal ji. I have issued

Ex-terrorist opens fire at Sukhbir Singh Badal at Golden Temple, arrested

A man attempted to shoot Sukhbir Singh Badal at Amritsar's Golden Temple as he served his penance under religious punishment

Sukhbir Badal to face religious censure: Will Akali Dal chart a new path?

Sukhbir Singh Badal will receive 'punishment' from religious authorities for his acts as chief minister of Punjab. The question is whether a reinvention of Badal and the Akali Dal will follow

Punjab CM seeks financial support from World Bank to drive growth

The World Bank team held separate meetings with Bhagwant Mann and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini

Punjab records 70% decrease in stubble burning incidents: NGT report

: The National Green Tribunal has been informed through a report that Punjab's stubble burning incidents have decreased by 70 per cent. The NGT previously sought regular reports from the authorities in the state on the issue of air pollution caused in the NCR owing to stubble burning. A report dated November 26 was filed by the director of agriculture and farmers' welfare department, saying "As a result of the efforts made by the state of Punjab, the number of paddy stubble burning incidents reduced from 36,551 on November 25, 2023, to 10,479 on November 25, 2024 -- a decrease of 70 per cent." The report stated about 19.52 million tonne of paddy straw was expected to be managed in the year through various means, including in-situ (managing paddy straw on the field) and ex-situ (transporting the straw for various uses) methods and using the residue for animal fodder. "In ex-situ management, primarily balers are used for collection of straw before transportation for industrial and ot

Beant Singh assassination convict's mercy plea sensitive matter: Govt to SC

The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that there was sensitivity involved in the matter related to the mercy petition of death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the 1995 assassination case of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh. A bench headed by Justice B R Gavai 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. "There is a sensitivity involved. Some agencies will have to be consulted," Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench, also comprising Justices P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan. Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, who also appeared in the matter, said the issue was being reviewed by the government. He said since the issue was sensitive, some more inputs were required in the matter. The bench said it would hear the plea after four weeks. While hearing the petition on November 18, the apex court had put on hold its order asking President Droup

AAP terms Punjab bypolls win 'semi-final' before Delhi Assembly polls

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday termed his party's win in three out of four seats in the Punjab bypolls a "semi-final", asserting that the party is on course for another historic mandate in Delhi. Kejriwal, a former chief minister of Delhi, said the people of Punjab have chosen the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the second time, which shows that it is doing good work. "Over the past decade, we have established the Delhi model of governance that focuses on making life easier for the common man," he said. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, referring to the AAP's election symbol broom, said the party, which "used to clean homes and shops with a broom", was now cleaning "all of India" under Arvind Kejriwal's leadership. AAP secured victories in three out of four assembly by-elections in Punjab, strengthening its hold in the state. The Congress managed to win one seat, while the BJP failed to secure any. The bypolls were seen as a litmus test for the party because the AA

PM security lapse in Punjab: SC rejects plea seeking witnesses' statements

The Supreme Court Friday turned down the Punjab government's plea seeking statements of witnesses who have deposed before former apex court judge Indu Malhotra to probe the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the state in January 2022. A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan asked the state government to independently conduct the enquiry against delinquent officers without the aid of the statements. The top court appointed a committee headed by former judge Indu Malhotra on January 12, 2022, to probe the security breach. "After receipt of report of the committee, matter was taken up on August 25, 2022. Copy of report was directed to be supplied to Centre and state government. It was directed that report shall be kept in sealed cover in the safe custody of secretary general of this court," the bench said. "It seems the Punjab government has now sent a letter seeking statements of witnesses to conduct further proceedings against delinquent ..

Punjab sees record single-day spike in stubble burning | Delhi air pollution | Delhi AQI | Farm fire

Punjab recorded its highest single-day spike in farm fires this season on November 18. Watch the video to know more.

Punjab farm fires peak as SC blasts authorities over pollution crisis

Despite reports of declining farm fires in Punjab, many now occur later in the day, possibly evading satellite detection

8,000 farm fire cases reported in Punjab in 2 months, 75% down from last yr

Farm fire cases reached the 8,000 mark in Punjab this season with the state reporting 136 such incidents on Saturday, data showed. Sangrur district reported 50 stubble-burning incidents during the day, the highest maximum in the state, followed by 30 in Ferozepur, 17 in Barnala and 12 in Patiala, according to the Punjab Remote Sensing Centre. On the same day in 2022 and 2023, the state saw 1,358 and 1,271 active farm fire events respectively. From September 15 to November 16, Punjab has seen a total of 8,000 stubble-burning incidents, registering around 75 per cent dip in crop residue burning in comparison to such cases in the corresponding period last year. Punjab had seen a total of 46,822 and 31,932 farm fires during the same period in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The state has seen an addition of around 4,000 farm fire incidents since November 3 this season. Stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana after harvesting of the paddy crop in October and November is often blamed for th

Amid setbacks, Sukhbir Badal resigns as SAD chief; paves way for new leader

The resignation of Badal (62), who is the son of five-time Punjab chief minister late Parkash Singh Badal, came amid vociferous demand by several rebel party leaders

AAP govt to set up new model of law and order in Punjab, says Kejriwal

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said his party's government in Punjab will set up a new model of law and order in the state and called the Punjab Police as the "most disciplined" force. Kejriwal lauded the Bhagwant Mann government in Punjab for improving the law and situation in the state but asserted that still a lot needs to be done. The AAP national convener was addressing a gathering during an event to handover appointment letters to newly recruited employees in the Punjab Police department. He was flanked by Chief Minister Mann at the event. The former Delhi chief minister said a total of 8,705 jobs have been given in the Punjab Police department in the past two and a half years in the state. "I am not saying it because it is our government in Punjab. But it is true that Punjab Police is the country's most disciplined, strict and most celebrated police force," he said. Referring to the previous governments, Kejriwal said before his party formed the governmen

Chandigarh belongs to Punjab, not an inch of land for Haryana: AAP

Chandigarh belongs to Punjab and not an inch of land should be given to Haryana for the construction of its assembly building here, a delegation of the AAP urged Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Friday. Punjab's ruling AAP and the opposition parties from the state have criticised the Centre's reported move to clear the allotment of 10 acres of land in Chandigarh to Haryana for the construction of its assembly building. On Friday, Punjab and Haryana's ruling outfits -- Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- sparred over the issue. "Chandigarh belongs to Punjab and we are not going to give even an inch of land... Punjab has right over Chandigarh and we will fight for our right. We have submitted a memorandum to the Governor. We have said that no land should be alloted to Haryana in Chandigarh (for the Vidhan Sabha)," Punjab's Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said after leading a party delegation which met Kataria. Kataria is also the administrator of Uni