Page 18 - Punjab

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

How Punjab farmers outwit Nasa satellites in stubble-burning crackdown

Punjab farmers have found a way to outwit Nasa satellite surveillance in the ongoing stubble-burning crisis by strategically timing their fires

'No promoting drugs, alcohol': Diljit Dosanjh warned before Hyderabad show

Telangana government sent the Punjabi singer a legal notice against promoting substance abuse in his music and avoiding having children on stage for safety reasons

Stubble burning in Punjab: CAQM issues show cause notice to officials

The notice sought an explanation from the officials as to why stubble-burning cases were on the rise and why the CAQM's orders to reduce air pollution had not been adhered to

India-designated Khalistani terrorist Arshdeep Singh Gill held in Canada

Dalla had come to Canada from Punjab in 2018 and lived in Surrey as per a report in Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper, which said he is the reported head of the Dalla Lakhbir gang

Farmers hold two officials captive in Bathinda's mandi, clash with police

A group of farmers allegedly held a food inspector and a naib tehsildar (revenue official) captive and later clashed with police at a grain market in Bathinda district of Punjab on Monday evening, officials said. Three police personnel were injured in the incident. The farmers also damaged two police vehicles, they said. Some farmers were protesting over the issue of moisture content limit in paddy crop during its auction at the grain market in Bathinda's Raike Kalan village when they held the food inspector captive there. When the naib tehsildar went there to get the food inspector released, the protesting farmers also took him into their illegal custody, police said. They said a police team reached the grain market to get the two officials released but the protesting farmers refused to let them go. When the police personnel tried to get the officials released, the farmers clashed with them. Three police personnel were injured and two police vehicles were damaged in the clash, the

Sidhu Moosewala's family celebrates 'Annaprashan' of his baby brother

The Annaprashan of Sidhu Moosewala's baby boy, born in March, was honoured by his family. His mother is seen feeding the baby in a viral video and fans expresses their feelings

Police arrests two shooters of Arsh Dalla gang for Sikh activist's murder

Two shooters of Canada-based gangster-turned terrorist Arsh Dalla's gang, who were allegedly involved in a Sikh activist's murder last month, have been arrested from Kharar in Mohali, a top Punjab Police officer said on Sunday. The accused were also allegedly involved in the recent murder of another person in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior. The duo were planning to target more individuals, another senior officer said, adding that at least four target killings of prominent persons in major cities have been averted with their arrest. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the arrests in the murder case of Sikh activist Gurpreet Singh Hari Nau alias Bhodi were made in a joint operation of the state special operation cell, the Anti-gangster Task Force and Faridkot Police. Pragya Jain, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Faridkot, identified the arrested persons as Anmolpreet Singh alias Vishal, a resident of Bhadorh in Barnala, and Navjot Singh alias Neetu, a resident of Nijjar road

Drone seizures at Punjab border double to 'unprecedented' 200: BSF

Drone seizures along the International Border in Punjab have doubled to 200 as Pakistani syndicates continue to push narcotics and weapons to "destabilise" India by inducing drug addiction in the youth and "disintegrating" social harmony, the BSF said. With the recovery of four more drones in the last 24 hours, over 200 Pakistan-based rouge drones have been seized along this border, it said in a statement issued on Saturday. The BSF guards the 2,290 km of this border running on India's western flank, including 553 km of the front along Punjab. The IB also runs along Jammu in Jammu and Kashmir (LoC in Kashmir), Rajasthan and Gujarat. The force had seized a total of 107 drones at the Punjab border in 2023. The BSF said the almost doubled up drones seizure this year is a "significant landmark" and "remarkable milestone" that "reflects the force's enhanced anti-drone strategies and the deployment of advanced technical counter-measures along the border." BSF troops, as per the force, h

Govt procures 12.1 mn tonnes paddy from Punjab so far, 65% of target

The Centre has procured 120.67 lakh tonnes of paddy so far from Punjab, or 65 per cent of the estimated target, according to an official statement issued on Saturday. The central government has fixed an estimated target of 185 lakh tonnes for paddy procurement for the ongoing KMS (kharif marketing season) 2024-25 which will continue till November 30. "A total quantity of 126.67 lakh tonnes of paddy has arrived in the Punjab mandis as of 8th November 2024, out of which 120.67 lakh tonnes has been procured by state agencies and Food Corporation of India (FCI)," the statement said. The paddy is being purchased at MSP (minimum support price) of Rs 2,320 per quintal as decided by the Government of India for Grade 'A' paddy. "The total paddy purchased by the government till date in the ongoing KMS (kharif marketing season) 2024-25, amounts to Rs 27,995 crore benefitting around 6.58 lakh farmers, in Punjab," the statement said. Further, 4,839 millers have applied for shelling of paddy an

Pakistan's Punjab turns into gas chamber: AQI in Multan dips to 2,500

In Multan, the largest city in Pakistan's Punjab, toxic particulate matter 2.5 concentrations stood at 947 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly 189.4 times above the normal level guidelines

Sidhu Moosewala's parents share the face of his baby brother, Shubhdeep

In March 2024, Balkaur Singh and Charan Kaur, the parents of the late Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala were blessed with a baby boy. They have now posted their youngest son's first photo to social media

Pakistan: Punjab sets up 'smog war room' to tackle hazardous air pollution

But Wednesday's index score for Lahore fell short of last week's unprecedented score of 1900, which had exceeded recommended levels by more than 120 times, prompting closure of primary schools

Punjab and Haryana control paddy stubble burning, but for how long?

Both states, long seen as major contributors, have brought down incidents of stubble burning, a long-term solution will remain out of reach so long as state-support for paddy lifting remains in place

AAP made farmers spend 20-25 days in Mandi during festivals: Raja Warring

Warring emphasized that the government's actions are not only failing farmers but are effectively dismantling the very foundation of Punjab's agricultural economy

Decide on mercy plea of Beant Singh's assassin or we will: SC to Centre

The Supreme Court on Monday said it would consider the the mercy petition of death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the 1995 assassination case of then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, if the Centre does not decide on it "either way". A bench of Justices B R Gavai, P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan adjourned for two weeks the former Punjab Police constable's plea seeking commutation of his death sentence to life term due to an "inordinate delay" in deciding his mercy petition. "Decide it either way or we will consider it (Rajoana's plea)," the bench told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, after he informed the court that Rajoana's mercy plea was pending with the president's house. Rajoana has been in continuous custody for 29 years, said his counsel, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, while seeking his release till the mercy petition is decided. "His mercy petition has been pending with the president's house for the past 12 years. Please release him

Punjab paddy procurement crosses 8.5 MT, Centre says ops in full swing

Punjab has procured 85.41 lakh tonnes (LT) of paddy valued at Rs 19,800 crore in the ongoing 2024-25 kharif marketing season, with procurement operations now in full swing after initial weather-related delays, the food ministry said on Sunday. According to the ministry, about 90.69 LT of paddy arrived in mandis across Punjab till November 2, of which 85.41 LT has been procured by state agencies and Food Corporation of India (FCI). The procurement drive, which began on October 1, has already resulted in payments worth Rs 19,800 crore reaching about 4 lakh farmers across the state. "Though the procurement commenced a bit late due to heavy rain in September and high moisture content in paddy, it is back on track and has picked up in full swing now," the ministry said in a statement. The Centre has fixed a procurement target of 185 LT for Punjab for the ongoing season. The procurement is being carried out at Rs 2,320 per quintal MSP fixed for 'Grade A' paddy. To ensure smooth procurem

Haryana stubble burning persists, farm leader cites farmers' compulsion

Besides Mann, the meeting was also attended by the Secretary (Fertilizers), Chief Secretary of Punjab, and Additional Chief Secretary (Punjab)