Page 26 - Punjab

EC transfers police chiefs who are kin of politicians in Punjab, Assam

The Election Commission on Thursday transferred district police chiefs in Assam and Punjab, who are kin of prominent politicians, and shunted out "non-cadre" district magistrates and superintendents of police in some states. The poll body said the non-cadre district magistrates (DMs) and superintendent of police (SPs) have been shunted out as the posts are meant for IAS and IPS officers. The EC said it has adopted a tough stance against posting of non-cadre officers at leadership positions by transferring eight non-encadred SPs/SSPs and five non-encadred DMs in Punjab, Odisha, Gujarat and West Bengal. Wherever relatives of prominent politicians were holding charge as DM or SP, have also been transferred, it said, adding SSP Bathinda (Punjab) and SP Sonitpur (Assam) have been transferred. The EC said the officials in these two districts have been transferred as a "pre-emptive measure" to dispel any apprehensions of administration being biased or perceived to be compromised. The mov

Former diplomat Sandhu joins BJP, latest to take the political plunge

The BJP won two of Punjab's 13 seats in 2019, including Sunny Deol from Gurdaspur, who defeated Jakhar, and former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Som Prakash from Hoshiarpur

Analysing economic progress of states through budgets & advance estimates

Several states have come out with the Budgets for 2024-25 and hence advance estimates. Let us use them to analyse the economic performance or outlook of some of those states

Lok Sabha elections: Key seats to watch in UP, Punjab, Raj, other states

The BJP won all four Himachal Pradesh Lok Sabha seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, it is fighting a divided Congress. The seats include these. * Hamirpur: The BJP has fielded Union minister Anurag Thakur from Hamirpur, the Lok Sabha seat he has been winning since a 2008 bypoll. CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and his deputy Mukesh Agnihotri also represent assembly segments in Hamirpur. Five of the six Congress MLAs who recently rebelled against the party were also elected from Hamirpur assembly segments. * Mandi: Members of the region's erstwhile families have tried their luck here. Himachal Congress president Pratibha Singh currently represents the constituency which also sent her husband Virbhadra Singh to Parliament in the past.

3 operatives of Goldy Brar, Rohit Godara held in Punjab's Zirakpur

Three operatives of gangsters Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara, who are members of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, were arrested from Zirakpur in Mohali, said a top police officer on Saturday. Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the accused were identified as Ajay Singh alias Ajaypal and Ankit, both residents of Bhiwani in Haryana, and Lakhwinder Singh alias Lucky, a resident of Zirakpur. Ankit has a criminal background with involvement in cases of heinous crimes, including murder, attempt to murder, extortion and Arms Act registered in Haryana, police said. A team of the Anti-Gangster Task Force of the Punjab Police also recovered two .32 calibre pistols along with 11 live cartridges from their possession and also impounded their car. DGP Yadav said acting on reliable information, teams of the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) followed the trail of the trio accused and arrested them from a flat located near Airport Road in Zirakpur. Preliminary investigations revealed t

Senior Punjab Cong legislator Raj Kumar Chabbewal quits party, joins AAP

In a setback to the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, senior party leader from Punjab and MLA Raj Kumar Chabbewal on Friday quit the party and joined the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. The 54-year-old Chabbewal said he has quit as a legislator from Chabbewal assembly constituency in Hoshiarpur district.The prominent Dalit leader was the Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly. He joined the AAP here and was welcomed into the party fold by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Chabbewal is the second Congress leader from Punjab to join the AAP within a week. Gurpreet Singh GP, a former Congress MLA from Bassi Pathana, had recently joined the AAP. In a post in Punjabi on X, the AAP state unit said the party has been further strengthened with the joining of Chabbewal. Impressed by the pro-people policies of Bhagwant Mann, Chabbewal, who is an MLA, has joined AAP. Many many congratulations to him from the party, the AAP posted along with photos of Chabbewal being welcomed by the ...

Lok Sabha polls: Actor Karamjeet among 8 candidates in AAP's Punjab list

The Aam Aadmi Party said that it will fight the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab alone, giving a jolt to the Congress. Both are members of the Opposition alliance INDIA but could face each other in Punjab

ISL 2023-24: FC Goa makes playoffs after exciting 3-3 draw with Punjab FC

FC Goa secured a place in the playoffs despite splitting points with Punjab FC following a 3-3 draw in an Indian Super League match here on Monday. Wilmar Jordan, Luka Majcen and Juan Mera scored for the home side while Carl Mchugh, Noah Sadaoui and Carlos Martinez were on target for the Goan outfit. FC Goa started the match on a positive note with Raynier Fernandes testing the home team goalkeeper Ravi Kumar from long range. The Goan outfit received two corners with the second one from Borja Herrera finding Carl Mchugh inside the box. Mchugh's thunderous left-footer found the top corner to give Goa an early lead. Punjab started to attack with purpose and got success in the 54th minute. Madih Talal found Wilmar Jordan inside the box, who fed the ball to his striking partner Luka Majcen. Luka's attempt at goal fell in the path of Jordan who just had to tap it in for the equaliser. Punjab struck the second blow just seven minute later with a perfectly-worked counter attacking goal.

Need to win all 13 LS seats to make Punjab 'Rangla': Arvind Kejriwal

AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal on Monday launched his party's poll campaign in Punjab for the upcoming general elections and accused the BJP of trying to topple the Bhagwant Mann government by approaching its MLAs. He asked people to ensure his party's victory in all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab. "We do not need these seats for ourselves. (These are) to work more for your family and to make your family more prosperous. To make Punjab 'Rangla', we need 13 seats," Kejriwal said. At the event, the AAP also rolled out the slogan -- "Sansad vich ve Bhagwant Mann, Khushaal Punjab te vadhegi shaan". Addressing a gathering here, Kejriwal slammed the Centre for allegedly withholding Rs 8,000 crore of Punjab's funds and accused the BJP of trying to topple the AAP government in the state by approaching its MLAs. "The Centre has withheld Rs 8,000 crore of Punjab's funds. It is a lot of money. How many schools, hospitals, mohalla clinics could have come up with that fund?" he posed. Kejriwal hit

Punjab cabinet clears excise policy, aims at over Rs 10,000 cr collections

The Punjab cabinet gave its nod on Saturday to the excise policy for 2024-25, which is aimed at garnering revenue to the tune of more than Rs 10,000 crore from the sale of liquor. A decision to this effect was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here. Addressing reporters here after the meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the cabinet has approved the new excise policy -- the third such policy of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. "For the first time, more than Rs 10,000 crore will be generated from it," Cheema said. He said during the previous Congress regime, the revenue from liquor sale was merely Rs 6,151 crore. The new excise policy envisages allotment of liquor vends through a draw of lots, the minister said, adding that instead of 172 groups, 232 groups have been formed this time. "Liquor vends will be allotted through a draw of lots," he said. In another decision, the cabinet also gave its approval for allowing colonisers t

'Guarantee' of giving Rs 1,000 to women will be fulfilled: Punjab minister

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday informed the Assembly that the state government will fulfil the "guarantee" of giving Rs 1,000 to women. His statement came after the opposition parties accused the Bhagwant Mann government of not fulfilling the pre-poll promise of giving Rs 1,000 each month to women in the state. Responding to issues raised by the MLAs during a debate on the state budget, Cheema said the state government has fulfilled four out of five "guarantees", including free electricity and the opening of 'aam aadmi clinics'. "We implemented four guarantees out of five within two years. One guarantee related to women is pending. I am saying this with full responsibility in the House that this guarantee will also be fulfilled," the state finance minister told the House. Taking on the opposition Congress MLAs, Cheema said they were not aware of the fulfilment of these four "guarantees" as they are related to the common people of the state. Because most o

Punjab's GST mop-up increases by 16% to over Rs 19,000 crore till February

The Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection in Punjab jumped 15.69 per cent to Rs 19,222 crore in the current financial year so far, while the state's excise revenue rose 11.71 per cent to Rs 8,093.59 crore. The net GST collection up to February in the current fiscal year stood at Rs 19,222.5 crore, up from Rs 16,615.52 crore collected during the same period of the preceding fiscal, finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Sunday. Cheema further said that the state's excise revenue also witnessed an impressive growth of Rs 842.72 crore with the overall collection of Rs 8,093.59 crore as against Rs 7,244.87 crore recorded during the same period a year ago, according to an official statement. Cheema said that the state has seen a shift in its fiscal trajectory since Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led AAP government assumed office in March 2022. "With better planning and implementation, the state has recorded net tax revenue growth of 13.85 per cent, surpassing Rs 34,158 crore

AAP to announce candidates for LS seats in Punjab in 2-4 days: CM Kejriwal

The Aam Aadmi Party will announce candidates for all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab in next two to four days, party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal said on Saturday. Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal said that discussion on the candidates for the Lok Sabha polls was going on, and urged the people of the state to make the party victorious in all seats. "In next two to four days, the announcement will be made," said Kejriwal while speaking to reporters in Jalandhar after virtually launching 165 'Aam Aadmi Clinics' to be set up across Punjab. "If you ensure (the party's) victory in all 13 seats, you will strengthen Bhagwant Mann's hands. It is Mann alone who is fighting the Centre. It is Mann who is only fighting the governor and the BJP," said Kejriwal who was accompanied by the Punjab chief minister. The Delhi chief minister also slammed the Centre for allegedly withholding Rs 8,000 crore worth of funds from Punjab.

PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif set to become Pakistan's PM for second time

Top PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif is set to become the 33rd prime minister of Pakistan on Sunday, once again leading a coalition government, amidst allegations of rigging of polls and facing staggering economic and security challenges. Shehbaz, who is the joint candidate of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has already submitted his nomination.

FIR lodged on Shubkaran's death, last rites to be performed today: Pandher

"Also today we will take the body of the deceased (Shubhkaran Singh) to the Khanauri Border, and his (Shubhkaran Singh) last rites will be performed at his native village," the farmer leader said

Centre's 5-crop MSP proposal: Why Punjab farmers are reluctant to diversify

As Centre proposes purchase of alternative crops at MSP, a look at why Punjab farmers are reluctant to diversify

Farmers take out tractors rallies in Punjab, Haryana to protest against WTO

Farmers took out tractor rallies at several places in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh and burnt effigies, demanding the agriculture sector be taken out of the WTO agreement. In Uttar Pradesh, the rallies led to disruption in traffic at many places and farmers also burnt effigies representing the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which is holding its 13th ministerial conference, a meeting of its highest decision-making body, in the UAE. On the call of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of several farm unions that spearheaded the 2020-21 farmers' stir, protesters parked their tractors along the highways at many places in Punjab and Haryana. Effigies representing the WTO were also burnt at Khanauri and Shambhu points on Punjab's border with Haryana where thousands of farmers have been camping after their march to Delhi, led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM), was halted by security forces. Farmer leaders claimed the WTO's ...

PM Modi inaugurates five Aiims across multiple cities, including Rajkot

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) at Rajkot in Gujarat and e-dedicated to the nation four more AIIMS at Bathinda (Punjab), Raebareli (Uttar Pradesh), Kalyani (West Bengal) and Mangalagiri (Andhra Pradesh). He inaugurated development projects worth Rs 48,000 at the function held here and asserted that his guarantee begins when hope from others fades. "For 50 years after Independence, there was only one AIIMS in the country, and that too in Delhi. In the seven decades since Independence, only seven AIIMS were approved but even these were never completed," he said. "But now, in just 10 days, seven new AIIMS were inaugurated or its foundation stones laid. That is why I am saying we are developing the country at a pace much faster than what happened in the last six to seven decades," he said.

Punjab has secured Rs 70,000 cr investment so far: CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab has secured investments worth Rs 70,000 crore so far and many big companies are keen to set up units in the state, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said on Saturday. He was addressing a gathering at 'Sarkaar Vpaar Milni' event organised to address issues faced by the trading community in the state. The initiative aims to secure the well-being of the trading community, marking a significant step towards restoring the pristine glory of the state and boosting its economic development, said Mann. Industry and trade serve as the backbone of every state's economy and should therefore be given a significant impetus, he added. Underlining the importance of revenue and employment generation in driving state development, Mann said he has visited major cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, to invite industrialists to establish ventures in Punjab. So far, investments worth Rs 70,000 crore have already been firmed up, with prominent companies expressing interest to invest in the state, Mann said.

Govt to celebrate 'parkash utsav' of Ravidas in unprecedented manner: Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said the state government will celebrate the 650th 'parkash utsav' of Sri Guru Ravidas in an unprecedented manner. Addressing the gathering during a state-level function to observe the 647th 'parkash utsav' of Guru Ravidas after dedicating the 'Sri Guru Ravidas Ji memorial' at Khuralgarh Sahib, about 62 km from here, the chief minister said that he has already instructed officers to ensure foolproof planning for smooth execution of the event. He said the entire area around Khuralgarh will be developed holistically for this event in consultation with devotees. Mann emphasized this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and said the state government will spare no effort in making this event a huge success. The chief minister said the memorial has been built at a cost of nearly Rs 143 crore and added it is a humble tribute to Guru Ravidas by the state government. He said the memorial, which has 'Minar-e-Begumpura', 'Sangat hall', a ...