Page 26 - Punjab

Farmers' march: HC sends notices to Haryana, Punjab, Centre on 2 petitions

The petitions came up for hearing before a bench of Acting Chief Justice GS Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji

APEDA facilitates Punjab farmer to export millets to Australia, says govt

The commerce ministry's arm APEDA has facilitated a farmer in Punjab to export 14.3 tonnes of millets and its products worth USD 45,803 to Australia, an official statement said on Tuesday. The shipment includes ready-to-cook millets derived from Kodo millet, Foxtail millet, Little millet, Browntop millet, and Barnyard millet, the commerce ministry said. "A farmer from Sangrur, Mr Dilpreet Singh, has transformed into an exporter, marking his first export consignment of 14.3 metric tonnes of millets, and its products valued at USD 45,803," it said. It also said that India's millet exports have touched USD 45.46 million during April-November this fiscal against USD 75.45 million in 2022-23. "Millets are gaining popularity in the global market. There is a significant increase in the export of cereal preparation, including value-added millet products. APEDA has facilitated around 500 startups in marketing, and exporting millet-based value-added products," it said.

Don't divide Punjab and India, says Mann; criticises Haryana's barriers

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday accused the Haryana government of creating a border "between Punjab and India", referring to the concrete blocks, nails and barbed wire placed on some roads to scuttle the farmers' proposed 'Delhi Chalo' march. He said the Manohar Khattar-led Haryana government has placed as much barbed wire at the state's borders with Punjab as there is at the country's border with Pakistan. Khattar, however, justified the steps taken by his government to seal the state's borders and stop Punjab farmers from marching towards the national capital, saying the arrangements are aimed at maintaining law and order. Haryana authorities have sealed the state's border with Punjab at Shambhu near Ambala district, placing concrete blocks, sandbags, barbed wire and anti-riot vehicles on the roads going towards Delhi. Elaborate arrangements have been made at the state's borders with Punjab in Jind and Fatehabad districts as well. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha ...

Delhi Chalo march: Punjab-Haryana border sealed at Shambhu in Ambala

Ahead of the farmers' proposed 'Delhi Chalo' march on February 13, Haryana authorities have sealed the border with Punjab at Shambhu near Ambala. Elaborate arrangements are in place at the borders in Jind and Fatehabad districts to stop the march. Apprehending the disturbance of peace, the Haryana government has also suspended mobile internet services and bulk SMS in seven districts -- Ambala, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, Jind, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa -- from February 11 to 13. Amid measures by the Haryana authorities to prevent the farmers from heading towards the national capital, the Centre has invited them to hold another meeting to discuss their demands on February 12. The Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha had announced the 'Delhi Chalo' march by more than 200 farmers' unions on February 13 to press the Centre into accepting several demands, including the enactment of a law to guarantee a minimum support price (MSP) for crops. The road on the Ghagg

We are firmly with 'INDIA': AAP on decision to contest all Punjab seats

Aam Aadmi Party on Saturday emphasised that it was firmly with the INDIA bloc and asked the Congress for a quick decision on seat-sharing, even as it defended the move to go it alone in Punjab saying local units of both parties wanted to fight the Lok Sabha elections separately. AAP convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, while addressing a programme in Punjab earlier in the day, announced that his party will declare its candidates for all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state and the lone Chandigarh parliamentary seat in the next 10-15 days. The local units of both Congress and AAP in Punjab favoured fighting election separately, the Aam Aadmi Party, which had earlier called for an alliance with the Congress in Delhi, Gujarat, Goa and Haryana, said in a statement. "So we have decided to honour that. Regarding other states, talks are ongoing," the statement said. "We are firmly with the alliance. Our shared goal is to defeat the BJP. Time is thus of paramount importance if the

Will announce candidates for 13 Punjab LS seats within fortnight: Kejriwal

AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal Saturday said his party will announce candidates for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and one Chandigarh parliamentary seat as he sought peoples' blessing for the victory of his candidates. Kejriwal made the announcement addressing a gathering organised for the "doorstep delivery" of ration under the National Food Security Act of the Punjab government. "Two years back, you gave your blessings. Out of 117 seats, you gave us 92 seats. You created history in Punjab. "Today I again seek your blessing with folded hands. There will be Lok Sabha elections after two months. In Punjab there are 13 (Lok Sabha) seats, one is Chandigarh and there will be 14 seats. "In the coming 10-15 days, the AAP will announce its candidates on all these 14 seats. I request you the way you blessed us two years back, get the party to win all these 14 seats," said Kejriwal. The Delhi chief minister praised also the Bhagwant Mann government, saying it did a "lot of work" in th

Chinks in INDIA bloc as TMC, AAP rule out seat sharing in Bengal and Punjab

The constituents of the INDIA bloc were expected to contest against each other in Kerala, but two more states, Bengal and Punjab, have now been added to the list

Lok Sabha polls: After Cong-TMC fallout, AAP hints at lone battle in Punjab

The developments followed after the Congress-TMC had a fallout over seat sharing proposal in West Bengal as Banerjee announced her party's decision to fight the polls alone

AAP brought Punjab to brink, 85% fall in investment is alarming: BJP

"Reports appearing in the media suggested that there was more than an 85 percent decline in the investments coming to the state, which was a cause for alarm for Punjab, "Chugh told ANI

In meeting at Kejriwal's residence, AAP discusses LS candidates for Punjab

A meeting of AAP leaders to discuss its Lok Sabha poll candidates for Punjab was held at Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's residence here on Saturday. Apart from party national convener Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, general secretary (organisation) Sandeep Pathak, MP Raghav Chadha and other leaders were present at the meeting, party leaders said. "The leaders discussed candidates from Punjab for the Lok Sabha polls. Various other issues like seat-sharing possibility was also deliberated upon but the discussions remained inconclusive. Further meetings will be held in coming days," said a source. The AAP and the Congress, both partners of the opposition INDIA bloc, have been holding seat-sharing talks for states, including Delhi and Punjab. However, sources in both parties have claimed that their state units were not in favour of an alliance between them for the elections. "A possibility of sharing six seats each in Punjab was being discussed but the Congress h

Fewer western disturbances causing foggy and cold winter, says IMD

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) added that strong jet streams were also causing the cold conditions

'Lohri' celebrated with traditional fervour in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh

The festival of 'Lohri' was celebrated in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh with traditional fervour on Saturday. Bonfires, an important part of the festivities, were lit as families danced to the tunes of famous festival songs like 'sundar mundriye ho'. The sky was dotted with colourful kites of different sizes and shapes as children and youths engaged in kite-flying competitions at many places. Jaggery, peanuts, and popcorn -- the three edibles associated with Lohri -- were distributed among people. Girls in traditional attire performed the 'Gidha' folk dance. People at many places danced to the beats of 'dhol' to celebrate the festival. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his counterpart in Haryana Manohar Lal Khattar greeted people on the occasion. "Congratulations to all the Punjabis on Lohri, the festival of happiness. May this Lohri bring joy and happiness to everyone's home," said Mann in his post on X. Khattar, in his post on X, said, "On this auspicious occasion, I wis

NIA raids 32 places in Delhi, Haryana, Punjab in terror-gangster case

The raids began early this morning and multiple teams of the anti-terror agency conducted searches in close coordination with state police forces

Lohri 2024: When, why and how Lohri festival is celebrated in India

One of the most cherished festivals marking the arrival of warmer days and the end of winter days, Lohri, will be celebrated on January 14 this year

Punjab sub-committee to share concerns over new hit-and-run law with Centre

A Punjab Cabinet sub-committee on Tuesday assured transporters that the state government would share their concerns regarding the new hit-and-run law with the Centre. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), set to replace the Indian Penal Code, drivers who cause serious road accidents due to negligent driving and run away without informing authorities face up to 10 years in prison or a fine of Rs 7 lakh. The Cabinet sub-committee comprising Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal held a meeting with the representatives of the truck and taxi unions of the state here, according to an official release. The sub-committee discussed in detail the provisions of punishment under Section 106 (2) of the BNS for causing death due to rash and negligent driving, and escaping without reporting it to a police officer or a magistrate soon after the incident. The main concern of the representatives of the transport unions was the manhandling of the driv

Thermal power is back in business as govt makes commitment clear

Deals in Punjab and Odisha shows coal-fired plants are crucial to economy

ACC gets full ownership of Asian Concretes for Rs 775 cr enterprise value

Asian Concretes (ACCPL) was earlier an associate company of ACC, in which it already held a 45 per cent stake. ACC had first invested in Asian Concretes in 2010 for an undisclosed value

NIA attaches 4 properties of Lawrence Bishnoi syndicate members in 3 states

The properties were attached in a coordinated swoop by the NIA teams in Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967

Centre asks UP, Punjab, two other states to tap saline land for aquaculture

The Centre on Wednesday directed Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh governments to take steps to tap the potential saline land resources not suitable for farming purposes for promoting aquaculture. In a virtual review meeting, Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi said Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh should focus on adopting shrimp aquaculture in identified 25 districts to generate employment and livelihood. The four states should include the project proposals for development of their saline affected areas in the Annual Action Plan for the next year for requisite support under a central scheme. "Saline affected areas are not suitable for agriculture. However, there is huge potential to convert these saline affected areas into aquaculture areas," an official statement said. It was agreed in the meeting that there are a number of challenges for saline land aquaculture in these States. To address these challenges, it is felt that an awareness campaign may be ...

Punjab's GST revenue rises 16.52% to Rs 15,524 crore in April-December

Punjab saw a 16.52 per cent year-on-year growth in revenue from Goods and Services Tax (GST) and a 10.4 per cent increase in revenue from excise levy during the April-December period of the current fiscal year. Punjab's Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday said the net GST collection up to December in FY24 was Rs 15,523.74 crore against the mop-up of Rs 13,322.59 crore during the April-December period of the previous financial year. Thus, the net increase in GST collection amounts to Rs 2,201.15 crore, he added. The minister said that the revenue from excise levy up to December in FY23 was Rs 6,050.7 crore, whereas for the current fiscal year, it rose to Rs 6,679.84 crore. Giving details about state's tax revenue, Cheema, in an official statement, said that Punjab achieved a growth rate of 14.15 per cent in total revenue from VAT, CST, GST, PSDT and excise up to December during the current fiscal year as compared to the same period of FY23. He said that revenue from V