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Samyukta Kisan Morcha leaders claimed that police conducted "raids" at the residences of many farmer leaders early Tuesday in Punjab and also "detained" them ahead of their call for a protest in Chandigarh on March 5. There was no immediate reaction from the police to the claims. Farmer leaders said the police action came a day after a meeting between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and SKM leaders broke down. Apprehending police action, several farmer leaders have also gone underground. The SKM has called for a week-long sit-in in Chandigarh starting March 5 in support of their various demands. Bharti Kisan Union (Lakhowal) general secretary Harinder Singh Lakhowal claimed that the Punjab police conducted "raids" at the residences of SKM leaders early morning "With such actions, the government cannot stifle the voice of farmers," Lakhowal said, adding, "We are fighting in support of various farmers' demands." He said police personnel are also deployed at his residence. "It is our
Godrej Properties on Wednesday said it is "surprised" over the CBI registering an FIR against the company for alleged violations of environmental rules in a completed project in Chandigarh and will take steps to protect the interest of the customers. CBI has registered an FIR against Berkeley Realtech Ltd and Godrej Estate Developers for alleged cheating and corruption in developing their project in Chandigarh in alleged violation of wildlife laws, an official had said on Tuesday. The CBI acted on the conclusions arrived in a preliminary enquiry registered in 2023 on a complaint from an under secretary at Punjab Raj Bhawan. The CBI has alleged that Berkeley Square, developed by Berkeley Realtech Ltd (now known as RSA Motors Pvt Ltd), and Godrej Eternia, developed by Godrej Estate Developers in Chandigarh's Industrial Area, had allegedly violated environmental laws. The project allegedly fall within the 10 km radius eco sensitive zones of the Sukhna Wildlife Sanctuary and the City B
The Chandigarh mayoral poll is set to witness a keen contest between the BJP and the AAP-Congress alliance with officials stating that all necessary arrangements have been made for the elections, set to take place on Thursday. The elections for the posts of mayor, senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor will be held in the assembly hall of the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, officials said. Meanwhile, the Chandigarh administration on Wednesday imposed Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, banning the gathering of five or more persons within 100 meters of the Chandigarh MC building's perimeter. AAP's Kuldeep Kumar Dhalor is the incumbent mayor of Chandigarh. The AAP and Congress are contesting the mayoral elections as an alliance. While AAP is contesting the mayor's post, Congress has put up its candidates -- Jasbir Singh Bunty and Taruna Mehta -- for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor, respectively. The AAP has fielded its councillor Prem Lata for the
The Supreme Court on Friday mulled appointing an observer to ensure that "free and fair" Chandigarh mayoral elections were held on January 30. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh passed the order on a plea filed by Chandigarh mayor Kuldeep Kumar from AAP who sought "show of hands" instead of "secret ballot" to ensure fairness in the polling process. "Issue notice for the limited purpose of appointing an independent observer to conduct the election scheduled to be held on January 30, 2025. Meanwhile, the election process will continue," the bench said. The top court posted the hearing on January 27, and indicated it may appoint a retired high court judge as observer for the polls. Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh, appearing for the mayor, submitted the court may issue notice on polling by "show of hands" for he said, "We all know what happened during last elections when it was secret ballot and CCTV video recording." Justice Surya Kant said the mayor had ...
The Centre will hold a meeting with Punjab's protesting farmers on February 14 in Chandigarh to discuss their demands, thus ending a stalemate over the resumption of a dialogue with the agitators, who have been demanding a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops. Following the announcement of the proposed meeting, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered the 54th day on Saturday, agreed to take medical aid. However, he will not end his indefinite fast till a legal guarantee on the minimum support price (MSP) for crops is given, said farmer leader Sukhjit Singh Hardojhande. The breakthrough came after a delegation of officials from the Union agriculture ministry, led by Joint Secretary Priya Ranjan, met Dallewal and held a meeting with the representatives of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, which are spearheading the agitation for the last 11 months. Following the announcement of the meeting on February 14, farmer leaders ...
The Centre has proposed a meeting with the protesting farmers on February 14 in Chandigarh to discuss their demands, a senior official of the Union government said on Saturday. Following the announcement, farmer leaders appealed to fasting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose fast-unto-death entered 54th day on Saturday, to take medical aid so that he can participate in the proposed meeting. A delegation of Central government officials led by joint secretary rank officer Priya Ranjan met Dallewal at Khanauri and held a meeting with the representatives of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. Earlier, farmers protesting at the Khanauri and Shambhu border points between Punjab and Haryana on Saturday said they have received a proposal from the central government which they will discuss.
The AAP, Congress and SAD on Wednesday slammed the Centre for its decision to re-designate the post of adviser to the Chandigarh administrator as the chief secretary, dubbing it as a "direct attack on Punjab's legitimate claim over the Union Territory". The Union Home Ministry has rechristened Chandigarh adviser's post as chief secretary. The charge of the adviser to the UT administrator was given to a senior IAS officer from the Arunachal Pradesh-Goa-Mizoram and Union Territory (AGMUT) cadre. The Punjab governor holds the charge of the UT Chandigarh administrator. Chandigarh is the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. Punjab's ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) strongly condemned the Centre's move, claiming it once again "exposes the anti-Punjab attitude" of the Central government. It is an attempt to weaken Punjab's claim over Chandigarh, claimed AAP leader Neel Garg. "The appointment of a chief secretary is meant for a state. Chandigarh is not a state, nor does it have a chief mini
Police used tear gas shells and a water cannon to prevent the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha activists from heading towards Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's residence here on Tuesday. The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha activists also clashed with the police personnel at Sector 43 near Chandigarh bus stand, leading to injuries to three policemen, including an inspector. The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha, which is seeking the release of 'Bandi Singhs' (Sikh prisoners), had planned to march towards the Punjab chief minister's residence. The protesters had gathered in Mohali on the second anniversary of the morcha. Meanwhile, jailed radical preacher and Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh's father Tarsem Singh said that he was placed under house arrest in Amritsar by the Punjab Police. Tarsem Singh was to participate in the programme of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha in Chandigarh. Barricades had been erected at several Chandigarh-Mohali border points to prevent the protesters from marching towards the chief minister's .
US President-elect Donald Trump on Monday nominated Indian-American Harmeet K Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the Department of Justice. I am pleased to nominate Harmeet K. Dhillon as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights at the US Department of Justice, Trump announced on Truth Social, a social media platform owned by him. Throughout her career, Harmeet has stood up consistently to protect our cherished civil liberties, including taking on big tech for censoring our free speech, representing Christians who were prevented from praying together during COVID, and suing corporations who use woke policies to discriminate against their workers, he said. Harmeet is one of the top election lawyers in the country, fighting to ensure that all, and ONLY, legal votes are counted. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Virginia Law School, and clerked in the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, Trump said. Harmeet is a respected member of th
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday witnessed a live demonstration simulating a crime scene investigation under the new criminal laws here. Modi arrived in Chandigarh earlier in the day to dedicate to the nation the successful implementation of the three new laws. The three criminal laws -- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam -- came into effect on July 1, replacing the British-era Indian Penal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act, respectively. A live demonstration of the process of collecting evidence and recording statements was given by the Chandigarh Police at an exhibition hall set up at the Punjab Engineering College here. The programme showcased the practical application of the new laws. Modi was also briefed by Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwardeep Kaur. The prime minister was accompanied by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab
After a nearly three-year wait because of legal wrangles, Eminent Electricity Distribution Ltd, a subsidiary of CESC Ltd, has received the Letter of Intent (LOI) for acquiring 100 per cent equity in a company responsible for electricity distribution and retail supply in Chandigarh. CESC, part of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, had emerged as the highest bidder for the Rs 871-crore deal, securing the tender for the Chandigarh distribution business in 2021. However, the privatisation bid was challenged by trade unions. The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently dismissed the petition filed by employees of the Chandigarh Power Department, clearing the way for privatising power distribution services in the union territory. We write to inform you that Eminent Electricity Distribution Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CESC Ltd, has received a Letter of Intent for acquiring 100 per cent shares in a distribution company responsible for electricity distribution and retail supply in the Union ...
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
Punjab's ruling AAP and opposition parties on Thursday 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. The AAP accused the BJP-led central government of conspiring against the state while the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) claimed any decision to allocate land to Haryana in the union territory would be unconstitutional. The Congress said the Centre's clearance is "a calculated move to undermine Punjab's rightful share over its capital". The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has reportedly granted environmental clearance for the land offered by the Haryana government to the Chandigarh administration in exchange for land to build the second assembly building. The Haryana government offered 12 acres of land in Panchkula in exchange for 10 acres of land near IT Park Road in Chandigarh. At present, Punjab and Haryana share the Vidhan Sabha complex which is next to
Union Minister of Power and Housing & Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday ensured that no harm will be caused to any employee regarding the privatisation of power services in Chandigarh.He said that the welfare of the employees will be taken care of and it will be ensured that during privatisation, there is no threat to their jobs."...Regarding the privatisation of power services in Chandigarh, the matter was in the High Court. Two days ago, the High Court has given its verdict that privatisation can be done. The UT administration has to take further steps on this. Either it will start or there is an option to go to the Supreme Court. UT administration is pleading for privatisation. It will be ensured that no harm will be caused to any employee. The welfare of the employees will be taken care of and it will be ensured that during privatisation, there is no threat to their jobs...," said Khattar.Notably, the Punjab and Haryana High Court approved the privatization of the