Punjab

Farmers call 'Punjab bandh' on Dec 30 over demands related to MSP, debts

Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Wednesday said farmers have given a call for 'Punjab bandh' on December 30 as he slammed the Centre for not accepting the demands of protesting farmers. Pandher said the decision to give the 'bandh' call was taken by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha. "There will be a complete 'bandh' on December 30," said Pandher. Addressing the media in Amritsar, Pandher said emergency services will remain operational during the 'bandh'. He appealed to people, including traders, businessmen, transporters to make the 'bandh' successful. "Like the 'Rail Roko' protest was a success. Similarly, the Punjab bandh should also be made successful," he said. Train services in Punjab were affected as farmers squatted on rail tracks at more than 50 places on Wednesday as part of their three-hour 'Rail Roko' protest to press the Centre into accepting their various demands, including a legally binding minimum support price for crops. Acco

Exclusive 'Judges Lounge' at Diljit Dosanjh's Chandigarh concert sparks row

Over 300 VIP passes were reportedly issued to Punjab and Haryana High Court judges, along with their family members, raising concerns over preferential treatment

Cold wave in Punjab, Haryana; Faridkot coldest at zero degrees celsius

Cold weather conditions continued in several areas of Punjab and neighboring Haryana, with Faridkot being the coldest place in the region, recording a minimum temperature of 0 degrees Celsius on Tuesday, officials said. Faridkot has been experiencing severe cold for the past few days, making it the coldest place in Punjab. According to the Meteorological Department's daily weather report, Amritsar recorded a minimum temperature of 2.6 degrees, while Ludhiana and Patiala both registered minimums of 4.8 degrees Celsius. Piercing cold swept Pathankot, which recorded a low of 2.8 degrees. Bathinda and Gurdaspur shivered at 3 degrees and 3.5 degrees respectively. Chandigarh, the common capital of the two states, recorded a low of 6.6 degrees Celsius. In Haryana, Hisar was the coldest place, recording a minimum of 1.6 degrees Celsius, while Sirsa was also affected by severe cold, with a low of 2.6 degrees Celsius. Karnal experienced a cold night, recording a low of 4.6 degrees, while R

Diljit Dosanjh says no more concerts in India until infra improves

Diljit Dosanjh's 'Dil-Luminati Tour' will conclude in Guwahati on December 29, after a performance in Mumbai on December 19

Punjab or Panjab? Singer Diljit Dosanjh X-post reignites spelling debate

Punjab vs Panjab: Diljit Dosanjh gets mixed reaction from fans on his Chandigarh concert update post on microblogging platform X

Farmer leader Pandher urges people of Punjab to join 'Rail Roko' on Dec 18

Pandher announced that a tractor march would be organised outside Punjab on December 16, followed by a 'Rail Roko' in Punjab on December 18

Temperatures drop in Delhi, Punjab; slight respite from cold for Kashmir

Cold weather conditions persisted in parts of north and west India on Sunday with the mercury dropping several notches in Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan. Kashmir and the higher reaches of Himachal Pradesh received some respite from the intense cold as minimum temperatures rose. The respite for Kashmir is likely to be short-lived as the meteorological department has predicted a cold wave in parts of the valley over the next three days. Delhi's minimum temperature dropped to 4.9 degrees Celsius, 3.1 notches below normal, but cold wave conditions did not prevail, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The mercury settled at a low of 8 degrees Celsius in the city on Saturday. The capital recorded a maximum temperature of 23.2 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 0.2 notches below normal, the IMD said. The weather department has forecast moderate fog in Delhi on Monday. The minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to settle at 5 degrees Celsius and 23 degrees Celsius ...

Punjab DGP, MHA director meet fasting farmer leader Dallewal in Khanauri

The Punjab Police chief along with a senior officer in the Union Home Ministry Sunday met farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been staging an indefinite hunger strike since last month, and enquired about his health. Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav and Director in the Ministry of Home Affairs Mayank Mishra met Dallewal at the Khanauri border point and heard his demands. Their visit came two days after the Supreme Court directed the Centre and Punjab government representatives to meet Dallewal immediately. The top court had further directed that the farmer leader be provided medical help and persuaded him to break his indefinite fast, saying his life was precious. The 70-year-old Dallewal, a cancer patient, has been on a fast-unto-death at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 to press the Centre to accept the agitating farmers' demands, including a legal guarantee of MSP on crops. Speaking to reporters after meeting Dallewal,

Pandher urges SKM to unite with farmers protesting on Punjab-Haryana border

Punjab farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher Sunday said he has written to the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) to join hands with the farmers protesting at Punjab-Haryana border points over their various demands, including a legal guarantee on the MSP for crops. His statement came days after SKM leader Rakesh Tikait called for unity of farmers for a "joint fight" to press the Centre to accept their demands. Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo march' and have been camping at Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 after their march to Delhi was stopped by security forces. A "jatha" (group) of 101 farmers made two attempts to enter Delhi on foot on December 6 and December 8. They were not allowed to proceed by security personnel in Haryana. However, the SKM, which had spearheaded the 2020 farmers' stir against the now-repealed farm laws, was not part of the 'Delhi

SC orders aid to ailing farm leader, urges adoption of 'Gandhian' protest

Observing protesting farmers should adopt the Gandhian way, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered immediate medical aid to farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, whose health is deteriorating owing to his indefinite fast of over a fortnight at a Punjab-Haryana border. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Ujjal Bhuyan directed the Centre and Punjab government representatives to immediately meet Dallewal, who has completed over 17 days of fast. "Farmers should not get violent and do peaceful agitation. They should adopt the Gandhian way of protests because their grievances are being looked into," the bench said after being informed that violent agitations had created problems at both the sites. The court further asked to provide him with medical help and persuade him to break his indefinite fast saying his life was precious. "It is the bounden duty of the state of Punjab and union of India to take all peaceful measures and provide adequate immediate medical aid to Dallewal without forcing

Punjab announces new policy for play schools, focus on health of children

The Department of WCD will compel all such schools to register in accordance with these rules, which will be put into effect over the course of the next six months

PSTET Answer Key 2024 out at official website, raise objections till Dec 15

The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has announced the answer key for the Punjab State Teacher Eligibility Test (PSTET) 2024 through the official website at pstet.pseb.ac.in

India bloc dented in Delhi, AAP says 'will win polls alone again in 2025'

Raghav Chadha said, 'I am making it clear that AAP will contest the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections on its own strength'

In last 10 years we have bought crops at MSP: Haryana CM Nayab Saini

The Haryana Chief Minister's comments came amidst continued protests by farmers at the Haryana Punjab border

Centre should resolve farmers' issues without delay: Punjab Speaker

Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Monday slammed the Centre, accusing it of being "indifferent" to the genuine demands of farmers and leaving them "high and dry on the roads". Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open channels of communication with the protesting farmers, Sandhwan stressed that the Centre must take decisive action and resolve the farmers' issues without dragging its feet. "It was a bitter pill for Punjab's farmers to swallow, being left high and dry on the roads, while the Union government remained indifferent," said Sandhwan in a statement. He said in other countries, including those in Europe, farmers can take their issues straight to their parliaments, whereas Indian farmers are given "the cold shoulder" when they raise valid concerns. The Speaker reminded the Centre that the country's farmers not only put food on the table for millions but also serve as the backbone of India's trade, industry, and economy by producing a variety of crops. He ca

Textiles giant Trident Group plans to invest Rs 3,000 cr in Madhya Pradesh

Textiles major Trident Group plans to invest Rs 3,000 crore in Madhya Pradesh to expand its operations in the state resulting in 3,000 new jobs, its Chairman Rajinder Gupta said on Monday. The Ludhiana-based vertically integrated textiles firm currently has operations involving sourcing cotton to produce finished goods in the state, it said in a regulatory filing. "We ventured into Madhya Pradesh a few years ago and invested Rs 5,000 crore. Today, our finished products from Madhya Pradesh are exported to 122 countries, with demand continually rising," Gupta said while speaking at the Madhya Pradesh Regional Industry Conclave. Looking ahead, Gupta said the group "plans to invest an additional Rs 3,000 crore in the state's textile sector which will expand employment opportunities here at Trident Group from the current 12,000 to over 15,000". He further said, "We are committed to ensuring that the benefits of our operations stay within Madhya Pradesh, from sourcing cotton to producing

Punjab: Elections to 5 MCs, 44 councils to be held on December 21

Elections to five municipal corporations and 44 municipal councils and nagar panchayats in Punjab will be held on December 21, the State Election Commission said on Sunday. All necessary arrangements have been made for the civic body polls, it said. Addressing the media here, State Election Commissioner Raj Kamal Chaudhuri said polling for five municipal corporations and 44 municipal councils and Nagar panchayats will be held from 7 am to 4 pm. "The model code of conduct will come into force from today," he said. The five municipal corporations going to polls are Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Patiala and Phagwara. The process of filing nominations will start from December 9 and the last date will be December 12. The scrutiny of nomination papers will be done on December 13 and the last date for the withdrawal of nominations will be December 14, Chaudhuri said. He said, 37.32 lakh voters, including 17.75 lakh females and 204 others, are eligible to cast their votes in these ...

Farmer protest: Tear gas shells fired at Shambhu border; barricades removed

Protesting farmers, carrying flags of their unions and the tricolour, managed to break a barricade but were stopped by heavy security personnel with concrete blocks and barbed wires at Shambhu border

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