Punjab Assembly

Sukhbir Badal to face religious censure: Will Akali Dal chart a new path?

Sukhbir Singh Badal will receive 'punishment' from religious authorities for his acts as chief minister of Punjab. The question is whether a reinvention of Badal and the Akali Dal will follow

PPP opposes resolution in Punjab Assembly seeking ban on Imran Khan's party

The PPP, which is an ally of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N), expressed its opposition to the idea of proscribing PTI

Congress fields spouses of MPs- Warring, Randhawa for Punjab bypolls

The Congress released its candidate list on Tuesday for the November 13 bypolls to four assembly seats in Punjab, fielding Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring's wife Amrita Warring from Gidderbaha and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa's wife Jatinder Kaur from Dera Baba Nanak. The bypolls to the Gidderbaha, Dera Baba Nanak, Chabbewal and Barnala seats were necessitated after the sitting MLAs were elected to the Lok Sabha. The party fielded Amrita Warring from the Gidderbaha assembly segment. Her husband Raja Warring had won the seat in 2012, 2017 and 2022. The seat fell vacant after sitting MLA Raja Warring won the Lok Sabha election from Ludhiana this year. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa was the Dera Baba Nanak MLA when he won the parliamentary election from Gurdaspur and vacated the assembly seat. The Congress has fielded his wife Jatinder Kaur from the seat. Sukhjinder Randhawa had won the Dera Baba Nanak assembly seat in 2002, 2012, 2017 and 2022. The Congress fielded Ku

Punjab BJP to hold rural outreach, leaders to speak with stakeholders

The BJP will hold a rural outreach under which its leaders and workers will go to villages in Punjab and hold dialogue with various stakeholders, including farmers on various issues. Punjab is a sensitive border state with typical problems and needs to be addressed with the same spirit, state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar on Friday said. Stressing that dialogue is the way forward for effective resolution of all issues being faced by Punjab, Jakhar said the farmers, agricultural scientists and economists must be taken on board to evolve a consensual resolution. Jakhar was speaking to the media this evening after presiding over a day-long meeting of state BJP's extended executive committee meeting here. He said it was felt during the meeting that a false narrative has been built, a myth has been created to project the BJP against farmers. To break that myth, that lies and that perception, which has been built, dialogue at all levels is needed, said Jakhar. The BJP has been working for all

Punjab CM Mann reviews flood protection work along Ghaggar river in Sangrur

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday visited flood-prone areas along the Ghaggar river to take stock of the preparations for dealing with floods at the ground level ahead of the monsoon. The chief minister, accompanied by top government officials, visited the areas along with the river to check the arrangements being made to avert the floods, a release said. It was a deviation from the earlier times when the head of the state visited the areas once they were flooded, he said in the release. Earlier, leaders used these opportunities shamelessly for photo ops, hardly giving any relief to the people, Mann said. In sharp contrast to that practice, Mann said he visited the areas to assess the ongoing work to avert the floods. This will ensure that the flood-protection work is done effectively and there is no loss of life and property, he added. Interacting with the people, Mann said in order to avert floods in the state, the Punjab government has taken an initiative to desig

EC to ensure 100% webcasting of all polling booths in Punjab: CEO Sibin C

Sibin C said that they have introduced a revamped NextGen District Information System for Elections (DISE) this time

Punjab CM Mann slams arrest of Kejriwal, says AAP will stand behind him

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday flayed the arrest of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, saying the Centre can arrest the Delhi chief minister but cannot imprison his thinking. Mann said the AAP will stand like a rock behind Kejriwal. "You may arrest Arvind Kejriwal but how will you imprison his thinking...Arvind Kejriwal is not an individual but an idea and we stand with our leader like a rock...Inquilab Zindabad," Mann posted in Hindi on X. Mann left for Delhi on Friday where he will meet senior AAP leaders, sources said. He is also likely to meet Kejriwal's family in the national capital. Earlier on Thursday, AAP leaders in Punjab and Haryana had slammed the BJP government for the arrest of Kejriwal, alleging the "dictatorial regime was making a mockery of constitutional norms." Congress leaders from the two states also slammed the Centre for Kejriwal's arrest. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday night in an excise policy-linked money .

No tie-up with BJP but 'like-minded parties' welcome: SAD chief Badal

Claiming that such speculations were only confined to social media platforms, Badal said his party was keen to continue its tie-up with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the state

Imran's party to call parallel Punjab Assembly session to elect CM, speaker

Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan's party plans to call a "parallel" Punjab Assembly session to elect the chief minister, speaker and deputy speaker, claiming that newly-elected chief minister Maryam Nawaz was in the House on a stolen mandate, a media report said on Tuesday. Maryam, the 50-year-old senior vice president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party, made history by becoming the first-ever woman chief minister of Pakistan's most populous Punjab province after receiving 220 votes. She defeated Rana Aftab of 71-year-old Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), who received no votes as his party boycotted the election. Former-cricketer-turned-politician Khan's PTI party made a call for a "parallel" Punjab Assembly on Monday after claiming a strength of 250 members, including reserved seats for women and minorities, the Dawn newspaper reported. To win the chief minister's election, a candidate needs to win the backing of the majori

Punjab CM Mann to hand over job letters to 10 state players in Chandigarh

The ten players to be presented with the appointment letters include nine players from the Tokyo Olympic Games winning team in hockey and Indian women's cricket team captain Harmanpreet Kaur

SAD leader Majithia appears before special SIT in Patiala in drugs case

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Tuesday appeared before a special investigation team of the Punjab Police in Patiala district in a drugs case. The former minister was summoned by the SIT led by Deputy Inspector General (Patiala range) Harcharan Singh Bhullar. Tight security arrangements were made around the police lines in Patiala ahead of the appearance of Majithia before the SIT. Several Akali workers had gathered at the spot to express solidarity with Majithia. Majithia was previously questioned by the SIT, led by the then additional director general of police Mukhwinder Singh Chhina, on December 30, 2023 in connection with the drugs case. Before that he was grilled by the SIT on December 18. The Punjab Police formed a new SIT under the chairmanship of Bhullar after Chhina retired on December 31. Majithia was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act on December 20, 2021, when the then chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi-led .

Punjab Guv Purohit reserves 3 Bills for President Murmu's consideration

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit has reserved three Bills, including the one which aims to replace him with the chief minister as the chancellor of state-run universities, for the consideration of the President. The Bills were passed by the state assembly during the June 19-20 session which the governor had earlier termed illegal. "The Hon'ble Governor, Punjab has reserved the following three bills for the consideration of the Hon'ble President of India as per article 200 of the Constitution of India," said a Raj Bhavan statement issued on Wednesday. The three bills, which will be sent to President Droupadi Murmu, are the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Punjab Police (Amendment) Bill, 2023. One more Bill -- the Punjab Affiliated Colleges (Security of Service) Amendment Bill, 2023 -- was also passed during the June session. While the Sikh Gurdwaras (Amendment) Bill was aimed at ensuring a free-to-air telecast of .

2-day Punjab Assembly session begins tomorrow, likely to be a stormy affair

The two-day Punjab Assembly session, which begins on Tuesday, is likely to be a stormy affair with the opposition parties trying to corner the AAP government over several issues, including law and order, illegal sand mining and the state's debt. During the session, the Bhagwant Mann government will table three Money Bills - the Punjab Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023, the Punjab Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Indian Stamp (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2023. Another Bill, the Punjab Canal and Drainage Bill, 2023, is also likely to be tabled in the House. The Bill aims to regulate and manage canals and drainage in the state. The session will start with obituary references on Tuesday, said officials. Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit had summoned the two-day session of the state Assembly. The opposition parties have slammed the AAP government for holding the session for a short duration. When the last session ended abruptly, the

Punjab approves religious tours scheme, announces festival sop for traders

The Cabinet also gave it's nod to start Mukhyemantri Tirath Yatra scheme and also to double the Ex-Gratia grant of disabled soldiers

Punjab Cabinet led by Mann approves special Assembly session on Jun 19-20

The Punjab Cabinet on Saturday approved the summoning of a special session of the state Assembly on June 19 and 20. A decision in this regard was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here. Mann said the state government will introduce several important legislations in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha session. The business for the assembly session will be decided by the Business advisory committee, he added. It is a special session of the Vidhan Sabha, said Mann, and the Monsoon session will follow in due course of time. In the business advisory committee, any other issue that comes up will be approved and if any resolution is needed to bring in that will also be decided, said Mann. Asked if the special session has been called over the issue of pending funds under the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and the national health mission, Mann said the Centre has withheld the release of funds. During the session, the AAP government may raise the issue of pending RDF

Kejriwal questioning: AAP alleges Punjab MLAs stopped from entering Delhi

Several AAP leaders, including Punjab ministers and MLAs, Sunday alleged they were stopped from entering Delhi, as the party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal appeared before the CBI for questioning in the excise policy case. The party's leaders from Punjab were headed for Delhi in a show support to Chief Minister Kejriwal, who was summoned by the federal agency to its office in the national capital in connection with irregularities in formulation and implementation of the now-scrapped excise policy. The ruling party in Punjab claimed that ministers Bram Shanker Jimpa, Dr Balbir Singh and Harjot Singh Bains, and MLAs Dinesh Chadha and Kuljit Randhawa were among those stopped at the Singhu border and not allowed to enter Delhi. "We cannot even enter our capital? @DelhiPolice not allowing my car to enter Delhi," Punjab Education Minister Harjot Bains said in a tweet. Balbir Singh, the health minister of Punjab, charged democracy was being "murdered" in the country. "The Constituti

Don't create panic ahead of Baisakhi: Akal Takht Jathedar to Punjab govt

Concerned by the deployment of heavy security here, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh Friday asked the Punjab government to not try to create panic ahead of Baisakhi. The Jathedar called a special gathering at Takht Damdama Sahib on Friday to discuss the role of Sikh and Punjabi journalism, Sikh media contribution, and challenges the state is facing at present. The gathering comes at a time when concerns about the rise of secessionist forces in the border state are being expressed, especially in the wake of a major law and order breach in Ajnala Police Station attack led by radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who has been declared a fugitive by police. Addressing the gathering, the Jathedar of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, said because of the security strictness, only a fraction of the usual number of devotees has come here this time ahead of Baisakhi. "Every year, we see a big gathering which starts from April 5 (for Baisakhi). But (at present), the number of

Ruckus in Punjab Assembly as Speaker disallows Congress' adjournment motion

Noisy scenes were seen in the Punjab Assembly on Wednesday after the Speaker did not allow the adjournment motion of the Congress on the law and order issue in the state. As Question Hour began in the budget session of the Vidhan Sabha here, Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa asked the Speaker about the adjournment motion on the law and order issue moved by his party. Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan told Bajwa that it has been disallowed. Bajwa asked the Speaker to give the Congress members some time to speak on the law and order issue in the state. It is wrong, said Bajwa when the Speaker did not allow the adjournment motion. All the Congress MLAs then rushed to the Well of the House and shouted slogans. The Speaker asked the Congress legislators that in Delhi, their party says that the House was not being allowed to run. Here they themselves (Congress MLAs) were not allowing the House to run, he said. Sandhwan told the protesting Congress MLAs, "I want

Punjab assembly passes resolution to regulate expensive medicines

The Punjab Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution recommending the state government to cap the profit margins on medicines charged by private players. Politicians from both sides of the aisle recommended the state to take up with the Centre the "looting" of people by exorbitantly priced medicines. Raising the matter in the ongoing budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, some members suggested capping of profit margins on medicines, while many others, mainly from opposition, demanded strengthening of the government health sector in the state. As he moved the resolution in the House, AAP MLA from Chamkaur Sahib, Dr Charanjit Singh, said exorbitant rates of medicines was robbing people of their money forcing many people to sell their properties to afford costly medicines. Not only chemists, but several known private hospitals are selling medicines at higher prices than MRP, said Singh, adding that the matter was not peculiar to Punjab, but afflicts the whole country. He said ..

Punjab stalemate ends: Guv Purohit approves Sep 27 assembly session

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit has approved the state government's request to hold a one-day assembly session on September 27, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said Sunday, indicating the stalemate between the AAP dispensation and the government over the issue has ended. The governor's approval came a day after the AAP government informed him about the issues to be taken up during the session. "Hon. Governor, Punjab, has very kindly acceded to our request and summoned the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to meet for its third session on 27.9.2022 at 11.00 AM at Chandigarh," Speaker said in a tweet. The Bhagwant Mann-led government on Saturday informed the governor that the issues like stubble burning, goods and services tax and power supply will be discussed in the session on September 27. This came after the governor on Friday had asked for details of the legislative business to be taken up in the session, sparking a strong reaction from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who had said "it's too ..