Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

02 Apr

Pakistan-Origin Grenade Suspected in Chandigarh BJP Office Blast; CCTV Clips Reveal Movement of Accused

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingChandigarh

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Investigators probing the explosion outside the Punjab unit office of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Chandigarh have uncovered fresh leads, with sources indicating that a Pakistan-manufactured grenade may have been used in the attack. Preliminary findings suggest the explosive device was a GHD2P hand grenade, known for its high lethality. Experts note that such a device can cause severe damage within a radius of several meters, while metal fragments can travel much farther, posing danger to bystanders and property. The blast, which occurred on Wednesday evening near the party’s Sector 37 office, damaged parked vehicles and left…

02 Apr

Air India to Begin Daily Flights Between Delhi and Halwara from May 15, Boosting Punjab Connectivity

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, Punjab, TrendingAir India

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant boost to regional air travel, Air India has announced the launch of four daily flights connecting Delhi with Halwara airport near Ludhiana, starting May 15. The move marks the airline’s debut operations at Halwara, making it the first carrier to service this route. The flights will be operated using Airbus A320 family aircraft, with schedules tailored to suit business travellers and those seeking seamless onward connections. The timings have been strategically planned to allow passengers to complete same-day trips and easily link to international flights via Delhi. According to the announced schedule, the…

02 Apr

Equity Markets Tumble as Crude Oil Rally Deepens; Sensex, Nifty Under Pressure

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusiness, India, TrendingCrude Oil, Iran

Mumbai (Gurpreet Singh): Indian stock markets faced a sharp sell-off on Thursday as rising geopolitical tensions and a spike in oil prices rattled investor confidence. The BSE Sensex dropped over 1,300 points to trade near 71,800, while the Nifty 50 fell by more than 400 points, slipping to around 22,300 levels during early sessions. The decline followed strong remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which dampened hopes of a near-term resolution and triggered a surge in energy prices. Brent crude rose sharply, crossing the $105 mark per barrel, intensifying concerns for import-dependent economies like…

01 Apr

Navy Chief reveals India was “minutes away” from striking Pakistan during Operation Sindoor

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAdmiral Dinesh Tripathi, Indian Navy, Operation Sindoor, West Asia Conflict

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi disclosed on Wednesday that the Indian Navy was within minutes of launching a maritime strike against Pakistan during last year's Operation Sindoor. Speaking at a naval investiture ceremony, the Admiral stated that Islamabad requested a halt to kinetic actions just as Indian units were prepared to strike from the sea. The revelation underscores the extreme brinkmanship that followed the Pahalgam terror attack, which triggered the massive naval mobilization. Operation Sindoor was launched in 2025 as a high-readiness response to regional aggression, characterized by a "highly aggressive posture"…

01 Apr

Over 19,000 ASHA workers lead door-to-door Sehat Card drive in Punjab

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabASHA workers, Dr. Balbir Singh, Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, Punjab Healthcare, Sehat Card

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Strengthening last-mile healthcare access, the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has activated its extensive ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activity) workers’ network to accelerate enrolments under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna (MMSY), with over 19,000 ASHA workers and 900 facilitators now driving registrations across villages in Punjab. ASHA workers are playing a critical role in expanding the reach of the scheme at the grassroots level. Each worker is assigned a population of nearly 1,000 residents, covering around 250 households, where they are conducting door-to-door outreach, creating awareness about the scheme, and accompanying…

01 Apr

Jogindra Group announces Rs 1,100 crore expansion in Punjab’s steel and green energy sectors

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabJogindra Group, Mandi Gobindgarh, renewable energy investment, Sanjeev Arora, steel industry Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Cabinet Minister for Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power & Local Government Sanjeev Arora shared that Jogindra Group has announced a strategic expansion plan worth ₹1,100 crore, giving a major boost to Punjab’s industrial growth and green energy transition. He stated that this investment reflects the growing confidence of industry in Punjab’s progressive policies and business-friendly environment. Sanjeev Arora said that this investment reflects the growing confidence of industry in Punjab’s progressive policies and business-friendly environment. He detailed that the expansion includes ₹700 crore investment in the steel sector, primarily through Jogindra Castings and Vardhman Adarsh,…

01 Apr

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann launches Punjab’s first-ever caste socio-economic survey

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Singh Mann, caste survey Punjab, MGNREGA, rural development

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday presented a comprehensive four-year report card of the Rural Development and Panchayat Department as part of the Punjab Government’s ongoing “Shandaar Char Saal Bhagwant Mann de naal” series, highlighting how sustained policy interventions have transformed village infrastructure, strengthened grassroots governance, and expanded employment opportunities across rural Punjab. Positioning rural development as a central pillar of inclusive growth, the Chief Minister outlined key initiatives ranging from the launch of Punjab’s first-ever caste socio-economic survey to large-scale infrastructure creation, revenue generation through transparent land management, and youth-focused development programmes. Emphasising that…

01 Apr

Direct Ludhiana-Delhi flights to take off from Halwara Airport starting May 15

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabDelhi connectivity, Halwara Airport, Ludhiana flights, Punjab aviation

Ludhiana (Gurpreet Singh): In a major boost to Punjab’s aerial connectivity, residents of Ludhiana and surrounding areas will soon have easier access to the national capital as direct flights from the newly inaugurated Halwara Airport are set to commence on May 15, 2026. The route will feature two daily flights operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, each boasting a seating capacity of 180 passengers. This development follows the high-profile inauguration of the Halwara Civil Terminal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February, marking a significant milestone for the region's infrastructure. The flight schedule has been designed to cater to both business…

01 Apr

SGPC to follow Akal Takht directives on Rajoana’s mercy petition withdrawal

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkal Takht, Balwant Singh Rajoana, Harjinder singh dhami, mercy petition

Amritsar (Gurpreet SIngh): The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has announced that it will strictly abide by the orders of the Akal Takht regarding the withdrawal of Balwant Singh Rajoana’s mercy petition. SGPC President Advocate Harjinder Singh Dhami addressed the media on Wednesday, following a high-stakes letter from Rajoana to the Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj. Dhami clarified that since the original clemency plea filed in 2012 was based on the instructions of the then-Sikh leadership and Panthic sentiments, any decision to rescind it must also flow from the supreme temporal seat of the Sikhs. In…

01 Apr

Security alert in Chandigarh as “crude” explosive device targets Punjab BJP headquarters

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabChandigarh blast, crude bomb, Punjab BJP office, security alert

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Panic gripped Sector 37 of Chandigarh on Wednesday evening after a low-intensity explosion occurred outside the Punjab BJP office. The blast, reported around 5:00 PM, took place in the parking area adjacent to the boundary wall of the party headquarters. While the explosion caused minor damage to nearby vehicles—specifically impacting parked scooters and cars—no casualties or injuries have been reported. Senior police officials, including Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kanwardeep Kaur, immediately reached the site to cordon off the area and initiate a high-level investigation. Initial assessments by the Chandigarh Police suggest that a small, crude explosive…