Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

21 Mar

Applications Open for Sikh Jatha to Pakistan on Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s Death Anniversary; Passport Submission Deadline March 31

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, PunjabSGPC

Gurpreet Singh :- The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has invited applications from Sikh devotees for a religious delegation set to visit Pakistan in June 2026 to mark the death anniversary of Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Interested pilgrims have been asked to submit their passports by March 31 at the SGPC’s headquarters through its travel department. According to SGPC officials, the annual jatha is organized to facilitate devotees in paying obeisance at historic gurdwaras in Pakistan associated with the Sikh empire. Applicants are required to submit their passports along with a recommendation from their respective SGPC constituency member. The committee has…

21 Mar

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann requests Tata Group to start flights for Punjabis living in Western countries

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingBhagwant Mann

LUDHIANA (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab’s industrial revival story under the AAP-led government received a major push as Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann inaugurated Tata Steel’s second-largest plant in India in Ludhiana, positioning it as proof of a decisive policy shift from the past. With thousands of jobs promised and green energy-driven steel production launched for the first time in the country, the CM drew a sharp contrast with previous governments, asserting that industries that once left Punjab due to flawed policies are now returning under a pro-industry regime. The plant, set up in Ludhiana at a cost of ₹3200 crore, marks…

21 Mar

‘Punjab fed nation but paid with its soil & water, time to protect farmers’ future’

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingPunjab

Ludhiana (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday positioned Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the next big turning point for Punjab’s agriculture, arguing that traditional farming has hit its limits and can no longer sustain farmers’ incomes. Making a strong case for technological intervention, he said the move is aimed at reversing declining profitability, reducing pressure on natural resources, and securing the future of farmers. At the same time, he sharpened his political attack on the opposition, calling them out for pushing Punjab into crisis through years of neglect, and asserted that his government is now rebuilding the…

21 Mar

Laljit Singh Bhullar Quits Punjab Cabinet as Government Orders Inquiry into Amritsar Death Case

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingLaljit Singh Bhullar

Amritsar (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant political development, Laljit Singh Bhullar stepped down from his ministerial post on Saturday after directions from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, following the reported suicide of a senior official in Amritsar. Bhullar, an MLA from the Patti constituency, submitted his resignation amid rising scrutiny over the circumstances linked to the death of a district manager associated with the state’s Warehouse Corporation. The incident has triggered concerns within administrative and political circles. Acting promptly, the Chief Minister ordered a formal investigation into the matter and asked the Chief Secretary to conduct a comprehensive probe. The government…

20 Mar

Married Woman Stabbed to Death by Stalker in Bengaluru; Accused Arrested

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaBengaluru murder, Chandra Layout police, Firdos Banu, Gangondanahalli, stabbing, stalking

Bengaluru (Gurpreet Singh): A 34-year-old woman was allegedly stabbed to death by a persistent stalker in Bengaluru's Gangondanahalli area on the afternoon of March 19, 2026. The victim, identified as Firdos Banu, worked as a domestic helper and was a mother of three. According to the police, the accused, a mechanic named Hafiz, had been harassing Banu for some time after she repeatedly rejected his unwanted advances. The incident occurred while Banu was returning home from work. Police reports state that Hafiz intercepted her behind a local school and attacked her with a sharp weapon, inflicting multiple stab wounds. Despite…

20 Mar

Baltej Pannu Accuses Sukhbir Badal of Distorting History to Mask Akali Dal’s Role in Sacrilege Cases

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkali Dal, Baltej Pannu, beadbi cases, Behbal Kalan, Kotkapura firing, sacrilege, Sukhbir Singh Badal

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab State General Secretary and Media Incharge Baltej Pannu turned the ‘beadbi’ (sacrilege) debate back on Shiromani Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, calling him out for attempting to rewrite Punjab’s history to deflect blame. He pointed out that all the most controversial cases trace back to the Akali regime, adding that, faced with growing political irrelevance, Sukhbir Singh Badal is now trying to revive his career by shifting blame onto others, a move the people of Punjab can clearly see through. Hitting back strongly, AAP Punjab State Media Incharge Baltej Pannu stated,…

20 Mar

CM Bhagwant Mann Presents Healthcare Report Card; Slams Ayushman Bharat as “Condition-Ridden”

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAam Aadmi Clinics, AI cancer screening, Ayushman Bharat, Bhagwant Mann, Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, Punjab Healthcare

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Continuing his series ‘Shandaar Chaar Saal Bhagwant Mann De Naal’, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday presented the four-year report card of the health sector, after earlier detailing the AAP Government’s work in agriculture and irrigation. Drawing a sharp contrast between a “condition-ridden” Ayushman Bharat and the AAP Government’s Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, he asserted that the difference lies in intent and delivery, positioning the initiative as a model of universal, accessible healthcare. Presenting data-driven outcomes, the Chief Minister asserted the AAP Government has moved beyond announcements to visible change on the ground, from guaranteeing…

20 Mar

OMCs Hike Premium Petrol and Industrial Diesel Prices Amid Global Supply Disruptions

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaEnergy Crisis, fuel prices, HPCL, industrial diesel, IOCL, Petrol hike, West Asia Conflict

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Indian oil marketing companies (OMCs), including Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), have implemented a significant price hike for premium petrol and industrial diesel effective Friday, March 20, 2026. Premium petrol variants have seen an increase of approximately ₹2 to ₹2.35 per litre, while the price of industrial diesel has surged by over ₹21 per litre. These revisions come as global energy markets face extreme volatility driven by escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The hike specifically targets branded, high-performance fuel variants such as IOCL’s…

20 Mar

Punjab Announces Major Healthcare Push: New Medical Colleges, 100 More Aam Aadmi Clinics, and Expanded Free Treatment Scheme

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsEntertainment, Punjab, TrendingCm bhagwant maan, Punjab News

Gurpreet Singh :- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday outlined an ambitious expansion of the state’s healthcare infrastructure, announcing new medical colleges, a significant increase in Aam Aadmi Clinics, and a broader rollout of free treatment benefits for residents. Addressing a press conference in Chandigarh, the Chief Minister said that the tendering process for upcoming medical colleges in Hoshiarpur and Kapurthala has been completed, with construction work set to begin shortly. He also confirmed that land acquisition for a new community medical facility in Malerkotla is in its final stages, with a formal announcement expected soon. In a…

20 Mar

Ludhiana Jeweller Receives ₹5 Crore Extortion Threat via Foreign Number

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaLudhiana

Gurpreet Singh :- A jeweller in Ludhiana has allegedly received a threatening message demanding ₹5 crore in extortion from an unidentified sender using a foreign number, triggering concern among the local business community. According to the complaint filed with the police, the victim, identified as Tushar Bhandari, who operates a jewellery shop in the Sarafa Bazaar area, received the message on WhatsApp on March 12. The complainant stated that shortly after the message, he also received two missed calls from the same international number. The situation escalated when an image was sent via WhatsApp displaying a weapon along with the…