Politics Archives - Page 8 of 25

17 Jan

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Opposes Seed Bill, Raises State Concerns in Meeting with Amit Shah

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingBhagwant Mann

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Saturday to voice his state’s objections to the proposed Seed Bill, 2026, and to discuss a host of other pressing issues affecting Punjab. The Bill is slated for introduction in the upcoming Budget Session of Parliament. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mann criticised the legislation for potentially threatening traditional farming practices in Punjab. “Our farmers have always saved seeds for the next season. Under this Bill, private companies could dictate which seeds they buy, and that is unacceptable,” Mann said. He…

17 Jan

Sukhbir Badal Secures Bail From Chandigarh Court in Defamation Case

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingSukhbir Badal

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was granted bail by a Chandigarh court on Saturday in a defamation case linked to remarks he allegedly made about a religious organisation. The order was passed by the court of the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate during a hearing held earlier in the day. The development comes weeks after the court had cancelled Badal’s earlier bail and issued a non-bailable warrant against him due to his absence at a previous hearing in December. His legal team subsequently moved the court, seeking relief and explaining the circumstances behind his non-appearance.…

16 Jan

BJP Poised for Punjab Push as Five Senior Leaders Expected to Join Party

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingBJP, Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): In a development that could alter political alignments in Punjab, five seasoned politicians are expected to formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party later today, according to sources familiar with the plans. The group is said to include a former Member of Parliament, a former legislator and two individuals who earlier served as Officers on Special Duty to senior political figures in the state. Their induction is likely to take place in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, underscoring the significance the BJP is attaching to the move. Although the party has not yet disclosed…

16 Jan

Punjab Assembly Speaker Flags Export Crisis, Urges Centre to Act on Stalled Basmati Shipments

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingKultar Singh Sandhwan

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): With geopolitical tensions involving Iran disrupting trade routes, Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan has approached the Prime Minister seeking immediate intervention to address mounting losses faced by the state’s Basmati rice sector. Sandhwan said consignments valued at more than ₹2,000 crore are currently held up due to the crisis, leaving exporters unable to receive payments and triggering a chain reaction across the agricultural economy. He noted that the uncertainty has already begun to reflect in domestic markets, where Basmati prices in mandis are witnessing a steady decline. Calling the situation alarming, the Speaker said farmers,…

04 Jan

Raghav Chadha Calls Draft Social Security Rules for Gig Workers a ‘Small Win’

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, TrendingRaghav Chadha

Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha on Tuesday described the Centre’s draft social security rules for gig workers and delivery riders as a “small win”, saying it reflects the growing pressure to acknowledge the rights and welfare of platform-based workers. Welcoming the move, the Rajya Sabha MP said the step was a result of sustained voices raised by workers and opposition leaders across the country. However, he also criticised major gig economy platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, and Blinkit, accusing them of repeatedly ignoring the concerns and demands of delivery partners. Chadha said that while the…

03 Jan

Fresh Searches Launched by SIT in Probe Into Disappearance of Sacred Saroops

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingSaroops

Amritsar (Gurpreet Singh): Stepping up its investigation into the missing saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Tuesday carried out search operations at several locations across Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. Officials said the coordinated exercise covered about 15 premises in Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Ropar and Chandigarh. The locations included homes and workplaces associated with 16 persons who are under scrutiny in connection with the case involving the disappearance of 328 saroops. Amritsar Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, who is closely monitoring the investigation, confirmed the development and said the SIT was proceeding in…

30 Dec

Shivraj Singh Chouhan Flags Thousands of Irregularities in MNREGA Works in Punjab

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Politics, PunjabMNREGA

Bhopal (Rajeev Sharma): Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday alleged widespread misuse of funds under the MNREGA programme in Punjab, stating that over 10,000 cases of financial irregularities have come to light during reviews of the scheme’s implementation. According to the minister, scrutiny of records showed that bills were often overstated and that several projects undertaken did not fall within the permitted scope of MNREGA. He said such deviations defeat the purpose of a welfare scheme designed to provide transparent employment and income support to rural households. Chouhan stressed that public money must reach its intended beneficiaries and…

30 Dec

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Voices Opposition to Centre’s ‘G-RAM-G’ Plan

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingPunjab Vidhan Sabha

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Punjab Legislative Assembly on Monday passed a resolution rejecting the Centre’s proposed ‘G-RAM-G’ initiative, with the state government raising concerns over its potential impact on livelihoods and social welfare. The motion was introduced by Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sondh, who urged the Union government to reconsider and withdraw the proposal. Speaking in the House, Sondh warned that the initiative could adversely affect people from economically weaker backgrounds, particularly those who rely on government-backed employment for survival. He said policies that threaten income security for the poor risk pushing vulnerable families further into hardship. The minister further…

30 Dec

Special Punjab Assembly Session Focuses on Rural Jobs Scheme and New Legislation

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingPunjab Assembly

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Punjab government has called a one-day special sitting of the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday to examine the consequences of recent changes to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a scheme that supports thousands of rural households across the state. At the centre of the discussion is a resolution to be tabled by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, seeking intervention by the Centre. The resolution urges that MGNREGA be preserved in its original form — as a need-based and legally guaranteed employment programme funded entirely by the Union government. The state has expressed…

22 Dec

Which Party Will Make Punjab Colorful Again? National Times Media Survey Highlights Public Opinion Ahead of 2027 Elections

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingPunjab

Chandigarh ( Gurpreet Singh): As Punjab heads toward the 2027 Legislative Assembly elections, citizens are increasingly discussing which political party can bring real progress and stability often referred to as making Punjab “colorful again.” Recent local elections and a comprehensive survey by National Times Media provide insights into public sentiment across the state. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has focused on welfare programs, healthcare, education, and public services. In local body elections held in December 2025, AAP-backed candidates won around 45 percent of contested Gram Panchayat seats and performed strongly in district councils and panchayat samiti polls, signaling continued grassroots…