Punjab Archives - National Times

08 Apr

AAP Hits Back at Bajwa Over ‘Termite’ Remark on Sangrur, Demands Apology

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP vs Congress Punjab, Kuldeep Dhaliwal statement, politics row, Pratap Singh Bajwa remark, Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab’s Chief Spokesperson and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal launched a sharp attack on Leader of Opposition Pratap Singh Bajwa over his statement where he referred to the land of Sangrur as one that produces ‘termites’. Dhaliwal termed this remark as a reflection of Bajwa’s low mentality and his ignorance of Punjab’s glorious history.Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, Dhaliwal said that Pratap Singh Bajwa should have studied the history of Sangrur before making such a statement. The land that gave birth to great patriots like Shaheed Udham Singh and Sewa Singh Thikriwala, and…

07 Apr

Punjab Excise Revenue Crosses Rs 11,782 Crore, Beats Target by Rs 582 Crore: Harpal Singh Cheema

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann government, excise revenue, Harpal Singh Cheema, liquor policy Punjab, Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday announced that the Excise and Taxation Department has achieved a significant milestone in revenue collection for the financial year 2025-26, reflecting the success of robust excise policy measures and efficient administrative practices. He said that against the revised excise revenue target of Rs 11,200 crore, the department has successfully collected Rs 11,782 crore up to March 31, 2026, surpassing the target by Rs 582 crore. Sharing the comprehensive financial achievements, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema attributed this success directly to the state government's proactive…

06 Apr

Punjab’s Anti-Drug Strategy Delivers Record Conviction Rate, Sets National Benchmark

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann anti drug campaign, NDPS conviction rate India, Punjab, Punjab drug crackdown, Yudh Nashean Virudh

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab’s Yudh Nashean Virudh (war against drugs) is increasingly being defined not merely by arrests, but by a sharp rise in convictions that are standing firm in courts, signalling a decisive shift in the state’s strategy against narcotics. Backed by the Bhagwant Mann Government’s flagship campaign Yudh Nashean Virudh under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, enforcement agencies are now focusing on building legally robust cases that ensure traffickers are not just caught, but punished.Police officials attribute Punjab’s remarkable conviction rate of 88% in cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the highest…

06 Apr

Punjab Police Bust ISI-Linked Terror Module, Three Arrested; Grenades and Foreign Weapon Seized

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingPunjab, Punjab Police

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant counter-terrorism operation, the Punjab Police has dismantled an alleged terror module with suspected links to Pakistan’s intelligence network. Three individuals have been arrested, and a cache of weapons, including two hand grenades and a foreign-made Glock pistol, has been recovered. Officials from the Counter Intelligence wing revealed that the seized grenades carried markings of Pakistan Ordnance Factory, pointing to possible cross-border connections. The module is believed to have been operated by Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) with external backing. In a coordinated effort, one of the accused was apprehended from Ahmedabad with assistance from…

06 Apr

Bomb Threats Trigger Panic in Punjab: Schools in Jalandhar, Chandigarh Evacuated; CM Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal Also Receive Threat Emails

nishuthapar10 CommentsEntertainment, Punjab, TrendingArvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant maan, Big news, Bomb Threat, Punjab, Schools

Gurpreet Singh :- A wave of bomb threats targeting multiple institutions across Punjab on Monday created widespread panic among authorities, parents and the general public. Several schools in Jalandhar and Chandigarh received threatening emails warning of explosions on their premises, prompting immediate security action and evacuations. In Jalandhar, at least three prominent schools were sent emails claiming that their buildings would be blown up. The message also reportedly mentioned the Mayor’s office, raising further concerns about the intent and scale of the threat. Adding to the seriousness, the email also warned of a possible attack on the statue of Dr.…

06 Apr

Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana Turns Key To Provide Aid in Emergencies

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsHealth, Politics, Punjab, TrendingBhagwant Mann, Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab’s flagship Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna is emerging as a critical pillar of healthcare security, offering ₹10 lakh coverage per family and enabling faster access to treatment while reducing financial stress during sudden medical emergencies. As illnesses such as heart attack, cancer, and birth complications continue to strike without warning, the Punjab Government’s approach is increasingly centred on bridging the gap between medical urgency and affordability through large-scale public health intervention. Illnesses like heart attack, cancer, and birth complications can strike without any red flags, causing sudden, severe symptoms and requiring immediate medical attention to prevent serious…

04 Apr

Punjab Excise Auction Sees Lukewarm Response; 10 Liquor Groups Still Unallotted

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, PunjabAuction, Excise, Liqour, Punjab

Gurpreet Singh :- The excise auction process in Punjab has received a tepid response, with around 10 liquor vends still remaining unallotted despite multiple rounds of bidding. Industry players attribute the lack of interest to high licence fees and shrinking profit margins, which have discouraged contractors from investing in these groups. In an effort to revive participation, the Excise Department has announced a reduction of up to 15 per cent in licence fees for the pending groups. Officials believe that the relief may help attract bidders and expedite the allocation process. The department has also set April 4, 4 pm…

03 Apr

Amritsar Police Foil Suspected Terror Bid, IED Recovered; Foreign Links Under Probe

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingAmritsar, Punjab

Amritsar (Gurpreet Singh): A major security scare was averted in Punjab after the Amritsar Rural Police detained a man allegedly carrying an improvised explosive device (IED), officials said on Friday. The arrest followed actionable intelligence inputs about suspicious movement in the region. Acting swiftly, police teams intercepted the suspect, who was reportedly attempting to dispose of the explosive after collecting it from the Ramdas belt. The device was seized on the spot, and a criminal case has been registered. Early investigations have pointed towards possible cross-border connections, with suspicion falling on Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence. Sources within the investigation revealed that…

03 Apr

Chandigarh Blast Row Escalates as CM Bhagwant Mann Counters BJP’s Allegations

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingBhagwant Mann, Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The political temperature rose on Friday after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann strongly responded to accusations from the Bharatiya Janata Party over the recent explosion outside its Chandigarh office. Rejecting the criticism, Mann alleged that the BJP frequently resorts to assigning blame instead of taking responsibility. He suggested that the party has a long-standing pattern of attributing setbacks to others, regardless of the situation. Taking a dig at the opposition, Mann said that figures such as Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and B. R. Ambedkar have often been cited by the BJP in its criticisms. He added…

03 Apr

Here’s What Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann said on Raghav Chadha’s Suspension

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, Politics, Punjab, TrendingBhagwant Mann, Punjab, Raghav Chadha

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): A fresh controversy has surfaced within the Aam Aadmi Party after the reshuffle of its Rajya Sabha leadership led to a public disagreement between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and party MP Raghav Chadha. The party recently replaced Chadha as Deputy Leader in the Upper House, assigning the responsibility to Ashok Mittal. Soon after, Chadha voiced concerns, suggesting that he was being sidelined and not allowed to effectively represent public issues. Responding to these claims, Mann countered that the expectations from party representatives include actively raising matters related to Punjab at the national level. He argued that…