Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

25 Mar

Allahabad High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to Swami Avimukteshwaranand in POCSO Case

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAllahabad High Court anticipatory bail, POCSO Act India, Prayagraj FIR, Swami Avimukteshwaranand case

Prayagraj (Gurpreet Singh): The Allahabad High Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to seer Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati and his disciple Mukundanand Brahmachari in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.The order was passed by Justice Jitendra Kumar Sinha on the anticipatory bail pleas filed by the accused.Earlier, on February 27, the court had stayed the arrest of Swami Avimukteshwaranand Saraswati, directing that he should not be taken into custody until the final order was pronounced. The court had also asked both applicants to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.The case relates to an FIR registered at…

25 Mar

Parliament Passes Transgender Rights Amendment Bill; Rajya Sabha Clears Key Changes

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaRajya Sabha passes bill, Swati Maliwal concerns, Transgender Bill 2026 India, Virendra Kumar statement

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Parliament on Wednesday passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Rajya Sabha giving its approval after the legislation was cleared by the Lok Sabha a day earlier.The bill seeks to amend the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and introduces a revised framework for defining and protecting transgender individuals. A key provision proposes excluding “different sexual orientations and self-perceived sexual identities” from the ambit of the law, focusing instead on individuals facing discrimination due to biological factors.The bill seeks to amend the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and…

25 Mar

Punjab – Fee on FIR Copies Challenged in High Court

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabFIR Fees, Punjab

Gurpreet Singh :- The issue of charging a fee for downloading copies of FIRs from the Punjab Police website has now reached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, with a public interest litigation challenging the decision. The petition has been filed by advocates Vasu Ranjan Shandilya and Abhishek Malhotra, who have questioned the legality of imposing an ₹80 charge for accessing such documents. In their plea, the petitioners argued that charging citizens for obtaining a copy of an FIR violates fundamental rights, asserting that individuals should not be compelled to pay for accessing information related to complaints filed in their…

25 Mar

Raja Warring Acting as AAP’s Proxy, Betrayed Punjab : Ravneet Bittu

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, PunjabPunjab politics

Gurpreet Singh :- Punjab’s political landscape witnessed fresh turbulence after Member of Parliament Ravneet Singh Bittu launched a sharp attack on Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, accusing him of siding with rival leadership and compromising the state’s interests. Bittu alleged that Warring has effectively become a “proxy” for AAP leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, a stance he claimed has adversely impacted Punjab’s future, particularly its youth. Elaborating on the issue, Bittu pointed out that a majority of Punjab MPs had collectively written to the Union Home Minister seeking a CBI probe into the Gagandeep…

25 Mar

Absconding Punjab MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra Held in Patiala After Six-Month Manhunt

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingHarmeet Singh Pathanmajra, Patiala

Patiala (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant breakthrough, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra has been arrested by the Punjab Police after remaining on the run for several months in connection with a rape case. The arrest was carried out in Patiala, where police teams tracked down the accused following a prolonged search operation. Pathanmajra had been declared a proclaimed offender by the court after repeatedly evading arrest since September last year. Officials said multiple charges, including rape, cheating and criminal intimidation, have been levelled against the legislator. A lookout circular had also been issued earlier to aid in locating him. Sources indicate that…

24 Mar

India Dismisses “Baseless” Claims of Transit Levies in Strait of Hormuz; Confirms Safe Passage for Tankers

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiafreedom of navigation, India LPG imports, Jag Vasant tanker, Pine Gas vessel, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Strait of Hormuz transit

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, categorically denied reports that Indian merchant vessels are being charged exorbitant fees for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the ministry, dismissed claims of a $2 million levy as "baseless," asserting that the strait is an international waterway governed by global conventions that guarantee the right of freedom of navigation. The clarification follows controversial remarks attributed to an Iranian lawmaker suggesting that vessels were being taxed amid the escalating military conflict in West Asia. Providing an operational…

24 Mar

PM Modi and President Trump Discuss West Asia Conflict; Vow to Protect Strait of Hormuz

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, World NewsDonald Trump, global energy security, India-US relations 2026, PM Modi, Sergio Gor, Strait of Hormuz, West Asia Conflict

New Delhi/Washington DC (Gurpreet Singh): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a high-stakes telephonic conversation on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, marking their first direct diplomatic engagement since the outbreak of hostilities between the US-Israel alliance and Iran on February 28. According to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, the discussion focused primarily on the escalating security crisis in the Middle East and its profound implications for the global economy. Both leaders underscored the absolute necessity of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, a critical maritime chokepoint through which a significant portion of the world's daily oil…

24 Mar

AAP MP Malvinder Kang Blasts Finance Bill 2026; Demands Reopening of Wagah Border to Save Farmers

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAgniveer scheme, Finance Bill 2026, India-US trade deal, Malvinder Singh Kang, Punjab farmers, Wagah Border trade

New Delhi/Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang launched a scathing attack on the Union Government while speaking on the Finance Bill 2026, stating that the government’s claims of economic strength and reforms over the last decade stand completely disconnected from the ground reality. Kang said that while the Finance Minister has made tall claims about economic progress, the real picture of the country’s economy is deeply concerning. “If we look at the last ten years, inflation is at one of the highest levels in the country’s history, and the Indian Rupee has weakened…

24 Mar

Punjab’s ‘Khed Kranti’ Gains Momentum as Mann Govt Secures Asian Champions Trophy Hosting Rights

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAsian Hockey Federation, Bhagwant Mann sports policy, Hockey Asian Champions Trophy Punjab, Punjab Khed Kranti

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday presented the sports report card under the “Shandaar Char Saal Bhagwant Mann de naal” series, outlining how the AAP government’s ‘Khed Kranti’ (sports revolution) is fundamentally reshaping the sector. After presenting report cards on irrigation, health, and law and order, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann highlighted sports as the next frontier of reform, backed by concrete investments and on-ground expansion, including a jump in the sports budget from ₹350 crore to ₹1791 crore, increase in coaches from 500 to 2,458, and direct financial support of ₹15 lakh for Olympic preparation and…

24 Mar

1-Year-Old Among Youngest Beneficiaries as Punjab’s Sehat Yojna Enables Immediate Life-Saving Care

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann health initiative, child healthcare scheme Punjab, Dr Balbir Singh statement, Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): With a growing number of newborns and young children accessing treatment under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, the Punjab Government under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is ensuring that medical care begins without delay during critical moments.In Sri Muktsar Sahib, a 1-year-old child, Khwaish, was admitted with pneumonia requiring urgent medical attention. In many such cases earlier, families would have had to arrange funds, complete documentation, or wait for approvals before treatment could begin. However, under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, that gap has been removed.With the Sehat Card already in place, treatment…