Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

10 Jun

Punjab Transport Services Hit as Contractual Staff Launch Indefinite Strike Against Privatization Move

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingPunjab

Jalandhar (Gurpreet Singh): Commuters in Jalandhar are expected to face major inconvenience on Tuesday as operations at Punbus and Punjab Roadways depots remain suspended following an indefinite strike by contractual drivers and conductors. The agitation was launched ahead of schedule after employees expressed strong opposition to the government’s decision to introduce privately operated Volvo buses under the kilometer scheme. Services from Punbus and Roadways Depots 1 and 2 have been severely affected, with employees staging demonstrations inside depot premises instead of reporting for duty. Contractual staff of the Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation (PRTC) are also set to join the protest,…

10 Jun

Punjab Faces Intense Heat Spell as IMD Warns of Heatwave; Thunderstorms Expected to Bring Relief Later This Week

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingPunjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Large parts of Punjab and the Chandigarh region remain under the grip of severe heat, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a Yellow Alert for heatwave conditions across multiple districts. While soaring temperatures continue to affect normal life, weather officials expect a significant shift from June 11 as a fresh western disturbance is likely to trigger rain and thunderstorms. The latest weather data shows a steady rise in temperatures across the state, with Bathinda recording a scorching 46.8 degrees Celsius — the highest maximum temperature reported this month. Most districts witnessed temperatures well above seasonal norms,…

09 Jun

CID Searches TMC Headquarters Amid Forged Signature Row, Deepening Party Crisis

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAbhishek Banerjee, CID, Forged Signatures Case, Kalighat, Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee, TMC, West Bengal politics

Kolkata (Gurpreet Singh): The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Tuesday entered the Trinamool Congress (TMC) headquarters-cum-residence of party supremo Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata's Kalighat area as part of its investigation into the alleged forging of signatures of party MLAs, a controversy that has plunged the ruling party into its most serious internal crisis since its formation.The CID team, accompanied by personnel from Kalighat Police Station and a large contingent of women police officers, arrived at the party's central office at 30B Harish Chatterjee Street during the afternoon. Their arrival initially led to a brief standoff with security personnel and party…

09 Jun

Haryana Governor Calls for Collective Commitment to Four Pillars of Viksit Bharat at CPA North Zone Conference

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusinessCPA North Zone Conference, Harivansh, Harvinder Kalyan, Haryana Governor, Om Birla, Prof Ashim Kumar Ghosh, Viksit Bharat 2047

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Haryana Governor Prof. Ashim Kumar Ghosh on Monday called upon legislators and public representatives to dedicate themselves to the four key pillars of the Viksit Bharat vision—youth, the poor, women and farmers—stating that the dream of a developed and inclusive India envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a shared national responsibility.Addressing the valedictory session of the Second Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) India Region Zone-II North Zone Conference in Chandigarh, the Governor said parliamentary democracy extends beyond lawmaking and includes ensuring accountability and inclusive governance for all sections of society.Prof. Ghosh said meaningful development can only be…

09 Jun

Punjab Flags Off Five New Volvo Buses Linking Jalandhar, Ludhiana to Delhi Airport

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabDelhi Airport Bus, Harpal Singh Cheema, IGI Airport, PUNBUS, Punjab roadways, Punjab transport, Volvo Bus Service

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Finance and Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday flagged off five new Super Integral Volvo coach buses of Punbus that will operate between Jalandhar and Ludhiana and the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. The move is aimed at providing comfortable, safe and affordable connectivity to international travellers, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and regular passengers while further strengthening Punjab’s public transport network. Addressing the gathering, Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “This vital initiative will greatly assist international commuters and routine passengers besides completely eliminating the transport mafia from the state.” Highlighting the vision behind the…

09 Jun

Punjab Distributes ₹1.07 Crore in Seed Grants to 31 Startups, Mann Says State Emerging as Innovation Hub

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Entrepreneurship, Punjab Startup Policy 2026, Punjab Startups, Seed Grant, Startup Punjab

Chandigarh(Gurpreet Singh): Punjab is steadily charting a new growth story driven by innovation, entrepreneurship and youth-led enterprise, with the state emerging as a promising startup destination where young minds are transforming ideas into businesses and employment opportunities. Further strengthening this vision, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday distributed Seed Grants worth ₹1.07 crore to 31 startups and their founders, asserting that Punjab’s next generation of successful entrepreneurs should not only come from Punjab but also build their companies in Punjab, creating jobs and wealth within the state. Describing startups as a key pillar of Punjab’s future economic growth, he…

09 Jun

AAP Alleges Misuse of ED Against Punjab Traders, Targets BJP and Congress

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP, Arvind Kejriwal, Bhagwant Mann, ED raids, Enforcement Directorate, Manish Sisodia, Punjab Traders

New Delhi/Punjab (Gurpreet Singh): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and its Punjab Government strongly condemned fresh ED (Enforcement Directorate) raids on traders in Punjab on Tuesday, revealing that central agencies are being used to target and intimidate the state's business community. Describing traders as the backbone of Punjab’s economic growth, the Punjab Government reaffirmed its support for them.Meanwhile, AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal called out the BJP-led Centre for harassing Hindu traders through repeated ED action. The party asserted that Punjab’s traders should not feel intimidated and said the entire state and the Punjab Government stand firmly with them.AAP National…

09 Jun

Akali Dal-BJP Alliance A Bid to Regain Power, Not Serve Punjab: CM Bhagwant Mann

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAkali Dal BJP Alliance, Amloh, Bhagwant Mann, BJP, Congress, Kotkapura, Punjab government, Punjab politics, Shiromani Akali Dal

Almoh, Fatehgarh Sahib (Gurpreet Singh): As talk of a renewed alliance between the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP gathers pace, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday said the coming together of the two parties reflects a desperate bid to regain political power after being repeatedly rejected by the people of Punjab. Addressing a Lok Milni among residents of Shamaspur village in the Amloh constituency, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the SAD-BJP alliance was not being forged for public welfare or any shared ideology but to revive the politics that had harmed Punjab through the patronage of the…

09 Jun

Manpreet iali Joins Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, Calls for Panthic Unity in Punjab

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabManpreet Singh Iali

Gurpreet Singh :- Senior Punjab leader and Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Iali has joined Akali Dal Waris Punjab De, marking a significant development in the state's political landscape. His induction into the party was facilitated by Member of Parliament Sarabjeet Singh and Tarsem Singh, father of MP Amritpal Singh. Iali, who was elected from the Dakha Assembly constituency on a Shiromani Akali Dal ticket in the 2012 Assembly elections, had recently resigned from Akali Dal (Sudhar Lehar). Following his resignation, he had stated that he would not associate himself with the BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress or the Aam Aadmi…

09 Jun

Punjab Politics Heats Up Over ED Action; Mann, Kejriwal Accuse Centre of Targeting Traders

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabED raids, Punjab News

Gurpreet Singh :- Enforcement Directorate (ED) searches in Punjab’s major commercial centres have sparked a sharp political confrontation, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accusing the Centre of using investigative agencies to target the state’s business community. Reacting to the raids conducted in Jalandhar and Ludhiana, Mann said Punjab’s traders and entrepreneurs have played a vital role in driving the state’s economic growth and contributing to the vision of a prosperous Punjab. He alleged that central agencies were being misused to create pressure on businessmen and bring them under political influence, asserting that the people of Punjab would not tolerate such…