Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

05 May

BBMB Drags Punjab Govt to Court, Alleges ‘Forceful Takeover’ of Nangal Dam

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBBMB, Punjab

Chandigarh (National Times): In a dramatic turn in the escalating water conflict, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has taken legal action against the Punjab Government, accusing it of a forceful and unconstitutional occupation of the Nangal Bhakra Dam using state police forces. Filing a petition in the High Court, BBMB has demanded the immediate removal of Punjab Police deployed in the vicinity of the Bhakra Nangal headworks, calling their presence a “blatant overreach.” BBMB alleges that Punjab Police personnel have occupied key installations at the dam site, disrupting BBMB's authority and compromising the neutrality of a central water management…

05 May

Punjab Assembly Condemns Pahalgam Terror Attack, Pays Tribute to Departed Leaders

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabPahalgam terror attack, Punjab, Punjab News

Chandigarh (National Times): The Punjab Vidhan Sabha, during a special session held on Monday, paid heartfelt tributes to several notable personalities who recently passed away and strongly condemned the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 people. The House observed a solemn two-minute silence to honour the memory of former MP Master Bhagat Ram Ji, ex-minister Randhir Singh Cheema, and other prominent figures from different walks of life. The MLAs also remembered the civilians who lost their lives in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan expressed the collective grief of the…

04 May

Punjab CM Lauds Police for Foiling Espionage Plot, Calls It Proud Moment for State

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Espionage, National Security, Punjab Police

Chandigarh, May 4 — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann praised the Punjab Police on Sunday for successfully arresting individuals involved in espionage, calling the operation a benchmark in effective policing and a blow to anti-national conspiracies.In an official statement, the Chief Minister hailed the arrests as a significant victory against threats targeting India’s unity, integrity, and sovereignty. He emphasized that Punjab, being a border state, bears an immense responsibility in protecting national interests and that the state police have consistently risen to this challenge.Mann described the police action as a commendable move and a matter of immense pride for…

04 May

‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ Gains Momentum: Punjab Gears Up for Statewide Anti-Drug Drive from May 7

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Punjab Anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nashian Virudh

National Times Bureau, May 4, 2025: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema declared that the state’s fight against drugs under the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign has entered a decisive phase, with widespread public support backing the government's zero-tolerance approach.Speaking alongside Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh at a key meeting with Village and Ward Defense Committees in Patiala on May 4, Cheema emphasized the unified resolve to dismantle drug networks across the state. He credited Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership for reversing the damage caused by previous administrations. “The Akali-BJP sowed the seeds of drugs, Congress watered them, and now we…

03 May

Punjab Declares War on Drugs: CM Mann Vows Drug-Free State by May 31

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Drug De-addiction, Punjab drug war, Village Defence Committees

Jalandhar, May 3, 2025 — Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann ramped up his anti-drug crusade on Saturday, administering oaths to hundreds of newly formed Village Defence Committees, pledging to wipe out drugs from the state by May 31. Joined by AAP state president Aman Arora and Lok Sabha MP Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal, Mann declared the fight against drugs as a “war” that will soon be won with public support.He compared the state’s strategic approach to military planning, assuring that this coordinated offensive against drugs marks a turning point. Alongside this, Mann emphasized the government’s commitment to rehabilitation. The…

03 May

Punjab Likely to Boycott BBMB Meeting Amid SYL Canal Row

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBBMB meeting, Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini, Punjab, SYL Canal, water dispute

Chandigarh, May 3, 2025 — The Punjab government is reportedly preparing to boycott the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) meeting scheduled for 5 PM today, intensifying the ongoing dispute over the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and water-sharing issues.The decision, yet to be officially confirmed, follows an all-party meeting in Haryana earlier today where leaders unanimously demanded the implementation of the BBMB’s April 23 decision to release Haryana’s share of river water. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini accused Punjab of acting “unconstitutionally” by allegedly holding back the agreed water quota.Sources suggest that Punjab’s absence from the key BBMB meeting could…

02 May

Patiala Fake Encounter Case: High Court Seeks Replies from Punjab Govt, CBI Over Alleged Police Killing

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabHigh Court notice, Jaspreet Singh, Patiala Fake Encounter, Punjab Police

Chandigarh, May 2, 2025: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued notices to the Punjab Government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a petition alleging a fake police encounter in Patiala, demanding their responses before the next hearing scheduled for the first week of July.The petition, filed by advocate Navkiran Singh on behalf of the deceased’s family, claims that Jaspreet Singh, a resident of Nabha, was killed in a staged encounter by the Patiala Police on March 12 in connection with a child abduction case.According to the victim's family, Jaspreet had already surrendered to the police when…

02 May

Centre directs BBMB to release 4,500 cusecs of water to Haryana for 8 days

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusiness

Chandigarh, May 2, 2025 — In a significant development on the inter-state water-sharing issue, the Union Home Secretary has advised the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) to ensure the release of 4,500 cusecs of water to Haryana for the next eight days.The decision was taken during a high-level meeting convened by the Union Home Ministry.The meeting was attended by senior officials from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the BBMB. Both Haryana and Punjab presented their respective data and positions on water availability and requirements.Following deliberations, the Union Home Secretary directed that Haryana should receive 4,500 cusecs of water immediately.…

02 May

Water Dispute Escalates Between Punjab and Haryana, Centre Calls Emergency Meeting

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, PunjabHaryana, Punjab

Chandigarh (National Times): In response to mounting discord between Punjab and Haryana over the BBMB's directive to release 8,500 cusecs of additional water to Haryana, the Union Government has convened an emergency meeting of top officials from four northern states. The meeting is scheduled for May 2 in Delhi and will include Chief Secretaries from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan will head the high-level meeting. Since Punjab’s Chief Secretary is currently on leave, the state will be represented by Additional Chief Secretary Alok Shekhar and Krishan Kumar, Principal Secretary for Water Resources. The water-sharing…

01 May

Punjab Leaders Protest Centre’s Forced Water Allocation to Haryana

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Bhakra Dam, Haryana, Punjab, water dispute

Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, May 1:Today, senior leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party staged a strong protest at Phase 7 lights in Mohali against the Centre’s decision to release additional water from Bhakra Dam to Haryana by force.District Planning Committee Chairperson and AAP’s District President Prabhjot Kaur stated that the Centre is behaving unjustly with Punjab and that the Punjab government will not allow even a single drop of its water to go to waste. She made it clear that the Bhagwant Singh Mann government will not tolerate any plundering of Punjab’s water. She pointed out that although Haryana had…