Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

26 Mar

Punjab Budget 2025-26: A Big Push for Agriculture, But Will It Be Enough?

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAgriculture, Crop Diversification, Power Subsidy, Punjab Budget 2025-26

Chandigarh, March 26, 2025: The Punjab government’s 2025-26 budget has earmarked ₹14,524 crore for agriculture and allied sectors, aiming to boost crop diversification, provide power subsidies, and introduce new initiatives for farmers. However, the big question remains—will these measures be enough to address Punjab’s long-standing agricultural challenges?One of the key highlights is the ₹500 crore allocation for crop residue management, a step towards controlling stubble burning, which has been a major environmental concern. The government is also focusing on crop diversification with a new scheme in Bathinda, Kapurthala, and Gurdaspur to encourage maize cultivation in the Kharif season. Farmers switching…

25 Mar

MP Sanjeev Arora Reviews Ludhiana’s Civic Projects, Orders Dengue Prevention Measures

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabCivic Infrastructure, Dengue Prevention, Ludhiana Municipal Projects, Road Repair

Ludhiana, March 25, 2025: Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora chaired a review meeting with municipal corporation officials on Tuesday at Circuit House, assessing the progress of ongoing city development projects.Arora expressed satisfaction with the pace of work but stressed complete preparedness for the upcoming dengue season. He directed officials to launch large-scale cleanliness drives to prevent mosquito breeding. In case of shortages in suction machines or manpower, he urged immediate procurement of necessary resources from within or outside Punjab.He identified cow dung accumulation in Wards 62, 63, and 64—home to numerous dairies—as a key factor in mosquito proliferation. He ordered…

25 Mar

Punjab Vigilance Bureau Arrests ASI for Accepting ₹8,000 Bribe

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabASI Bribe Arrest, Punjab Vigilance Bureau

Chandigarh, March 25, 2025: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) arrested Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Sanjay Kumar from Police Station City Kharar, SAS Nagar, for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹8,000.An official spokesperson stated that the arrest followed a complaint by a resident of Kharar village. The complainant alleged that ASI Sanjay Kumar, the investigating officer (IO) in his case, demanded ₹10,000 to issue notices to the opposing party after an FIR was registered on his complaint.After verifying the claim, the VB team set a trap and caught the officer red-handed while accepting ₹8,000 in the presence of two official witnesses.…

24 Mar

Local Government Minister Urges Residents to Actively Participate in Swachhta Survekshan-2025

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabDr. Ravjot Singh, Swachhta Survekshan-2025, Urban Local Bodies

Chandigarh, March 24, 2025: Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh has called on residents across all Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in the state to actively take part in Swachhta Survekshan-2025. He emphasized that under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, efforts are being made to transform cities into clean and green hubs, essential for realizing the dream of a vibrant Punjab. He urged ULBs to make this cleanliness survey a people's movement.Dr. Ravjot Singh stressed that citizen feedback plays a crucial role in shaping cleaner cities. By participating, residents help improve their city's ranking in the survey while…

24 Mar

District Election Officer Holds Meeting with Recognized Political Parties on Polling Station Appointments

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBLA-1, BLA-2, Booth Level Agents, District Election Officer, Komal Mittal

SAS Nagar, March 18, 2025: Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Komal Mittal held a meeting with all recognized political parties in the district today. She informed them about the Election Commission of India's guidelines, which mandate the appointment of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) at every polling station.She directed the parties to submit the BLA-1 and BLA-2 forms by March 25, 2025. The BLA-1 form must be filled out by the party president or secretary, authorizing a representative at the district or constituency level to appoint BLAs. The appointed representative will then complete the BLA-2 form to assign BLAs at the booth…

24 Mar

Teen’s Suicide Sparks Controversy Over Alleged Police Harassment in Chandigarh

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabChandigarh student suicide, Cyber Cell harassment, school bullying

Zirakpur, March 24 – Moulik Verma (16), a Class 11 student at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 21, Chandigarh, died by suicide on March 22 at his Shantikunj Society residence in Zirakpur. His family refused to cremate his body today, demanding the registration of an FIR against those responsible. The protest escalated, prompting SP (Rural) Manpreet Singh to intervene, but the family remained firm and took the body back home. The cremation is now expected on Tuesday as senior officials deliberate over the FIR. Allegations Against Cyber Cell and School Authorities Moulik’s mother, Ritu Verma, a single parent, has blamed…

24 Mar

Punjab Govt’s Achievements Outshine Congress, Akali-BJP Failures: FM Cheema

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP Punjab, Bhagwant Mann leadership, free electricity Punjab, Punjab education reforms, Punjab government achievements

Chandigarh, March 24, 2025 – Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema praised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's achievements while slamming previous Congress and Akali-BJP administrations for mismanagement and failures. Speaking in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, he thanked Governor Gulab Chand Kataria for his speech and outlined the Mann government’s successes.Cheema highlighted that AAP fulfilled its 2022 election promise of free electricity within three months, benefiting 90% of domestic consumers. He also touted the Goindwal Sahib thermal plant acquisition as a historic move, securing a ₹6,000 crore asset for just ₹1,080 crore.Taking a swipe at Congress, Cheema accused the party…

24 Mar

Pastor Bajinder Singh Appears in Mohali Court After Non-Bailable Warrants Issued in Sexual Harassment Case

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBajinder Singh case, Punjab pastor scandal, sexual harassment

Chandigarh, March 24, 2025: Bajinder Singh, a self-styled pastor from Punjab, appeared in the Mohali District Court last week after non-bailable warrants (NBWs) were issued against him on March 3, 2025. Singh has been facing serious charges related to sexual harassment and rape, dating back to a 2018 accusation by a woman from Zirakpur.Singh, who was arrested at the Delhi airport in 2018 and later released on bail, was summoned to court following his failure to comply with legal requirements. The case has gained widespread attention due to its disturbing nature and the involvement of religious figures in alleged criminal…

24 Mar

Punjab Agriculture Minister Denied Permission to Visit the USA

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusinessGurmeet Singh Khuddian, Punjab, USA

Chandigarh (National Times): Punjab's Agriculture Minister, Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, has been denied permission to travel to the United States. In a statement to the media, Minister Khuddian revealed that he was scheduled to lead an official delegation to the USA from March 29 to April 6. The delegation, which included officials from the Animal Husbandry Department, was set to study dairy farming practices in the US with the aim of promoting similar initiatives in Punjab. While the Ministry of External Affairs has not provided a specific reason for the denial, it was communicated that the delegation's request for travel to…

23 Mar

Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib Promotes Brotherhood During Meeting with Himachal Students

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusinessGiani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, Sri Akal Takht Sahib

Amritsar (National Times): The Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, recently welcomed a delegation of students and teachers from Government College Badsar, Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, at the Akal Takht Secretariat. During their interaction, the Jathedar emphasized the significance of unity, harmony, and fostering inter-state brotherhood. The visiting group shared that prior to their visit, some individuals had cautioned them about potential safety concerns in Punjab. However, upon arrival, they felt nothing but warmth and hospitality, experiencing the welcoming spirit of the land of the Gurus. During the discussion, the delegation also mentioned plans to establish a…