Gurpreet Singh, Author at National Times

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…

02 Apr

CM Bhagwant Mann inaugurates Rs 11.70 crore hospital in Cheema; vows to crush drug trade

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Punjab Drug-Free Campaign, Sangrur healthcare, Sant Attar Singh Hospital

Sangrur (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Thursday inaugurated the Sant Attar Singh Ji Maharaj Hospital in Cheema village, marking a significant expansion of grassroots healthcare infrastructure, as a state-of-the-art 30-bed facility built at a cost of ₹11.70 crore begins serving tens of thousands across the region. The Chief Minister emphasised that the hospital will benefit around 50,000 people across 15 villages, while also strengthening access to affordable and quality treatment for nearly 35,000–40,000 residents in nearby areas. During his visit, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann also interacted with patients and their families at the hospital, inquiring about…

02 Apr

India and Canada to resume high-level trade talks as relations thaw

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsCanada, IndiaCEPA negotiations, India-Canada trade, Mark Carney, Piyush Goyal

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): India and Canada are set to reconvene their Joint Commission on Trade in late May or early June, marking a significant step toward finalizing a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by the end of 2024. Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal announced on Thursday that India will send its "largest-ever business delegation" to Canada to accompany the commission. This strategic move follows a successful meeting between Goyal and his Canadian counterpart, Maninder Sidhu, on the sidelines of the WTO Ministerial Meeting in Yaounde, Cameroon, where both nations agreed to fast-track trade negotiations. The upcoming summit…

02 Apr

UN condemns India’s “fast-tracked” Transgender Amendment Act 2026

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, World NewsDroupadi Murmu, gender rights, Transgender Amendment Act 2026, UN India

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): The United Nations issued a sharp condemnation on Thursday, April 2, 2026, following the rapid passage and presidential assent of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026. In a statement released via its official X handle, the global body expressed deep regret over the "fast passage" of the legislation, asserting that the new law was enacted without adequate stakeholder consultation. The UN warned that the amendments risk reversing decades of progress for the transgender community in India, particularly by replacing the principle of self-identification with mandatory medical verification processes. The legislation, which received President…

02 Apr

AAP kicks off wheat procurement in Punjab; highlights 88% canal water reach

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP Kisan Wing, agricultural reforms, Bhagwant Mann, canal water Punjab, Punjab wheat procurement

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) assured farmers of top facilities and every possible support as the procurement of wheat crop begins in the mandis across Punjab. Party leaders highlighted the revolutionary reforms carried out in the agriculture sector over the past four years under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, along with preparations for the current procurement season. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Chairman of the Kisan Wing Mahinder Singh Sidhu stated, “What the Bhagwant Mann government has done for farmers is historic. The government is providing 600 units of free electricity without any discrimination…

02 Apr

Rs 4 lakh life-saving surgery delivered cashless under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingPunjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Marking one of the highest claims facilitated under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna to date, a ₹4 lakh life-saving surgery was delivered cashless, reflecting the scale and on-ground effectiveness of the Bhagwant Mann Government’s healthcare system. The beneficiary, Sukhpal Kaur, a 37 year old resident of Chandigarh, was admitted to PGIMER Chandigarh after being diagnosed with a critical aortic dissection, a serious cardio-thoracic and vascular condition requiring immediate surgical intervention. The procedure, along with hospitalisation and specialised care, was estimated to cost nearly ₹4 lakh, an amount that would have been extremely difficult for the family to…

02 Apr

Pakistan-Origin Grenade Suspected in Chandigarh BJP Office Blast; CCTV Clips Reveal Movement of Accused

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingChandigarh

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Investigators probing the explosion outside the Punjab unit office of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Chandigarh have uncovered fresh leads, with sources indicating that a Pakistan-manufactured grenade may have been used in the attack. Preliminary findings suggest the explosive device was a GHD2P hand grenade, known for its high lethality. Experts note that such a device can cause severe damage within a radius of several meters, while metal fragments can travel much farther, posing danger to bystanders and property. The blast, which occurred on Wednesday evening near the party’s Sector 37 office, damaged parked vehicles and left…

02 Apr

Air India to Begin Daily Flights Between Delhi and Halwara from May 15, Boosting Punjab Connectivity

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndia, Punjab, TrendingAir India

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): In a significant boost to regional air travel, Air India has announced the launch of four daily flights connecting Delhi with Halwara airport near Ludhiana, starting May 15. The move marks the airline’s debut operations at Halwara, making it the first carrier to service this route. The flights will be operated using Airbus A320 family aircraft, with schedules tailored to suit business travellers and those seeking seamless onward connections. The timings have been strategically planned to allow passengers to complete same-day trips and easily link to international flights via Delhi. According to the announced schedule, the…

02 Apr

Equity Markets Tumble as Crude Oil Rally Deepens; Sensex, Nifty Under Pressure

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusiness, India, TrendingCrude Oil, Iran

Mumbai (Gurpreet Singh): Indian stock markets faced a sharp sell-off on Thursday as rising geopolitical tensions and a spike in oil prices rattled investor confidence. The BSE Sensex dropped over 1,300 points to trade near 71,800, while the Nifty 50 fell by more than 400 points, slipping to around 22,300 levels during early sessions. The decline followed strong remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which dampened hopes of a near-term resolution and triggered a surge in energy prices. Brent crude rose sharply, crossing the $105 mark per barrel, intensifying concerns for import-dependent economies like…

01 Apr

Navy Chief reveals India was “minutes away” from striking Pakistan during Operation Sindoor

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaAdmiral Dinesh Tripathi, Indian Navy, Operation Sindoor, West Asia Conflict

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi disclosed on Wednesday that the Indian Navy was within minutes of launching a maritime strike against Pakistan during last year's Operation Sindoor. Speaking at a naval investiture ceremony, the Admiral stated that Islamabad requested a halt to kinetic actions just as Indian units were prepared to strike from the sea. The revelation underscores the extreme brinkmanship that followed the Pahalgam terror attack, which triggered the massive naval mobilization. Operation Sindoor was launched in 2025 as a high-readiness response to regional aggression, characterized by a "highly aggressive posture"…