Punjab

07 May

India-Pakistan Tensions: Punjab Schools Closed, Airports Shut After Air Strikes

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabOperation Sindoor, Punjab

Amritsar (National Times): In the wake of India’s ‘Operation Sindoor,’ which targeted nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan and PoK, schools in Punjab’s Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Fazilka, Ferozepur, and Amritsar districts have been closed for at least 72 hours as a precautionary measure. The air strikes, carried out at 1:30 am on Wednesday in Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh, Kotli, and Muzaffarabad, reportedly killed 30 individuals and have heightened tensions along the India-Pakistan border. Security has been significantly ramped up in Punjab and Haryana. Chandigarh and Amritsar’s Sri Guru Ram Das Ji International Airport have suspended operations until further notice, with all flights canceled…

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06 May

Wheat Piles Up in Punjab Mandis Due to Centre’s Negligence: Harchand Singh Barsat Demands Urgent Lifting

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabCentre FCI wheat lifting delay, Harchand Singh Barsat, Punjab wheat procurement

Mohali, May 6, 2025 – Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Harchand Singh Barsat has blamed the Central Government for delays in lifting wheat from the state's procurement centres, resulting in large heaps of wheat lying exposed in grain markets. He praised the arrangements made under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, saying procurement operations were running smoothly, and farmers were receiving timely payments. However, the Centre and the Food Corporation of India (FCI), responsible for lifting the procured wheat, have failed to act promptly.Barsat informed that so far, 124.05 lakh metric tonnes of wheat have arrived in the mandis,…

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06 May

Haryana CM Slams Punjab CM Over Water Remarks, Accuses Him of Stirring Controversy for Politics

Balwinder Singh0 CommentsHaryana, PunjabBhagwant Mann, Haryana CM, Nayab Singh Saini, Punjab CM

Chandigarh, May 6 – Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday lashed out at his Punjab counterpart Bhagwant Mann for making what he called “provocative and irresponsible” remarks on inter-state water sharing. Addressing a public gathering at his residence, Sant Kabir Kutir, Saini criticized Mann for allegedly using his constitutional position to ignite tensions for political mileage.“Instead of working for Punjab’s welfare, the Chief Minister is making divisive statements to further his political career,” Saini said, asserting that both Haryana and Punjab are like brothers and that such remarks only serve to drive a wedge between their people.He also…

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06 May

Centre Orders Mock Drills in These Districts of Punjab Amid Rising Indo-Pak Tensions

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabMock Drills, Punjab

Chandigarh (National Times): In light of rising tensions between India and Pakistan, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held a high-level emergency preparedness meeting on Monday, where strategies were finalized for conducting nationwide mock drills, with a particular focus on border states like Punjab. The meeting, held at North Block and chaired by Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan, saw participation from Chief Secretaries of all states, senior officers of paramilitary forces, and Director General of Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards, IPS Vivek Srivastava. Representatives from all 244 civil defence districts across the country also joined the deliberations.…

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05 May

‘White Elephant BBMB Must Go’: CM Bhagwant Mann Slams Centre Over Punjab’s Water Woes

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Punjab

Chandigarh (National Times): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann came out all guns blazing in the Vidhan Sabha on Monday, as he led a fiery charge against the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and the Central Government over what he called a “systematic betrayal” of Punjab’s water rights. Speaking during a special session where the House unanimously passed a resolution rejecting BBMB's controversial order to release 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana, CM Mann tore into the Board's functioning and called for its complete reconstitution. “Punjab has always stood at the forefront—whether it was the freedom struggle or feeding the nation.…

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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…

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05 May

Punjab Assembly Passes Resolution Against BBMB Over Water Release to Haryana

nishuthapar10 CommentsPunjabBBMB, Punjab

Chandigarh (National Times): Amid escalating concerns over depleting water resources, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday unanimously passed a resolution opposing the Bhakra Beas Management Board’s (BBMB) directive to release an additional 8,500 cusecs of water to Haryana. Introduced by Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal, the resolution highlighted that Punjab is battling a severe water crisis, with 115 out of 153 blocks facing groundwater depletion, and is in no position to provide further water to neighboring states. Minister Goyal pointed out that Haryana has already exhausted its annual water quota, and an earlier release of 4,000 cusecs had already…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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