Harpal Cheema Archives - National Times

14 May

Harpal Singh Cheema Accuses BJP-Led Governments of Enabling Gangsterism and High Crime Rates

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBJP, Crime Statistics, Gangsterism, Harpal Cheema, Law, Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Launching a blistering attack on the BJP-led Central Government, senior AAP leader and Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that states ruled by the BJP for long periods have witnessed a dangerous rise in crime, gangsterism and breakdown of law and order. Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the minister emphasised that the figures expose the “true face” of BJP governance, where hatred, fear and violence are being used as political tools to capture and retain power. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Delhi, where the BJP recently grabbed power through…

13 May

Punjab Minister Harpal Cheema Alleges BJP Hand Behind Firing at Diljit Dosanjh’s Manager’s Residence

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsEntertainment, Politics, Punjab, TrendingBJP, Diljit Dosanjh, Firing, Harpal Cheema, Punjab News

LGurpreet Singh :- Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Wednesday sparked a political storm by alleging that the BJP was behind the firing incident at the residence of Gurpartap Kang, manager of Punjabi singer Diljit Dosanjh, in Haryana’s Gondar village. Cheema claimed the attack was carried out through the Lawrence Bishnoi gang to intimidate the singer after he allegedly refused to join the BJP. Addressing the media, Cheema accused the BJP of using “questionable tactics” and alleged that gangsters were being used to threaten celebrities and influential personalities across the country. He further claimed that gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was operating…

10 May

AAP launches statewide protests in Punjab against BJP following ED action on Sanjeev Arora

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP, BJP, ED raids, Harpal Cheema, Punjab, Sanjeev Arora

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday launched statewide protests against the BJP-led Central Government, asserting that the BJP is misusing central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), CBI and Income Tax Department to target opposition leaders and destabilize non-BJP governments. AAP leaders and karyakartas staged demonstrations and gheraoed BJP offices at district headquarters across Punjab, raising slogans against Narendra Modi and the BJP government over the ED action against Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora. The protests were held in districts including Hoshiarpur, Patiala, Mohali and several other parts of Punjab, where AAP leaders noted that the BJP…

10 May

AAP Slams Arrest of Minister Sanjeev Arora as Politically Motivated Vendetta

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP, Aman Arora, Chandigarh News, ED raid, Harpal Cheema, political vendetta, Punjab politics, Sanjeev Arora

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) declared the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raid at Minister Sanjeev Arora’s residence and his arrest as a completely politically motivated act. Condemning the BJP-led Central Government in the strongest terms, AAP said that whenever the BJP sees itself losing political ground in elections, it conspires to crush the voice of the opposition by unleashing investigative agencies against them. The action against Sanjeev Arora is part of that same politics of vendetta. On this, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “Just as BJP misused the machinery of ED, CBI and other central agencies…

04 May

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema Orders Immediate Rollout of Rangla Punjab Phase Two

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusinessDCs, Development, Harpal Cheema, Infrastructure, Phase Two, Punjab finance, Rangla Punjab, transparency

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh); Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema issued a comprehensive set of instructions on Monday to all District Deputy Commissioners, mandating the swift and time-bound completion of all ongoing development projects under the Rangla Punjab Vikas Scheme. While chairing a high-level review meeting in Chandigarh, the Minister made it clear that any delays in the execution of Phase One projects would be considered unacceptable. He stressed that the government is committed to a rapid transformation of the province and that administrative efficiency is paramount to achieving these developmental goals. In a bid to ensure that the progress remains…

03 May

Punjab Government Sees Strong Revenue Growth as VAT and Development Tax Collections Surge

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabHarpal Cheema, PSDT surge, Punjab finance, Punjab revenue, Revenue growth, Tax collection, VAT growth

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Highlighting a major milestone in the state's revenue generation, Punjab Finance, Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday announced that the state has recorded a significant financial boost for April 2026, driven by an impressive double-digit surge in both Value Added Tax (VAT) and Punjab State Development Tax (PSDT) collections. The Finance Minister said, "The state successfully secured approximately ₹265 crore in combined supplementary revenue from these two sectors, an achievement driven entirely by enhanced monitoring mechanisms, stringent enforcement protocols, and a transparent tax administration framework." Sharing the comprehensive details of this financial success, Finance…

02 May

Punjab Achieves Historic GST Milestone with Record Revenue and National Growth Leadership

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabGST collection, Harpal Cheema, Indian economy, Punjab GST, Record revenue, Revenue milestone, Tax growth

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday announced that the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has set a historic benchmark in tax revenue for April 2026 as the state achieves its highest-ever monthly Goods and Services Tax (GST) collection since the tax's inception, simultaneously topping the nation in overall GST revenue growth. Detailing this unprecedented achievement in a press communique issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh said, "The State has recorded a Gross GST collection of ₹2987.38 crore alongside a Net GST collection of ₹2725.08 crore. This exceptional…

01 May

AAP Leaders Condemn Opposition Conduct and Gas Price Hike Following Landmark Labour Day Session

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP Punjab, Aman Arora, Congress walkout, gas hike, Harpal Cheema, Labour Day, Punjab News

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Following the special Punjab Vidhan Sabha session held on Labour Day, leaders of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) launched a strong political response to the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), stating that their actions reflect an anti-worker, anti-poor and opportunistic approach, while the AAP government continues to prioritise pro-people policies. Senior AAP leader and Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema criticised the BJP-led Central Government over the ₹994 hike in commercial gas cylinder prices immediately after elections, stating, “₹994 hike in commercial gas cylinder prices is a direct assault on workers and small businesses.” He asserted…

12 Apr

Bhagwant Mann government to add 1,265 buses to PRTC and PUNBUS fleets

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBus expansion, Harpal Cheema, KM Scheme, PRTC, PUNBUS, Punjab transport

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Reaffirming the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government's commitment to providing robust and accessible public transport, Punjab Finance and Transport Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Sunday announced a major expansion of the state’s transport network. He said that the Punjab Government is set to add a massive fleet of 659 buses to the PEPSU Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and 606 buses to PUNBUS. Transport Minister Harpal Singh Cheema shared that 250 buses were recently added to the fleet under the Kilometer (KM) Scheme. He said, "This initiative was exclusively extended to residents of Punjab to…

11 Mar

Punjab Assembly Sees Political Clash as Cheema Targets Khaira Over Comment on Women Beneficiaries

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingHarpal Cheema

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Proceedings in the Punjab Legislative Assembly turned tense during Zero Hour after state Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema sharply criticised Congress legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira for remarks he allegedly made about women receiving government welfare benefits. Raising the matter on the floor of the House, Cheema condemned Khaira’s reported reference to these women as “bonded labourers.” The minister argued that such language was offensive and undermined the dignity of thousands of women who benefit from welfare programmes run by the state government. Cheema urged the opposition leader to publicly apologise, saying the statement had hurt sentiments and…