Punjab Assembly Archives - National Times

04 Aug

Harpal Singh Cheema Criticizes Centre Over Mandatory E-20 Petrol, Cites Vehicle Damage and Groundwater Threat

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabE-20 Petrol, ethanol blending, Fuel policy, Groundwater Level, Harpal Cheema, Punjab Assembly

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Calling out the BJP led central government, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday strongly criticised the mandatory implementation of 20% ethanol blending (E-20 petrol) starting April 2026, which advanced the original target from 2030 while speaking in the House in favour of the resolution moved by him. Highlighting that the USA produces 60% of the world's ethanol while India produces only 5%, Cheema accused the BJP-led central government of surrendering to the United States and Donald Trump at the cost of Indian consumers and vehicle owners. Focusing on the massive scale of the issue in…

03 Aug

Punjab Assembly Unanimously Passes Resolution Condemning Centre Over National Paper Leaks

Balwinder Singh0 CommentsPunjabHarpal Cheema, NTA Restructuring, Paper leaks, Punjab Assembly, Student Rights, Vidhan Sabha

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Monday moved a landmark resolution in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly), urging the House to hold the Union Government accountable for repeated examination scandals, paper leaks and institutional failures that have severely impacted the future of millions of students and job aspirants across the country. The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed the resolution. Addressing the Vidhan Sabha, Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Under the arrogant rule of a dictatorial BJP-led Union Government, every vital sector in the country, especially the future of millions of hardworking youth, has been put…

03 Aug

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Erupts Over Alleged Pharmacy Exam Paper Leak as Congress Stages Walkout; AAP Challenges For A Debate

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP government, Congress walkout, Harjot Bains, Paper Leak, Punjab Assembly, Vidhan Sabha

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The opening day of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha's Monsoon Session witnessed high political drama on Monday as the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and opposition Congress legislators clashed over an alleged pharmacy examination paper leak. The stormy confrontation triggered intense slogan-shouting inside the House, culminating in a protest walkout by opposition members. The controversy erupted during Question Hour when Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa raised the issue and demanded the immediate resignation of Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains. Drawing parallels to national controversies surrounding competitive entrance exams, Bajwa alleged that multiple examination paper leak…

03 Aug

Punjab Assembly’s Monsoon Session Opens Today; Government Braces for Opposition Offensive

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingPunjab Assembly

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Punjab Legislative Assembly will convene its Monsoon Session on Monday, with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government expected to face sharp questioning from the opposition over several pressing issues. The session, scheduled to continue until August 10, is considered the final monsoon sitting before the present Assembly completes its tenure. The day's proceedings will begin at 11 a.m. with members paying homage to departed leaders and eminent personalities. The House will then move to Question Hour and Zero Hour, allowing legislators to seek clarifications from the government and raise matters related to their constituencies as…

01 May

Punjab Government Wins Unanimous Confidence Vote as CM Mann Outlines Vision for 2027

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP Punjab, anti-defection, Bhagwant Mann, Confidence Motion, irrigation project, political victory, Punjab Assembly

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday turned the floor of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha into a decisive assertion of political authority, with his government winning the Confidence Motion unanimously and sending a clear message that attempts to destabilise the Punjab Government have failed. Declaring the mandate as a reflection of enduring public trust, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann declared that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)’s support base remains intact and will translate into an even bigger mandate in 2027, even as he underscored the party’s grassroots strength built “with blood and sweat” and its unwavering alignment…

01 May

Punjab Government Boosts Minimum Wages by 15 Percent in Landmark Labour Day Decision

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, education reform, Labour Day, minimum wage, Punjab Assembly, sacrilege law, Shukrana Yatra, wage hike

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): On Labour Day, the Punjab Assembly unanimously passed a resolution approving a 15 percent increase in minimum wages after 13 years, extending the benefit to all registered workers in both government and private sectors. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann termed it a tribute to the working class. The Punjab CM flagged education as key to improving their conditions and highlighted the AAP-led government's transformational work. He also targeted the Congress over its walkout from the special session, and announced a Shukrana Yatra following the passage of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Amendment Act 2026.…

01 May

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Targets Political Rumours with Confidence Motion in Punjab Vidhan Sabha

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabBhagwant Mann, Chandigarh News, Confidence Motion, Labour Day, minimum wage, Political Stability, Punjab Assembly

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann formally introduced a confidence motion during a special session of the state assembly this Friday, aiming to solidify his administration’s standing amid a flurry of political speculation. Speaking in Chandigarh on the occasion of International Labour Day, Mann directly addressed the recent reports of internal friction, remarking that various rumours have been intentionally spread to cast doubt on the stability of the provincial government. He maintained that the overwhelming mandate granted by the people of Punjab is not easily shaken and that his party remains a unified force dedicated to the…

13 Apr

CM Bhagwant Mann government passes historic Anti-Sacrilege Bill; life imprisonment for “Beadbi”

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAnti-Sacrilege Bill, Bhagwant Mann, Life imprisonment, Punjab Assembly, Religious harmony, Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): As a mark of respect to Sri Guru Granth Sahib ji, the Punjab Assembly led by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday unanimously passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, thereby stipulating harsher punishment for beadbi (sacrilege) of living Guru Sahib. In a decisive and uncompromising move, the Bhagwant Mann Government has introduced life imprisonment for beadbi, creating one of the toughest legal frameworks in the country to deal with beadbi. Declaring the legislation as a historic correction of past regimes’ failures, the Chief Minister affirmed that the new law closes long-standing…

13 Apr

Harpal Singh Cheema hails Anti-Sacrilege Bill as historic move to end decades of injustice

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAnti-Sacrilege Bill, Bhagwant Mann, Harpal Singh Cheema, Life imprisonment, Nakodar incident, Punjab Assembly

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Speaking in the Assembly today in favor of the "Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill" introduced by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday, Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema expressed his profound gratitude to the Chief Minister for bringing necessary amendments to ensure stringent punishment for 'beadbi' (sacrilege). Terming the amendment an honest effort by the Bhagwant Mann government, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema strongly criticized the opposition for attempting to mislead the public. He said that the amended bill introduces historic penal provisions, stipulating life imprisonment and a penalty of ₹25 lakh for…

11 Mar

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Demands Apology from Sukhpal Khaira Over “Derogatory” Remarks in Assembly

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAAP vs Congress, Harpal Singh Cheema, Punjab Assembly, Sukhpal Singh Khaira

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday strongly condemned Congress MLA from Bholath Sukhpal Singh Khaira over highly derogatory remarks made by him on social media platforms, demanding an immediate and unconditional apology. The Finance Minister also appealed to the Speaker of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to initiate strict disciplinary action if Khaira fails to apologise publicly for his offensive and unparliamentary language. Addressing the House, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated, “Sukhpal Singh Khaira made offensive comments directed at the women of Punjab and subsequently launched a severe personal attack on me, referring to me as…