Punjab Archives - National Times

13 May

Historic Revival of Bist Doab Canal Sees Irrigation Coverage Skyrocket by 167 Per Cent

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjabAgriculture, Bist Doab, Canal network, Doaba, irrigation, Jalandhar, Punjab, Water management

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The 2025-26 agricultural year has marked a historic turning point for the Doaba region as the strategic revival of the Bist Doab Canal network triggered a massive 167 per cent expansion in irrigated land. Under the direction of the Bhagwant Mann administration, the network has successfully added 110,762 acres to its total command area, effectively breathing new life into a vital agricultural lifeline that had long been neglected. This surge represents a major shift in the province’s approach to resource management, prioritising the use of surface water to support the agrarian backbone of the region while reducing…

13 May

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann Warns People of Voting for BJP, says “if voted to power they will reimpose black farm laws in Punjab”

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingBhagwant Mann, Punjab

Samrala (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday launched a blistering political offensive against the BJP, Akali Dal and Congress, pointing out that these traditional political parties betrayed Punjab for decades through divisive politics, anti-Punjab decisions and corruption, while warning that the BJP would once again impose the black farm laws if voted to power in the state. During Lok Milni at village Manki in Samrala, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the BJP had exposed its anti-Punjab mindset by making Sanskrit compulsory and Punjabi optional in Army schools, and pointed out that the party thrives on creating…

12 May

CBI Heat Reaches Punjab Vigilance Corridors; BJP Leader, IPS Officer’s Reader Under Scanner

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsEntertainment, Politics, Punjab, TrendingBig news, BJP, CBI, Punjab, Raid, Vigillance Bureau

CBI raid at Vigilance office triggers political storm in Punjab Gurpreet Singh :- A recent CBI raid at the Punjab Vigilance Bureau office in Mohali has sparked major political and administrative controversy in the state. The action has brought two important names into focus — BJP leader Raghav Goyal from Malout and senior IPS officer Sharad Satya Chauhan, who is considered one of the frontrunners for the post of Punjab Director General of Police. Raghav Goyal, known for his close links with several BJP leaders, has been arrested in connection with an alleged Rs 25 lakh bribery case. Sources claim…

12 May

CBI Probe Deepens After Surprise Searches at Punjab Vigilance Bureau

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingPunjab

Mohali (Gurpreet Singh): A major corruption probe intensified in Punjab after the Central Bureau of Investigation conducted surprise searches at the state Vigilance Bureau headquarters and detained multiple individuals in connection with an alleged bribery deal. The late-night operation at the Mohali-based headquarters reportedly led to the questioning of O.P. Rana, a close aide to a senior vigilance official. Investigators returned to the premises again on Tuesday as part of an extended inquiry into suspected illegal financial dealings. The agency also carried out simultaneous searches at residential locations in Malout, where two alleged middlemen, Raghav Goyal and Vikas Goyal, were…

11 May

Punjab Tops National School Education Rankings, Surpasses Kerala in NITI Aayog Report

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsEntertainment, Punjab, TrendingCm bhagwant maan, Punjab

Gurpreet Singh :- Punjab has emerged as the top-performing state in school education in the latest NITI Aayog Education Quality Report 2026, overtaking Kerala and several other leading states in the country. The state government has attributed the achievement to extensive reforms introduced in government schools over the past few years. Announcing the development, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said Punjab secured the number one position in primary and middle-level education, outperforming states such as Kerala, Maharashtra and Delhi. He described the achievement as a reflection of the state’s sustained efforts to strengthen the public education system and improve learning outcomes.…

11 May

Fresh Weather System to Bring Rain, Thunderstorms Across Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsHaryana, Punjab, TrendingChandigarh, Haryana, Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): A fresh spell of unstable weather is set to impact Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana this week after a new western disturbance became active over north India, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue alerts for thunderstorms, gusty winds and scattered rainfall across the region. The weather system is expected to remain active through the coming days, with Monday likely to witness the most intense activity. Authorities have placed several districts under an orange alert, warning residents to stay prepared for strong winds, lightning strikes and moderate rain. According to meteorological officials, atmospheric circulation over Rajasthan and…

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

Balachaur Protest Sparks Political Face-Off as BJP, AAP Trade Charges Over Office Scuffle

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingAAP, Balachaur, BJP, Punjab

Balachaur (Gurpreet Singh): A political protest in Punjab’s Balachaur took an ugly turn on Sunday after a confrontation broke out between Aam Aadmi Party workers and local BJP leaders, triggering fresh accusations from both sides. The clash reportedly took place outside the BJP district office in Nawanshahr during demonstrations organised by AAP against recent Enforcement Directorate action involving party leaders. According to BJP district president Rajwinder Lucky, tensions escalated when he began recording the protest live on his mobile phone. He alleged that amid the heated exchange, some AAP workers attempted to grab his device while Banga MLA Dr. Sukhwinder…

10 May

Historic initiative by Punjab Govt as free food kits to be distributed to 40 lakh poor, Dalit and backward families in state

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPunjab, TrendingBhagwant Mann, Punjab

SANGRUR (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday launched the ambitious ‘Meri Rasoi Yojna’ during a programme organised in village Bhalwan in Sangrur, marking the beginning of free nutritional food kit distribution to nearly 40 lakh poor and economically weaker families across Punjab, as one of the country’s largest household nutrition support initiatives. Declaring the scheme as a direct intervention to reduce the kitchen burden on struggling families amid rising inflation, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the AAP Government is merely making announcements but delivering tangible relief to every household through free electricity, healthcare, women-centric welfare schemes…

09 May

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann Warns Centre, Alleges Political Misuse of ED After Searches at Sanjeev Arora’s Premises

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsPolitics, Punjab, TrendingBhagwant Mann, Punjab

Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led central government following Enforcement Directorate searches linked to Punjab minister Sanjeev Arora, accusing the Centre of using investigative agencies as instruments of political pressure. Speaking to reporters in Sangrur, Mann claimed that the BJP has repeatedly used agencies such as the ED, CBI and Income Tax Department to target opposition leaders across India and is now attempting the same strategy in Punjab. He alleged that such actions are not aimed at uncovering financial wrongdoing but are designed to force political leaders into switching allegiance.…