Page 15 - Punjab

Chandigarh University hostel video row: Cops say girl leaked her own clip

Amid the raging controversy over the alleged leaked objectionable videos of Chandigarh University students, University authorities claimed that no objectionable video was made of the girl students

CM Mann orders probe into Chandigarh University incident after protests

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday ordered a probe and expressed anguish over the incident at Chandigarh University following "rumours" that some objectionable videos of several female students were recorded by a woman student. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty, he said. Sad to hear about the unfortunate incident at Chandigarh University...our daughters are our honour...a high-level inquiry has been ordered into the incident...severe action will be taken against whoever is found guilty, said Mann in a tweet in Punjabi. I am in touch with the administration, said Mann while appealing to people not to believe rumours. Students of the private university in Punjab's Mohali held protest over "rumours" that some objectionable videos of several women students were recorded, said police. The protest took place past midnight at the Chandigarh University campus located on the Ludhiana-Chandigarh road. During preliminary investigation, it has come to light th

From awareness to engaging students: Punjab plans its stubble-burning fight

The Punjab government has prepared an elaborate plan involving a massive awareness drive, distribution of thousands of crop residue management machines and engaging students and religious places to fight paddy stubble burning during the upcoming harvest season. Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana after the harvest is one of the major reasons for an alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November every year. "We are launching a massive awareness drive in villages to motivate farmers not to burn paddy stubble. It will involve 2,800 camps in villages across the state to dissuade farmers from burning the crop residue," Punjab Agriculture Director Gurwinder Singh said. Punjab generates around 180 lakh tonnes of paddy straw annually. Farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue so that the field is ready for the next Rabi crop (wheat), given the short window between the two crops. With pollution level in Delhi shootin

Opposition slams Punjab AAP govt over promises, says faltered on key issues

The opposition parties on Friday slammed the ruling AAP government in Punjab on the completion of its six months, accusing it of "selling" dreams to people while failing to fulfil promises. The Congress took on the Bhagwant Mann government over its anti-corruption crusade, with Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa saying the helpline launched for it has remained shut for the past few weeks. Addressing separate press conferences here, Punjab BJP President Ashwani Sharma and Bajwa hit out at the AAP government over non-fulfilment of promises and law and order. Both Sharma and Bajwa said the AAP government's tall promises exist only in newspaper advertisements. On the other hand, Shiromani Akali Dal Sukhbir Singh Badal said the AAP government faltered on key issues. Referring to newspaper advertisements issued by the Punjab government on Friday, Bajwa said the Mann government immediately after coming to power sacked its own minister Vijay Singla for corruption on the basis of an a

Former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh to join BJP next week; plans party merger

Former chief minister and Punjab Lok Congress chief Amarinder Singh will join the BJP next week, party spokesperson said on Friday. Singh will also merge his newly formed party with the BJP. Singh (80) had floated the Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) last year after quitting the Congress following his unceremonious exit as chief minister. He will join the BJP in the presence of party president JP Nadda and other leaders in Delhi.

2 of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang arrested in Moosewala murder case

Two absconding members of Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang were arrested by the Punjab Police's Anti-Gangster Task Force, officials said on Friday. The task force nabbed the two gangsters, identified as Mandeep alias Tufan and Manpreet alias Mani Raiya, from Amritsar district, Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav said. The two were arrested in an intelligence-led operation, Yadav added. The duo was wanted in several cases of killings and robbery. Yadav said they were also wanted for links with the Sidhu Moosewala murder case. Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Mansa district on May 29. On Saturday, Punjab Police arrested the sixth and last shooter involved in the popular Punjabi singer's killing. In an 1,850-page chargesheet filed in a Mansa court last month, the Punjab Police had stated that gangster Goldy Brar was the mastermind behind the murder and had coordinated with Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, Lawrence Bishnoi, and others to execute the killing.

BJP tried to buy 10 AAP MLAs in Punjab for Rs 25 cr each: Arvind Kejriwal

Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP on Wednesday of attempting to "buy" 10 of his party MLAs in Punjab by offering them Rs 25 crore each. He also alleged that the saffron party is planning an "Operation Lotus" to poach MLAs from other parties in every state, either with the help of money or the fear of agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED). "We came to know on Tuesday that they (BJP) tried to buy MLAs in Punjab by offering them Rs 25 crore each. Ten of our MLAs were approached. They will address a press conference on Wednesday and expose the BJP," Kejriwal said. "They are buying MLAs and making governments fall, which is dangerous for democracy," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader told a press conference here. He alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is using public money to "buy" legislators due to which inflation is rising in the country. Kejriwal also hit out at the Congre

No plans to set up any auto component plant in Punjab, says BMW Group

BMW India and BMW India Financial Services are 100 per cent subsidiaries of the BMW Group and are headquartered in Gurgaon (National Capital Region), the BMW Group said

Army may shift Agnipath recruitment rallies from Punjab to other states

The letter from Army to state authorities states that if the local authorities do not provide all the facilities to recruiters, they may cancel the rallies or shift them to other states

Hot water: A chronology of Punjab, Haryana's Sutlej-Yamuna Link dispute

The 214-km long Satluj Yamuna Link is meant to share the Ravi and Beas rivers: an arrangement eluding solution for decades

BMW agrees to set up auto parts manufacturing plant in Punjab, says CM

Germany's luxury carmaker BMW has agreed to set up its auto part manufacturing unit in Punjab, said a state government release here on Tuesday. A decision to this effect was taken during the visit of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann at BMW headquarters in Germany on Tuesday, it said. Mann is currently on a visit to Germany to woo investors as his government promotes Punjab as the most preferred destination for doing business. During the visit, the CM showcased the state government's exemplary work to promote industry in the state after which BMW agreed to set up its auto component unit in the state, it said. An official release quoting Mann said this will be the second unit of the company in India as one such unit was already operational in Chennai. He said this will give a major boost to industrial growth of the state and open new employment avenues for the youth. The CM also invited BMW to collaborate with the state in the e-mobility sector. He was apprised that e-mobility

BSF spots Pakistani drone near International Border in Punjab; opens fire

A Pakistani drone was spotted near the International Border in Punjab's Gurdaspur early Monday morning

Bhagwant Mann approves draft Industrial and Business Development policy

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has approved the draft Industrial and Business Development policy, which aims to attract Rs 5 lakh crore investment in five years. Mann approved the draft policy on Saturday, an official statement said on Sunday. "With a vision to foster a progressive, innovative and sustainable industrial and business ecosystem in state by transforming it as the most preferred destination for doing business, the chief minister has approved the draft policy," it said. The policy will attract Rs 5 lakh crore of investment in five years, increase the share of secondary sector in GSDP to 30 per cent and tertiary sector to 62 per cent and increase the employability of the youth through skilling and increase employment opportunities in the state, the release said. Mann said that the policy will also facilitate the development of at least 15 industrial parks in the state, attract at least one anchor unit in various manufacturing and service industry sectors, provide po

One year after Jalalabad bomb blast, accused arrested from Bikaner

An accused wanted in the bomb blast case in Punjab's Jalalabad last year was arrested from Bikaner district of Rajasthan, officials said on Sunday. Gurcharan Singh alia Channa was arrested during a joint operation carried out by the slueths belonging to the Punjab and Rajasthan police on Friday. A bomb had exploded in Jalalabad town of Fazilka district in September last year, leaving one person dead. Police sources said Gurcharan had been working as a labourer in Bikaner for the last few months. Gurcharan carried a cash reward of Rs 2 lakh which had been announced by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) probing this case. The NIA had earlier this year filed a charge sheet against six Khalistani terrorists, including two Pakistanis, for their alleged involvement in the case. They were charged with sections of the Explosive Substances Act; the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act; the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code before a special NIA c

Poll promises in Punjab not fulfilled, now 'deceiving' HP youth: SAD on AAP

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday slammed the Aam Aadmi Party saying it was yet to fulfil its assurances given to the people of Punjab and was now trying to "deceive" the youths of Himachal Pradesh. The hill state goes to polls later this year and the AAP has promised an unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 per month and six lakh government jobs to youths there, if voted to power. "It seems the lies of Delhi, which were brought to Punjab, are now being taken to Himachal Pradesh," SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia said in a statement. He alleged that the AAP government led by Arvind Kejriwal in Delhi did not pay any unemployment allowance to its youths in eight years. "It has not done so in Punjab either. But now, it is making a promise to give an unemployment allowance of Rs 3,000 per month in Himachal to befool the people into voting for the party," he said. Majithia also sought to know from Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann how many jobs had been created in the six months

Stubble burning: Centre refuse cash incentive for farmers, says Punjab CM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said the Centre has turned down the state government's proposal of contributing to the cash incentive to farmers for not burning stubble. The state government had proposed to give Rs 2,500 per acre to paddy growers. It suggested that the Centre pay Rs 1,500 per acre while Rs 1,000 per acre will be borne by Punjab and Delhi governments. Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November as farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue before cultivating wheat and potato. Punjab generates around 20 million tons of paddy straw annually. In a video message, Punjab CM Mann on Saturday said, "We had written to the Centre that it should help us over the issue of stubble burning." "But the Centre has turned down our demand," said Mann. He, however, added, "It does not matter. If the central government is no

Moosewala murder case: Sixth shooter Deepak Mundi arrested

The Punjab Police on Saturday said it has arrested the sixth and last shooter allegedly involved in singer Sidhu Moosewala's murder. While the Delhi Police had earlier arrested three shooters, the Punjab Police had killed two others in an encounter. Deepak alias Mundi, who managed to hoodwink the police so far, was caught along with two of his associates from the West Bengal-Nepal border in a joint operation with central agencies, Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said. Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29. Police had identified six shooters who formed two modules to eliminate the singer. Of these, Priyavrat Fauji, Kashish and Ankit Sersa were arrested by the special cell of the Delhi Police while Manpreet Singh and Jagrup Singh Roopa were killed by the Punjab Police.

ED seizes cash after raids on Punjab AAP MLA, others in bank fraud case

The ED on Friday said it seized Rs 32 lakh cash, some mobile phones and hard drives after it raided the premises of AAP MLA in Punjab Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra and some others as part of a money laundering probe linked to an alleged bank loan fraud. The federal investigative agency said in a statement that the searches were carried out at the business and residential premises of "accused persons and their associates" including Tara Corporation Limited (renamed as Malaudh Agro Limited on September 24, 2018), its directors Jaswant Singh, Balwant Singh, Kulwant Singh, Tejinder Singh, their associates and other sister concerns at Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Khanna, Payal and Dhuri. Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra is a legislator from the Amargarh assembly constituency. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab unit had on Thursday called the raids a "political vendetta". The ED said "incriminating pieces of evidence were seized related to "bogus firms through which turnover of Tara Corporation Limited was

Mann to visit Germany from Sep 11-18 to push Punjab's industrial growth

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will visit Germany from September 11-18 to attract investments and strategic tie-ups. This will be Mann's first foreign visit after he took oath as the chief minister in March. "In order to give a major push to the industrial growth of the state, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will be undertaking a tour of Germany from September 11-18," an official statement said here on Friday evening. During the tour, the chief minister will be meeting business delegations and prominent companies to rope in investments and strategic tie-ups in key sectors like renewable energy, car manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and advanced agriculture practices, among others, it said. Mann will hold a meeting with companies like BMW, BayWa and others during his stay in Munich, Frankfort and Berlin. "This crucial visit of the Chief Minister is likely to immensely benefit the state in getting huge investments, technical know-how and expertise from German companies," said

Army, Air Force conduct joint exercise 'Gagan strike' in Punjab: Official

Army's Kharga Corps and the Air Force conducted joint exercise 'Gagan strike' in Punjab, a defence release said on Friday. The exercise comprised the deployment of attack helicopters as the aerial arm in support of ground forces carrying out drills, practising annihilation of enemy defences and deep penetration, it said. The exercise also showcased precision firepower of the attack helicopters in coordination with ground forces' mechanised columns. It validated the Apache 64E and Advanced Light Helicopter WSI as potent weapons delivery platforms. The force multiplier effect of combining these machines with ground operations has enhanced the forces' combat superiority, the release said. The joint exercise, spearheaded by General Officer Commanding, Khagra Corps, Lt Gen Pratik Sharma, was conducted over four days. Lt Gen Nav K Khanduri, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, witnessed the exercise. He exhorted the combat forces to continue to evolve such concepts and