Page 4 - Punjab

Faridkot court grants anticipatory bail to ex-Punjab CM Prakash Singh Badal

Faridkot District Court granted anticipatory bail to former Chief Minister of Punjab Prakash Singh Badal in the 2015 Kotkapura firing case.Additional District and Session Judge Rajeev Kalda in his court cancelled the bail plea of former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and former SSP Sukhmandar Singh Maan.The case dates back to October 14, 2015, when two people were killed when the police allegedly opened fire on a crowd of protestors at Kotkapura.

Not working to form next govt but for prosperity of next gen: Punjab CM

Mann said unlike the previous governments who did everything for forming the next government, his government is focusing largely on holistic growth of the next generation

India's tryst with counterinsurgency

Two of American academia's most perceptive writers explore varied aspects of India's internal security and argue its counterinsurgency posture is calibrated depending upon the nature of insurgency

LIVE: Some constantly questioning India's democracy, says PM in Karnataka

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Centre seeks action-taken report from Punjab over PM Modi's security breach

The Prime Minister was stuck on the flyover for 15-20 minutes. This was a major lapse in the security of the Prime Minister

Nod to selective harvest of large fish in Chandigarh's Sukhna Lake

Experts say the trouble started after 1985 when the administration stopped auctioning of selective fishing rights in the lake

25k EWS houses to be constructed across Punjab in phased manner: Minister

The Punjab government will construct 25,000 houses for people from economically weaker sections (EWS) in a phased manner, Housing and Urban Development Minister Aman Arora said on Saturday. Replying to a question in the state assembly here, the minister said nearly 15,000 dwelling units will be constructed in the first phase under the Punjab EWS Housing Policy. The sites where these units are to be constructed have been identified and the tendering process will be initiated soon, he said. Arora claimed that due to the negligence of previous governments, more than 14,000 unauthorised colonies mushroomed in the state, and EWS housing was ignored. "Now, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government is concerned about providing a roof to the economically weaker sections and notices have been issued by the Housing and Urban Development Department to promoters who have not handed over the possession of the land reserved for EWS housing as per the policy," he said. Sharing the .

BJP not well-wisher of Punjab, wasn't mentioned in Union budget: CM Mann

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Saturday accused the BJP of not being a well-wisher of Punjab, claiming the state did not find a mention in the Union budget and the Centre had imposed the rail-ship-rail route condition for transporting coal to power plant. Punjabis still remembered that the BJP-led Union Government "disrespected" the sacrifices of the brave warriors of Punjab by pulling out the state's tableau from the Republic Day parade, he said. "If the BJP really has some fondness for the state, then why was Punjab not even mentioned in the Union Budget," the chief minister asked. "How can a party that imposed conditions like the rail-ship-rail route to bring coal via Sri Lanka, be a well-wisher of Punjab? Is this the kind of love the BJP has for Punjab?" he asked. Punjab's ruling AAP had earlier slammed the Centre for asking the state government to lift coal using RSR mode, claiming that it would put an additional financial burden on the state power utility. Last month, Chief ..

Punjab Cabinet approves Excise policy 2023-24 with Rs 9,754 cr target

Punjab Cabinet Friday approved an excise policy for the financial year 2023-24 with a target to collect Rs 9,754 crore in revenue, a jump Rs 1,004 crore collected in the last fiscal year. In another decision, the Cabinet also approved 'Punjab State Minor Mineral Policy-2023' to provide sand and gravel at affordable rates to the people of the state. Decisions to this effect was taken by the Cabinet under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here, said an official release. In order to maintain stability of liquor trade and to continue reforms initiated last year, the retail sale licenses are being offered for renewal to the existing retail licensees, said the release. "The policy aims to collect Rs 9,754 crore during the year 2023-24, giving an increase of Rs 1,004 crore," it said. As per the policy, the value added tax charged on liquor sold by beer bars, hard bars, clubs and microbreweries has been reduced to 13 per cent, in addition to 10 per cent surcharge. On its .

Budget roadmap for new, progressive, prosperous Punjab: Bhagwant Mann

The Chief Minister said, as per the commitment of his government, the budget is the blueprint for restoring the pristine glory of the state

Indian Air Force airfield in Punjab sold off to pvt party in shocking fraud

In a shocking fraud committed in connivance with revenue officials, the Indian Air Force's emergency airfield (Jahaz Ground) in Ferozepur Cantonment has been sold off to private persons

Shriram General Insurance opens two women-only branches in the north

The firm plans to replicate the model nationwide, going forward

Punjab body GMADA fetches Rs 1,935 crore from e-auction of properties

The e-auction of various properties of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) has received a thumping response as the authority fetched Rs 1935.88 crore from the process, said an official statement here on Tuesday. It said the auction process, which commenced on February 17, concluded on Monday evening. Properties auctioned include group housing, commercial spaces, nursing home, IT industrial plots, Shop Cum Offices and booths situated in different projects of GMADA, such as IT City, Aerocity and other sectors of Mohali. Punjab Housing and Urban Development Minister Aman Arora said this was the highest-ever revenue earned by GMADA in a single e-auction. The minister congratulated all the successful bidders and said GMADA would provide every possible help to them in setting up their establishments. A total of six group housing sites were available for bidding, and all of these found buyers. The highest bid of Rs 325.59 crore was received for the group housing site no

Moosewala's parents sit outside Punjab Vidhan Sabha complex, seek justice

The parents of singer Sidhu Moosewala, who was shot dead last year, sat on a protest outside the Punjab Assembly complex here on Tuesday seeking justice for their son. Speaking to reporters, an emotional Balkaur Singh said the masterminds behind his son's murder were still at large. He said nothing concrete has been done by the investigation agencies and demanded a CBI probe into the incident. Carrying placards, Singh and his wife Charan Kaur sat outside the state assembly. They were accompanied by some senior Punjab Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa. Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, popularly known as Sidhu Moosewala, was shot dead in Punjab's Mansa district on May 29. "I have come here today as we have no other option. For the last 10 months, nothing concrete has been done. Enough time has been given to police and the administration to act. "But the reality is the (murder) case is being suppressed. Crucial witnesses are being eliminated and nothing is goi

No person involved in looting public money will be spared: Punjab CM

Mann assured the House that nothing can deter him from taking stringent action against the corrupt leaders

State scan: Punjab may be seeing a resurgence in extremist Sikh politics

Politicians warn that admiring the problem instead of taking steps to solve it could worsen the situation

CBI should also probe Punjab's excise policy, says BJP's Tarun Chugh

Chugh said the beneficiaries of Punjab's excise policy have alleged connections in Delhi and Punjab has been losing a big chunk of revenue ever since the AAP govt came to power in the state last year

Cotton growers to get water from April, says Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday reviewed the preparedness of the state government to supply canal water to cotton cultivators from April 1. Chairing a meeting of the irrigation department here, the chief minister said from April 1, canal water has to be made available for cotton crop cultivation to farmers, according to an official release. He said the water supply must be ensured in the cotton belt of the state. Mann asked the officers to ensure uninterrupted and adequate canal water supply at the tail ends to ensure sufficient water supply for the cotton crop. Police should be deputed to check stealing of canal water so as to avoid any sort of inconvenience to the farmers, he said. Mann also asked the officers to ensure proper cleaning and desilting of the entire canal system.

BJP demanding guv's rule in state, these leaders have been anti-Punjab: CM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Monday accused BJP leaders, including former chief minister Amarinder Singh, of demanding "governor's rule" in the state and said that people know that these leaders have always been "anti-Punjab". The Mann-led AAP government has been under fire from the opposition which has been alleging a deteriorating law-and-order situation in the state. The chief minister's also involved in a tussle with Governor Banwarilal Purohit. It worsened last week with the governor indicating that he is in no hurry to summon the Assembly's Budget session, and reminding the chief minister about his "derogatory response" to a letter from the Raj Bhavan. Purohit's letter to Chief Minister Mann had come two days after the Punjab Cabinet decided to call the assembly session from March 3 and requested the governor to summon the House. "Capt Amarinder Singh, Kewal Dhillon, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Fateh Jang Bajwa, Raj Kumar Verka, Gurpreet Kangar, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi... all

Just a few people funded by Pakistan: CM Bhagwant Mann on Ajnala clashes

The Punjab chief minister said "1,000 people" do not represent Punjab, adding that they were funded by Pakistan in a bid to disturb peace in the state