Shiromani Akali Dal

Akali Dal exposes Rs 200-crore liquor scam in Punjab, demands CBI probe

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday exposed a Rs 200-crore liquor scam in the Excise Department in Punjab and demanded a CBI probe into the fraud

SAD chief seeks Rs 50,000 per acre for crop loss due to inclement weather

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal Tuesday sought immediate release of compensation of Rs 50,000 per acre to farmers whose wheat crop was destroyed by untimely rain and hailstorms. The complete destruction of the wheat crop in nearly half of the state is there for all to see. It has also been corroborated by agricultural experts, said Badal in a statement here. What was he (Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann) waiting for? Badal asked. Untimely rains, hailstorm and high-velocity winds have caused damage to wheat and other crops in many areas of Punjab. Badal said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had promised to give compensation immediately after crop damage on the 'Delhi Model' and should keep its promise instead of delaying the assessment procedure to deny relief to farmers as it had done last year also. Farmers have not received compensation for damage done to wheat and cotton crops last year which should also be given immediately, he added. Badal said the SAD wi

Amritpal fallout: Akali Dal takes on AAP; sets up hotlines to provide aid

Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the party is ready to provide legal assistance to all the Sikh youth who are arrested by Punjab Police in their ongoing search hunt

AAP has pushed back Punjab into age of darkness: Sukhbir Singh Badal

SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday accused the AAP government in Punjab of pushing the state back into the "age of darkness by bankrupting" its power utility and refusing to give incentives to the industrial sector. Addressing a press conference here, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government had not generated a single unit of power during its tenure. "It is simultaneously not paying subsidy due to PSPCL (Punjab State Power Corporation Limited) which is bankrupting the power utility," he said. Noting that part of the power needs of the state were being served by two thermal plants in Rajpura and Talwandi Sabo, he said, "These thermal plants supply power to the state at Rs 2.80 per unit. The shortfall in demand is being filled by purchasing power at Rs 8 to 10 per unit." "The situation would get worse in the summer. This will threaten paddy crop besides dealing a crippling blow to the industrial sector," Badal said. The SAD leader clai

Nitish Kumar calls for Congress-comprised 'main front' to oust BJP

At the rally, Nitish Kumar even called for the inclusion of the Congress as the main Opposition party. However, the rally organiser INLD and its ally SAD do not share cordial relations with Congress

Oppn says Punjab CM deplaned at Franfkurt for being 'drunk'; AAP denies

The Opposition on Monday targeted Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, alleging that he was deplaned from a Delhi-bound flight at the Frankfurt airport as he was drunk, a charge denied by the ruling AAP as baseless. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that Mann was deplaned from Lufthansa flight because of being in an inebriated state. Disturbing media reports quoting co-passengers say Pb CM @BhagwantMann was deplaned from Lufthansa flight as he was too drunk to walk. And it led to a 4-hour flight delay. He missed AAP's national convention. These reports have embarrassed & shamed Punjabis all over the globe, he tweeted. However, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang called the allegations baseless and bogus, and accused the rival parties of indulging in a negative propaganda to defame the chief minister. The allegations are baseless, bogus and false, Kang said and alleged that the opposition parties were spreading canards against the

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

2015 Kotkapura firing: SAD chief Sukhbir Badal appears before Punjab Police

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday appeared before a Punjab Police special investigation team (SIT) probing the 2015 Kotkapura police firing case. Led by Additional Director General of Police L K Yadav, the SIT had summoned Badal, who was then the deputy chief minister and home minister of the state. Earlier, the SIT had summoned Badal on August 30, but the SAD chief did not appear before it. His party had said that Badal had not been served summons. On September 6, Badal was questioned by another SIT investigating the 2015 Behbal Kalan police firing incident. The case relates to the theft of a 'bir' (copy) of the Guru Granth Sahib, putting up handwritten sacrilegious posters, and torn pages of the holy book being found scattered at Bargari in Faridkot in 2015. These incidents had triggered protests, and two people, Gurjeet Singh and Krishan Bhagwan Singh, were killed in Behbal Kalan and a few were injured at Kotkapura in Faridkot in police firing. B

SAD chief Badal asks govt to review export ban on broken rice, remove duty

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday asked the Centre to review ban on the export of broken rice and also remove duty imposed on the export of non-basmati rice, saying the move will deprive farmers of reaping the benefits of high global prices of food grains. In a statement here, Badal said the export ban as well as 20 per cent duty on the export of non-basmati rice were anti-farmer steps and should be addressed immediately. The Centre recently imposed 20 per cent export duty on non-basmati rice and also banned the export of broken rice with an aim to increase domestic availability. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief said earlier farmers had been denied the benefits of an increase in wheat prices globally with the central government banning wheat export in May. Farmers then desperately needed higher prices to offset the loss in yield because of the high presence of shrivelled grain due to early onset of heat wave. Now, when farmers stand a chance of reaping the benefits of high

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

AAP govt failed to protect minorities in Punjab: SAD leader Majithia

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Saturday said the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government has allegedly failed to protect the minorities and maintain peace and law and order in Punjab. Referring to the incident of vandalism of a church in Tarn Taran district, Majithia said ensuring law and order is the prime responsibility of the government, but it has continuously failed on this front. He said such unfortunate incidents were occurring because the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government was being "remote-controlled from Delhi". Asserting that the Sikhism always accorded due respect to people of all faiths, Majithia said, "The teachings of 'Guru Sahiban' have always taught us love, respect and tolerance for everyone. It is our duty to keep every minority in Punjab safe and secure. Punjabis will never tolerate any harm coming to them." Four masked men had broken into the church in Tarn Taran, vandalised it and fled after setting the pastor's car on fire on ...

One family, one ticket for SAD; only two terms in row for president

The Shiromani Akali Dal on Friday announced sweeping organisational reforms, saying it will now follow the one family, one ticket principle at elections and ensure that half of its contestants are below 50. The planned changes unveiled by party president Sukhbir Singh Badal are apparently triggered by the party's bad showing in the last Punjab Assembly polls and rumblings against the leadership of the Badals. He said if the SAD comes to power in the next elections, the chairmanships of boards at the state and district levels would go to party workers. Family members of MPs and MLAs would not be considered for these posts, he said. He said the party president would be eligible to hold office for two terms of five years each, and then have to take a break of one term. This will lead to induction of fresh leadership at the very top, he added. A party leader, however, clarified that the new measures would come into affect only when the SAD constitution is formally amended. Sukhbir Bad

Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal demand probe into Punjab's excise policy

The opposition Congress and SAD on Saturday demanded a probe into Punjab's excise policy, alleging it was a "sellout" and the state was "defrauded" like in Delhi where its liquor policy is under the CBI scanner. The demand in AAP-ruled Punjab came a day after CBI carried out searches at 31 places which included premises related to Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia as well as some bureaucrats and businessmen over alleged irregularities in Delhi Excise policy 2021-22. Congress Legislative Party leader in Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa along with other party leaders said they will meet the governor seeking a probe into the excise policy in Punjab. "Like Delhi, the liquor policy in Punjab is a sellout in which the AAP leaders in connivance with some senior officials have defrauded the state of thousands of crores of rupees, besides rendering hundreds of Punjabi traders jobless," Bajwa alleged. He also said the Congress will seek an NIA probe into "illegal sand mining going

CBI raids: Skeletons in AAP cupboard in Punjab as well, says SAD's Majithia

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Friday said skeletons in AAP closets will tumble out, lashing out at the party as Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia faced a CBI raid. Majithia linked the Delhi government's now abandoned excise policy to the one being followed in Punjab, which too has an Aam Aadmi Party government. Skeletons are likely to tumble out of cupboards as the flawed monopolistic Delhi excise policy was implemented in Punjab also, he told reporters at Baba Bakala, without elaborating. Majithia also appealed to the Centre for the release of the Sikh prisoners who are lodged in jails even after the expiry of their term. He claimed the AAP government in Punjab had not fulfilled its election promises. Punjabis were first betrayed by the Congress. Now the AAP government is also following in their footsteps and is refusing to implement its promise to give Rs 1,000 per month to all women and regularize contractual employees, besides providing jobs to t

SAD MLA boycotts presidential poll, cites 'sentiments of Sikh community'

The Dakha MLA said he has no opposition to candidature of Murmu. But when the party decided to vote for the BJP candidate, I was not consulted. Even the Sikh community was also not consulted, he said.

Former Punjab speaker, SAD leader Nirmal Singh Kahlon passes away at 79

Former Punjab Speaker and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Nirmal Singh Kahlon passed away in his sleep early Saturday. He was 79

Lessons from Punjab: The perils of fanaticism

The book teaches us how a hegemonic state, unchecked religious fanaticism, political arrogance and incompetence, can create a perfect storm

Newly-elected Sangrur MP Simranjit Singh Mann tests Covid positive

After the 77-year-old leader tested positive for the viral disease, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spoke to his family members and promised the best possible medical care.

Simranjit Mann: Khalistan advocate back in Parliament after two decades

His assertion proved prophetic on Sunday as he wrested the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat from the Aam Aadmi Party -- his first electoral victory in 23 years

Sangrur bypoll: SAD (A) candidate Simranjit Mann inching towards victory

SAD (Amritsar) Simranjit Singh Mann appears to be inching towards victory from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, having gained a lead of over 7,000 votes over his nearest AAP rival Gurmail Singh