Akshay Kumar condoles Jaswinder Bhallas demise
Famous Punjabi actor and comedian Jaswinder Bhalla, fondly remembered as the comedy king of Punjab, passed away on Friday at the age of 65. He was admitted to Fortis Hospital in Mohali, where he breathed his last in the early hours. The news of Jaswinder Bhallas demise left the entertainment industry in shock. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar took to Twitter to express his grief.
Will Shreyas Iyer replace Rohit Sharma as India's ODI captain? BCCI secretary drops bombshell
The choice to exclude Shreyas Iyer from the Asia Cup squad faced backlash from some fans. Iyer, who recently guided Punjab Kings to the IPL 2025 final, had an outstanding performance with his new team.
Actually Thought He Was Going To Be Captain, Says Haddin On Iyers Omission For Asia Cup
Indian Premier League: Former Australia wicketkeeper-batter Brad Haddin said he was surprised by Shreyas Iyers exclusion from Indias squad for the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, adding that he even expected the right-handed batter to be named as the sides captain. Iyer, who has not featured in T20Is for India since December 2023, was not included in the Suryakumar Yadav-led 15-member Asia Cup squad announced on Tuesday, nor named in the five stand-by players list. Joining the list of former players left surprised by Iyers omission is Haddin, who saw him from close quarters as Punjab Kings assistant coach in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. Well, one, leadership qualities. Two, the style of player he is under pressure. He's someone who everyone plays better when he's in the team. I have no idea. I first thought when I was reading it that he was injured, but he's not. So it's a strange decision for me because he brings so much to the game. I actually thought he was going to be captain, said Haddin in a video posted on Willow Talks social media accounts on Friday. Iyer, 30, had scored 604 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 175 and an average of 50.33 in IPL 2025. He even captained Punjab Kings to a runners-up finish in the competition, just after captaining his previous franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, to the IPL 2024 trophy. So it's a strange decision for me because he brings so much to the game. I actually thought he was going to be captain, said Haddin in a video posted on Willow Talks social media accounts on Friday. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score West Zone, led by Indias seam-bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur, will play their first match of the Duleep Trophy in the semi-final scheduled for September 4, with their opponents to be the winner of the quarter-final clash between Central Zone and North East Zone. Article Source: IANS
Confusion persists over ban on 12 pesticides in Punjab, Basmati exporters want permanent solution
Basmati exporters in Punjab seek permanent solution to pesticide issue amid confusion over HC order
KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the opposition INDIA bloc, including the TMC, of shielding corruption and resisting legislative moves aimed at ensuring probity in public life. Addressing a rally here, Modi made indirect references to the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced in Parliament earlier this week, which seeks to bar prime ministers, chief ministers, and ministers from holding office if they remain in jail for 30 days or more. Citing the provisions of the proposed law, the PM said, We decided to bring in a law that provides for dismissing a corrupt chief minister, or even the prime minister, if he or she spends 30 days in jail. But when we brought in a stringent law, the TMC, the Congress started protesting. They are angry because they are scared of facing punishment for their own sins. In an apparent dig at former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Modi said, It is a shame that even a chief minister, after going to jail, has been running government from there. Targeting the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Bengal, the PM said, Two TMC ministers, even after going to jail on corruption charges, were not willing to give up their posts. He was referring to former state education minister Partha Chatterjee, arrested in connection with the teachers recruitment scam, and Jyoti Priya Mallick, arrested in the ration distribution scam. Those who are arrested on corruption charges, how can they be part of the government and remain in their posts? Modi will not allow this, the PM thundered. Defending his governments move, Modi said the new Bill was necessary to plug glaring loopholes in the system. Look at the situation, nowadays some people have stooped so low that they are trying to run the government from jail, Modi added. Highlighting his governments records, the Prime Minister said, For the past 11 years, the country has been waging a determined battle against corruption. In this regard, we have taken a significant step forward by introducing an anti-corruption Bill in the Lok Sabha. Under existing laws, if a government employee is caught and incarcerated without securing bail within 50 hours, they are automatically suspended from their position. However, no such provisions exist for a chief minister, a prime minister, or a minister. This loophole has allowed some leaders to stoop so low that they attempt to govern from behind bars. Of the 30 chief ministers in the country, 12 of them, or 40 percent, declared criminal cases against themselves, according to a new report by poll rights body ADR. Telangana CM Revanth Reddy has declared 89 cases against him, the highest, followed by Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin, who declared 47. Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu declared 19, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah declared 13, and Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren declared five cases. Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Sukhvinder Singh declared four cases each, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan declared two, and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann declared one case. According to the report by the Association for Democratic Reforms, 10, or 33 per cent, of the chief ministers have declared serious criminal cases, including cases related to attempt to murder, kidnapping, bribery, and criminal intimidation against them. The ADR said it analysed the self-sworn affidavits of all 30 sitting chief ministers in state Assemblies and Union Territories. This data is from affidavits they filed prior to contesting their last elections.
UK MP Dhesi meets NRI affairs minister, discusses issues affecting overseas Punjabis
Bajwa accuses AAP of pushing Punjab towards bankruptcy
HC seeks Centre, Punjab response on plea over release of Bandi Singhs
Punjab BJP outreach camp row: Sunil Jakhar detained by police, later released
CHANDIGARH: State BJP President Sunil Jakhar was on Friday detained by the Punjab Police at Balluana in the border district of Fazilka after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government ordered a halt to BJPs outreach campaign BJP De Sewadar, Aa Gaye Tuhade Dwar in Abohar. He was however released in the evening. After being released, Jakhar termed it a lack day. He said that the government, under Bhagwant Manns leadership, cannot stop him from speaking for the people through police repression. He stated that he is not intimidated by these actions of the government. Strongly condemning attempts to stop the camps organized by the Bharatiya Janata Party, he said that this action of the government is completely undemocratic and illegal. He said that the party will approach the High Court and, under no circumstances, the awareness camps will stop. BJP De Sewadar, Aa Gaye Tuhade Dwar campaign was launched by the party on May 20 in 39 constituencies with a plan to expand it to 50 constituencies in the next few days. The campaign was launched with an aim to reach out to 1.57 lakh people enrolled in various union government schemes such as Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Ayushman Bharat (Health Insurance Scheme) and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Girl Child Support Programme) scheme. The aim was also to enroll more people under these schemes. Along with Sunil Jakhar, his nephew and Congress MLA from Abohar, Sandeep Jakhar and former minister Surjit Kumar Jiyani were also taken into preventive custody by the police under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police of Fazilka Gurmeet Singh and Sub Divisional Magistrate Krishan Pal Rajput. Police on Thursday also detained several BJP functionaries to thwart their plan to hold the awareness camps. Former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh strongly condemned the detention of BJP workers across the state. He said that instead of strengthening law and order and trying to curb the rampant drug trade and rising crime rate in the state, the government is misusing its police force. A Punjab Police spokesperson claimed that in last 24 hours, the police has received complaints that some people, claiming to be from a particular political party, are not only collecting personal data of individuals, but are also collecting money from people in the form of commissions to get their work done from the government. He added that some citizens have also complained that they had given their bank account numbers to the persons who contacted them and that their bank accounts have been emptied of all money subsequently. We urge the public to stay away from such anti-social elements and not to give any personal data to anyone as the same could be misused, the spokesperson said.
A former Indian cricketer has claimed that head coach Gautam Gambhir is showing favoritism after Shreyas Iyer was omitted from the 2025 Asia Cup team. Even though Iyer scored more than 600 runs and guided Punjab Kings to the IPL final, he was overlooked, sparking backlash against Gambhir.
Psychiatrists' association asks Punjab to replace de-addiction SOPs with IPS guidelines
Veteran Punjabi actor-comedian Jaswinder Bhalla dies at 65
Jaswinder Bhalla, a well-known Punjabi actor and comedian, has died at 65. He passed away on Friday around 4:00am at Fortis Hospital in Mohali.
ShiromAkali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal also wrote a note on X.
Politics among reasons why justice eluded Dabholkar, Malegaon victims: Borwankar
She referred to an article written by former Mumbai Police Commissioner Julio Ribeiro in an English daily in Punjab, in which he mentioned that ex-Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) chief Hemant Karkare had told him he was facing political pressure from a Delhi-based leader in the Malegaon blast case
Punjabi stars pay tribute to Jaswinder Bhalla
Pollywood mourns the loss of Jaswinder Bhalla. The actor died at Fortis Hospital, Mohali. Gippy Grewal and Neeru Bajwa expressed their grief. They shared heartfelt tributes on social media. Jaswinder Bhalla suffered a brain stroke. He was admitted to the hospital. His last rites will be held in Mohali. The Punjabi entertainment industry remembers him fondly. His legacy will continue.
Jaswinder Bhalla Death Reason: Punjabi Star Suffered A Brain Stroke, Lost A Lot Of Blood
Jaswinder Bhalla's last rites will be held on August 23 at noon at the Balongi cremation ground in Mohali.
Iconic roles of late Jaswinder Bhalla
Veteran Punjabi comedian and actor Jaswinder Bhalla has sadly passed away at the age of 65, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the film industry. Bhalla, known for his comedic timing and memorable dialogues, began his career in 1988 and starred in numerous popular films like 'Carry On Jatta' and 'Jatt and Juliet'.
Bhagwant Mann pays tribute to Jaswinder Bhalla
The Punjabi film industry has lost one of its most beloved comedians and actors, Jaswinder Bhalla, who passed away in Mohali on Friday morning at the age of 65.
US halts work visas for foreign truck drivers
CHANDIGARH: The United States has decided to stop issuing work visas for commercial truck drivers after a deadly crash, involving an Indian driver staying illegally in the country, drew national attention. This move which might impact Indian drivers who were hoping to work in the US transportation industry. Announcing this move, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X, `` Effective immediately we are pausing all issuance of worker visas for commercial truck drivers. The increasing number of foreign drivers operating large tractor-trailer trucks on US roads is endangering American lives and undercutting the livelihoods of American truckers. A few days back a Punjabi-origin truck driver was charged with killing three people on a highway in Turnpike of Florida, while making an illegal U-turn and collided with a passenger van. According to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Harjinder Singh, who is from India, allegedly entered the United States illegally from Mexico and failed an English examination after the crash. The police said he attempted to make an illegal U-turn through an Official Use Only access point blocking traffic and causing the fatal crash that resulted in the deaths of three people. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has launched an investigation into a crash that killed three people. In April, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order mandating that commercial truck drivers in the US are proficient in Englsih. Recently, US Citizenship and Immigration Services also wrote on X,`` Protecting the integrity of our lawful immigration system to make America safe again is our top priority. Weve restored our robust screening and vetting capabilities so we can detect aliens with harmful intent and deter them from trying to enter the U.S. Immigration fraud is a crime we take seriously. Aliens who use false information or deceitful practices to unfairly obtain immigration advantages will face serious consequences.
Brain stroke reported as Jaswinder Bhalla's cause of death
The Punjabi entertainment industry mourns the loss of Jaswinder Bhalla, the beloved actor-comedian known for his iconic role as Advocate Dhillon in the 'Carry On Jatta' franchise. He passed away at the age of 65 in Mohali's Fortis Hospital due to complications from a brain stroke.
Punjabi Comedian, Carry On Jatta Actor Jaswinder Bhalla Dies At 65
Bhalla acted in films like Gaddi Chaldi Hai Chhalla Maarke, Carry On Jatta, Jind Jaan, and Band Baaje
When a Jaswinder Bhalla's fan did not want a selfie, but surprised the comedian with humble words
Jaswinder Bhalla, the beloved Punjabi actor and comedian, passed away on August 22, 2025, at the age of 65. Known for his humility, a touching incident at the Golden Temple in 2019 highlighted his down-to-earth nature, where a fan appreciated him for being a common man.
The Punjab entertainment industry mourns the loss of Jaswinder Bhalla, who passed away at 65. An Instagram post recounting his humble visit to Darbar Sahib has gone viral, where he connected with fans, including a little girl he took a photo with. His down-to-earth nature and genuine love for people made him a beloved figure.
Punjabi actor-comedian Jaswinder Bhalla, star of Carry on Jatta, passes away at 65
Veteran Punjabi actor and comedian Jaswinder Bhalla passed away at the age of 65 in a private hospital in Mohali on Friday morning after a brief illness. Bhalla, a celebrated figure in Punjabi cinema, was known for his impeccable comic timing and memorable roles in films like Carry on Jatta and Jatt & Juliet 2.
Jaswinder Bhalla, veteran Punjabi comedy star, passes away at 65
Jaswinder Bhalla, one of the biggest comedians of the Punjabi film industry, passed away at 65, leaving millions of his fans heartbroken.
Jaswinder Bhalla News: Jaswinder Bhalla, the celebrated Punjabi comedian who breathed his last on August 22, was equally esteemed as a professor of agricultural science. He taught at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, holding a PhD in the field. Bhalla masterfully juggled his academic responsibilities with a thriving entertainment career, marked by iconic characters and roles in popular Punjabi films.
Jaswinder Bhalla, popular Punjabi comedian known for Advocate Dhillon, passes away
Jaswinder Bhalla death news: The Punjabi entertainment world is in mourning following the death of comedian Jaswinder Bhalla, who passed away at Fortis Hospital, Mohali, at the age of 65. Bhalla, a significant figure in Punjabi cinema known for his comic roles, will be cremated on August 23 at Balongi cremation ground.
Rayat Bahra University offers job-oriented courses for students
Excelsior Correspondent SRINAGAR, Aug 21: Rayat Bahra Professional University, located in Mohali, Punjab, today announced plans to attract more students from Jammu and Kashmir by offering industry-driven and job-oriented courses aimed at improving employment prospects. Chancellor Gurvinder Singh Bahra, who also chairs the Rayat Bahra Group, told reporters in Srinagar that the university is committed to producing employment-ready graduates with skills in demand across industries. Professional courses at Rayat Bahra are designed to give students a competitive edge, ensuring they [] The post Rayat Bahra University offers job-oriented courses for students appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Punjab demands Rs 60,000cr from Centre, cites pending GST, rural fund, other dues
Punjab Finance Minister Cheema criticises Centres GST rate rationalisation, terms it irresponsible
Mr. Cheema said that since the implementation of GST in 2017, Punjab has suffered a total financial loss of 1,11,045 crore
Your time has come: Punjabi singer Mankirt Aulakh gets fresh death threat
Punjab slams Centre over GST losses, demands release of Rs 50,000 crore dues
CHANDIGARH: The AAP-led Punjab government on Thursday slammed the BJP-led Centre after the two-day GST GoM meeting, demanding immediate release of pending Rs 50,000 crore dues while accusing the GST regime of causing massive revenue losses to states. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said GST has inflicted a Rs 1.11 lakh crore loss on the state and alleged that stopping the compensation cess was aimed at weakening state economies, forcing them to beg with folded hands before the Centre. Cheema stressed that Punjab would not have suffered such massive revenue losses had it not joined the One Nation-One Tax scheme. With the compensation cess now scrapped, he called out the BJP government for deliberately wrecking state economies to make them beg before the Centre. He said, On August 2021, the GST Group of Ministers met continuously for two days. On Wednesday, the meeting was on life and health insurance. In the evening, a meeting was held on compensation cess. The Chairman told us that today the meeting was on rate rationalisation, and that all members of the compensation cess would participate. Therefore, we also participated in Thursdays meeting. He continued, GST came in 2017. In the past eight years, there have been 27 amendments in GST, with exemptions given to different sectors. Fifteen times the GST rates of various goods were reduced. This practice has been continuing in the GST Council for the last eight years, and for the past three years I have been witnessing it myself. Highlighting the Prime Ministers announcement, Cheema added, The Prime Minister declared that there would be two GST slabs - one at 5 per cent and another at 12 per cent - and everyone would celebrate Diwali. But after GST came, who will compensate for the loss suffered by Punjab and other states? Who will pay for this damage? One Nation, One Tax was the scheme of the central government, and all states, including Punjab gave their consent. Everyone agreed that uniform tax rates should prevail across the country so that no state could impose higher or lower taxes on its citizens. But this formula has inflicted a huge loss on Punjab. Emphasising Punjabs loss, he said, In all three meetings of the GST Group of Ministers, I placed Punjabs position. So far Punjab has lost Rs 1,11,045 crore. Punjab suffered heavy damage after the GST system was introduced. Out of this, the central government has given Rs 60,000 crore in compensation, but still Rs 50,000 crore remains with the central government. Who will pay this money? Since GST was introduced, the BJPs central government has kept making one amendment after another, but never reached a conclusion. Taxpayers of the country are being harassed continuously. The system of the country is being destroyed. Several states are continuously losing revenue due to the GST system. The central government has backed away from making up for this loss, he added. Detailing the latest discussions, Cheema said, In Thursdays meeting on compensation cess, the government said that the loans taken to pay states under compensation cess would be fully repaid by October. On harmful goods (sin goods), a special tax was imposed. The states suffering losses in its collection were being compensated. But now the report of the rate rationalisation committee shows that even the tax slab on sin goods is being reduced. On revenue withheld, he shared, Punjab has suffered a loss of Rs 50,000 crore in revenue. Who will compensate for this? Will the central government make up for this loss? In addition, the central government has withheld more than Rs 8,000 crore of Punjabs RDF. Two days ago, another Rs 1,000 crore under the Prime Minister Road Scheme was also stopped. In this way, nearly Rs 60,000 crore is pending with the central government against Punjab. This includes the Rs 50,000 crore revenue loss after GST. The central government must immediately release Rs 60,000 crore. He asserted that if Punjab had not joined the One Nation-One Tax scheme, it would have received much more revenue. We honoured the central governments decision and stood with the country, but Punjab suffered for it. Along with Punjab, many other states also suffered. Cheema said, After GST was implemented, the central government had said that states would receive 14 per cent growth compensation under the compensation cess. Punjabs total revenue was Rs 2,37,530 crore. But under GST, Punjab received only Rs 1,26,485 crore. Thus Punjab has lost Rs 1,11,045 crore. Out of this, the central government gave only Rs 60,000 crore, and over Rs 50,000 crore is still with them. The central government had promised that any state suffering losses would be compensated. But now even the money that states were supposed to get under the compensation cess has been stopped. This means the central government wants to break the economies of state governments. The BJPs hidden agenda is to destroy the economies of the states. This is the biggest attack on the federal structure. The BJP government wants to curtail the rights of the states. When states do not have funds, they will be forced to beg the Centre for money, he emphasised. Raising concern over GST rate cuts, Cheema said, In the rate rationalisation committee meeting, we demanded that the Centre clarify who will compensate for the revenue loss to states caused by reduction of GST rates. The central government has increased some rates while decreasing others. For example, on unprocessed tobacco there was 9098 per cent tax, but now the proposal is to bring it down to 40 per cent. Tobacco is harmful to health, and higher tax was levied to discourage addiction. Tax reduction will increase tobacco consumption. On manufactured tobacco, the tax was 39318 per cent, but it too has been brought down to 40 per cent. Pan masala had 88 per cent tax, now reduced to 40 per cent. Cigarettes had 3364 per cent tax, now also cut to 40 per cent. Bidi had 28 per cent tax, now reduced to 18 per cent. We are not against reduction of GST rates, but the states losses must be compensated, he concluded.
Punjab Police integrates NHAI, cyber crime helplines with Unified Emergency Response System
CHANDIGARH: In a move to make emergency services more accessible and efficient, the Punjab Police has integrated the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Helpline 1033 and the Cyber Crime Helpline 1930 with the Dial 112 Punjab's Unified Emergency Response System. This integration now allows citizens to simply dial 112 to report highway accidents, breakdowns, hazards, as well as financial frauds and cybercrimes. This initiative will bring multiple critical services under a single-window platform, ensuring quicker and easier access to support. Earlier, citizens had to call a specific helpline number to report fraud or road accidents, making it difficult for them to memorise different helpline numbers. Till now, the 112 helpline has been used only to report different crimes happening across the state. Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla, who has been directly supervising the Dial 112 said, Now, whether you are a road user in distress on a highway or a victim of cyber fraud, a single call to 112 is all it takes. Your case will be instantly transferred between systems for faster action, eliminating duplication and cutting delays. He elaborated that all highway distress calls dialling either 112 or 1033 are now linked in real-time to both police resources and NHAI, ensuring prompt action. Furthermore, victims of cybercrime can dial 112 or 1930, where their complaints are directly registered into the National Cybercrime Portal by specially trained cyber dispatchers stationed at the Dial 112 Control Room. Terming Dial 112 as the nerve centre of Punjab's emergency response, Shukla said this integration has transformed it into a truly unified platform covering Police, Fire, Ambulance, Disaster, Highway Safety, and Cybercrime under one roof. He highlighted that the system is backed by 257 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) and 144 dedicated Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF) vehicles deployed across the state and on highways for rapid intervention. Under the direct supervision of DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav, we are committed to continuously strengthening Dial 112 with next-generation technology and integration. This step marks a major leap in enhancing citizen access to critical services and reducing response times, especially on highways and in cybercrime cases, he added. Shukla said that the Punjab Government has placed the highest priority on this service, sanctioning a budget of Rs100 crore for new ERVs and Rs 53 crore for a dedicated Dial 112 headquarters building, paving the way for one of the country's most advanced and citizen-focused emergency response systems.
CHANDIGARH: The water level in the Beas and Satluj rivers is rising as controlled water is being released from Bhakra and Pong Dams after incessant rains in Himachal Pradesh, creating a flood-like situation in many districts of Punjab. The state government has ordered a special girdawari to compensate for crop damage and other losses caused by the rising river waters. Sensing the gravity of the situation, the government has dispatched its cabinet ministers to flood-affected areas. Punjab Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian announced that the Punjab Government has issued orders for a special girdawari to compensate for crop damage and other losses caused by rising water levels in rivers. During his visit to the flood-affected villages of Baupur Jadeed and Sangra in Sultanpur Lodhi, where he met with affected families, Mundian informed that the Mann government has initiated the compensation process for crop losses. He said that Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to complete the special girdawari as soon as water levels recede and submit their reports promptly, so that appropriate compensation can be provided to affected people. He also disclosed that relief operations in the flood-affected districts of Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Fazilka are being monitored by a ministerial committee. The cabinet ministers are visiting various districts to share the grief of affected people while continuously overseeing relief operations. Mundian further said that Rs 2 crore has been released for relief operations in Kapurthala district to ensure that distribution of rations, drinking water, medicines and livestock healthcare services continue for affected people. Responding to a query, Mundian said that under flood prevention measures, a special campaign will be launched across Punjab to further strengthen Dhussi and advance bundhs, while stating that Dhussi bundhs are completely secure at present. Based on public demand, he also asked to deploy additional SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) teams to ensure relief operations face no obstacles. He distributed dry rations, medicines and drinking water to affected people. Mundian instructed district administrative officers to ensure continuous fogging in affected areas. Besides this, health department teams should conduct regular health checkups while raising awareness among people about skin diseases and water-borne disease prevention. Stressing special attention to livestock healthcare, he ordered veterinary doctors to visit affected villages and habitats to examine livestock. Meanwhile, cabinet minister Barinder Kumar Goyal reviewed the flood situation in Ferozepur and Tarn Taran, and Laljit Bhullar distributed relief materials to flood-affected people in Patti. Dr Balbir Singh held a meeting with district officials and IMA office-bearers in Kapurthala. An emergency meeting of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) was convened yesterday evening to assess the flood situation in Punjab. During the meeting, a representative from the Himachal Pradesh government urged the BBMB not to restrict the release of water into the Beas, citing flooding in their areas. From today, 75,000 cusecs of water have started to be released in a controlled manner from Pong Dam, where inflows had reached approximately 1 lakh cusecs yesterday. As the water level in the Bhakra Dam touched 1666.32 feet on Wednesday, controlled release was again made today. Controlled release of water is being done from Pong Dam for nearly a week, and from Bhakra Dam for the past two days. These releases have impacted several villages across Sultanpur Lodhi, Tanda, Nangal, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Tarn Taran.
Punjab govt renews partnership with Homi Bhabha cancer hospital
3-yr wait for Punjabi translation of BOCW Act continues amid bureaucratic delays
Pakistan Supreme Court grants bail to Imran Khan in May 9 violence cases
A three-member Bench of the apex court granted Imran Khan bail after hearing the arguments by his lawyer Salman Safdar, and Punjab Special Prosecutor Zulfiqar Naqvi, who represented the state
BJP, AAP clash in Punjab as state government halts saffron partys welfare camps over data misuse row
CHANDIGARH: The Bharatiya Janata Party and Aam Aadmi Party are at loggerheads in Punjab, as the mega outreach programme BJP De Sewadaar Aa Gaye Ne Thuade Dwar started by the BJP in rural areas of the state to enrol locals in central government schemes such as Ayushman Bharat and PM-Kisan has been shut down by the AAP-led state government. The state government alleged that private operators were illegally collecting personal data of residents. As per the advertisement issued by the BJP, people were being enrolled under Awas Yojana (Housing Scheme), Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), Ayushman Bharat (Health Insurance Scheme), E-Shram Card, Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, pensions (NSAP Widow, Disability, Old Age), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana and under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (Girl Child Support Programme). Sources said the programme was launched on May 20 and that 1.57 lakh people had been enrolled in different schemes, as per their eligibility. These camps, set up in 39 constituencies, were to be expanded to 50 constituencies in the next few days. The BJP had hired a few professionals, who the party claims were party workers with laptops and KYC documents, to enrol state residents into various central schemes. The party also said that records of enrolled beneficiaries were maintained, and fees ranging from Rs 30 to Rs 40 for certain schemes were borne from its own kitty. A delegation of the BJP led by its state working president Ashwani Sharma met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria today and submitted a memorandum requesting his intervention to prevent harassment of BJP workers, volunteers and villagers during these camps held on central welfare schemes. We wish to draw your kind attention towards the continuous and deliberate harassment being inflicted upon our workers, volunteers, and the innocent inhabitants of several villages across Punjab, where awareness camps have been initiated to spread vital information about Central Government welfare schemes. It is deeply regrettable that the Punjab Government has repeatedly attempted to create obstacles in this noble cause. In almost every camp, the state police and local administration have intervened to stop BJP workers and volunteers from providing information, the memorandum stated. This disruption is being justified on two pretexts: firstly, that prior permission from the Deputy Commissioner/SOM is required, and secondly, that parties are allegedly collecting personal data of the inhabitants, it added. It further read: It is respectfully submitted that no such permission is mandated under any law for awareness programmes of this nature, and the allegation regarding data collection is false, baseless, and politically motivated. Further, the volunteers and workers engaged in these camps hold valid Common Service Centre (CSC) IDs. Hence, there is no illegality in the conduct of such programmes. The underlying reason for such obstruction appears to be political vendetta and fear of the rising popularity of the BJP in Punjab. Instead of allowing welfare information to reach the poor, the marginalised, and the SC/ST communities, the ruling party is using state machinery to suppress legitimate and democratic activities of our workers. Instead of extending cooperation, the Punjab Government is victimising them and thereby depriving citizens of their rightful benefits, the memorandum said. It added that the BJP had most humbly and firmly requested the Governor to direct the state government to desist from harassing BJP workers, volunteers, and local inhabitants who were voluntarily participating in awareness programmes. The party also urged that no obstruction be created in the organisation of such camps, which it said were meant for the welfare of the poor, farmers, and SC/ST communities. The memorandum further sought the Governors intervention to safeguard the democratic rights of the people of Punjab, so that they can freely access information and avail benefits of Union Government welfare initiatives without fear or intimidation. The state police today detained saffron party leaders from various camps that were being organised across Punjab. BJP leader Pritpal Sharma was detained from one such camp at Sukhna Ablu village in the Gidderbaha Assembly segment. His wife, a PCS officer, is currently posted in Fazilka district. Pritpal, in a live video on Facebook, said, The camp was set up to facilitate poor people, but the state government has stooped so low that it is detaining people like me. BJP leader and former Lok Sabha MP Sushil Rinku, along with two party workers, was also detained as he had gone to supervise arrangements for the camp at Khurdpur village of Adampur. Rinku went live on social media during the incident. In Shahkot area of Jalandhar, ex-MLA KD Bhandari was detained while he had gone to attend the camp at Roopewal Mandi. Meanwhile, SAS Nagar District BJP President Sanjeev Vashisht and workers were detained during the outreach programme at Nagla village. Similarly, BJP Ludhiana District Rural President Sunny Kainth and his workers were also detained as they prepared to attend the camp. A state government spokesperson, however, said, The government has received credible reports that certain private operators are illegally collecting personal data of local residents, allegedly on behalf of political parties. Under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 (DPDP Act), any collection or use of personal data without consent is a punishable offence. The local police have been directed to take strict penal action against those engaged in such unlawful activities. The government has learned that several individuals who shared their personal data were later targeted in scams and banking frauds, including incidents where phone numbers and OTPs were misused to siphon off money. The government, therefore, strongly urges citizens not to share their personal information with unauthorised persons or agencies, as it may be misused at any stage. Citizens are advised to remain vigilant and immediately report any such illegal activity to the authorities, he said. In another statement, a Punjab Police spokesperson said, The Punjab Police has formed several teams to investigate the camps which are allegedly collecting the personal information of individuals in the name of government schemes. The inquiries have been instituted after receipt of complaints stating that personal data of citizens is being collected by unauthorised persons who are holding camps, making the personal data vulnerable to thefts and fraud. It has also been reported that forms are being filled up at these camps. The District Police Authorities have instructed the inquiry teams to join concerned persons in the inquiries, visit the alleged places of holding camps and conduct investigations following law, he added. The spokesperson appealed to citizens not to share their personal data, including Aadhaar details, with unauthorised individuals and instead access government schemes directly online or through authorised mechanisms. He added that Government Suvidha Centres are facilitating citizens wishing to enrol themselves in government schemes or download beneficiary cards, available after authentication of the applicants identity from the database.
Tania stays strong and grateful amid personal turmoil
Tania, the 'Phaphey Kuttniyan' actress, is displaying remarkable resilience while facing personal challenges. She emphasizes the importance of gratitude amidst adversity, drawing strength from the universe during tough times. Recently, her father, Dr. Aniljeet Kamboj, was shot at his clinic in Monga, Punjab, prompting Tania to request privacy and sensitivity from the media and public.
Iyers Exclusion Stands Out, Should Have Been A Part Of Asia Cup Squad, Says Paranjape
Dubai International Cricket Stadium: Former India cricketer and selector Jatin Paranjape believes Shreyas Iyers omission from the Asia Cup squad is notable and he should have been included in the 15-member team for the multi-nation tournament happening in the UAE from September 9-28.Iyers exclusion stands out, should have been a part of Asia Cup squad, says Paranjape Iyer had scored 604 runs in 17 matches at a strike rate of 175 and an average of 50.33 in IPL 2025 and even captained Punjab Kings to a runners-up finish. But he failed to find a place in both Indias squad for the Asia Cup and the five reserve players list. As always, its a very strong Indian team that will take the field at the Asia Cup. T20 is a format where India has done really well, and being the current world champions only adds to the confidence. The competition for places is so intense that any squad selection is bound to invite debate. For me, Shreyas Iyers exclusion stands out, I felt he should have been part of this squad, and there are at least three or four players who could have made way for him, Paranjape told IANS on Thursday. Paranjape, a member of the BCCIs Cricket Advisory Committee and co-founder of KheloMore, also expressed surprise over pacer Harshit Rana being picked ahead of fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, who ended up as IPL 2025s leading wicket-taker. I was also a bit surprised to see Harshit Rana in the mix. Clearly, he has the coachs full backing, but I thought someone like Prasidh Krishna might have been a better pick, he added. However, Paranjape welcomed the mix of quality spinners in the squad, which he felt could prove handy in UAE conditions. On the other hand, the spin department looks very solid with Axar, Varun and Kuldeep. Considering the UAE pitches will mostly be batsman-friendly but might offer some turn, Indias spin options look well covered, he added. I was also a bit surprised to see Harshit Rana in the mix. Clearly, he has the coachs full backing, but I thought someone like Prasidh Krishna might have been a better pick, he added. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score India will play its Asia Cup Group A games against the UAE and the high-stakes clash against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 10 and 14 respectively. They will then face Oman at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on September 19, before the Super Four stage and title clash takes centrestage. Article Source: IANS
A political controversy erupted in Punjab after the BJP alleged that the AAP government obstructed their outreach camps and detained leaders for illegally collecting residents' data. The BJP accuses AAP of political vendetta and misusing the police to suppress their activities related to central welfare schemes.
Shreyas Iyer's Omission from India's Asia Cup Squad leaves Kaif Baffled
Shreyas' omission from the squad after a bumper IPL 2025 season with Punjab Kings (PBKS) as captain has sparked criticism from fans and former cricketers.
This Bank Hiring For Local Bank Officer Posts In 13 States, Registration Begins
Punjab And Sind Bank Recruitment 2025: Applicants must have at least 18 months of experience as an officer in a public sector bank or regional rural bank.
Pakistan: Heavy rains cause floods in Indus resulting in displacement, crop devastation
Due to heavy rains, thousands of villagers living in the low-lying areas of Pakistan's Punjab were forced to leave their homes as levels of water rose in the Indus river, washing away all of the protective guide bunds and dykes constructed to support the Layyah-Taunsa Bridge, Dawn reported.
Havent gone out of my way to look for Hindi movies: Neeru Bajwa
Neeru is known for her standout performances in Punjabi blockbusters, including Madhaniyan, Waah Ni Punjabne, Sardaar Ji 3, and Jatt & Juliet 3 (2024), and the recent cameo in the John Abraham-starrer, Tehran
Uranium contamination of Punjab drinking water sources calls for action: Parliamentary panel
Unity in tribute: SAD factions, Punjab govt remember Longowal
Public sector banks (PSBs) in India showcased strong financial performance in Q1 FY26, achieving a record collective profit of Rs 44,218 crore, an 11% increase year-on-year. State Bank of India led the gains, contributing significantly to the overall earnings. While most PSBs saw profit growth, Punjab National Bank experienced a decline during the same period.
Punjab info commissioner asks transport dept to act on orders passed by panel
Kishtwar Cloudburst: Rescue Operation Continues for Seventh Day
SRINAGAR: Rescue operations in Jammu and Kashmirs Kishtwar district entered seventh consecutive day on Wednesday, following the devastating cloudburst that triggered flash floods in Chasoti village on August 14, officials said on Wednesday. The officials said that four specially trained sniffer dogs from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), along with eight handlers from Punjab, []
FinMin holds meeting with heads of state-owned banks; reviews Q1 financial performance
The finance ministry convened a meeting with public sector bank heads to assess their Q1 FY26 financial performance, revealing a collective record profit of Rs 44,218 crore, marking an 11% year-on-year increase. SBI contributed significantly, while IOB and Punjab & Sind Bank showed substantial profit growth. The ministry urged banks to boost lending to productive sectors.
Junaid Khan mob lynching case: HC rejects prime accused bail plea
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday, August 20, rejected the bail plea for prime accused Naresh Kumar in the 2017 mob lynching case involving 16-year-old Junaid Khan. This Court, looking at the gravity of the offence, is of the considered view that safe and secure atmosphere ought to be extended to the eye Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .
Punjab: BSF steps up border vigil as floods submerge villages in Ferozepur and Fazilka districts
CHANDIGARH: The Border Security Force (BSF) has stepped up vigil along the Indo-Pak international border following inundation caused by floodwaters in Ferozepur and Fazilka districts of Punjab due to a surging Sutluj river. Both, boat and foot patrolling has been intensified following a breach in dhusi bandh. Sources said that over 15,000 acres of farmland in approximately 45 villages remain submerged. As per information, the dhusi bandh built on the Sutlej river in Pakistan collapsed on Tuesday and the authorities there were trying to repair it. Water from the Sutluj river has engulfed border villages of Gatti Rajo Ke (situated on the zero line), Nihala Lavera, Dheera Ghara, Kutabdeen Wala, Ruknewala and Kamala Bodla in Ferozepur district. All these villages remain marooned. The floodwaters have also marooned the Satpal Border Out Post (BoP) of the BSF. The jawans tried to stop the gushing water by putting sand bags around the BoP. Moreover, water has surrounded villages such as Mohar Jamsher, Dona Nanka and Teja Rohella, in fazilka district. The fields in these village are submerged in water. Sources pointed out that due to flooding, the border fencing has been damaged at a few places thereby raising concern about possible infiltration and smuggling. In order to deal with this situation the BSF has ramped up patrols and held special meetings with local police and villagers. The rising water levels in the Pong Dam and the opening of floodgates at Bhakra Dam on Tuesday have also raised anxiety of the villagers living along the border. In Dhiraghara village schools have been closed. In Bandala village, the locals have temporarily reinforced the embankments. Another big problem for the villagers is to find fodder for their livestock. The fear of vector-borne diseases is also looming large. The medical and veterinary teams have been directed to reach the affected villages to provide chlorine tablets and antiseptics to the residents to protect them from the vector-borne diseases. Sources said that as per the schedule issued by the Senior Design Engineer, Water Regulation, BBMB Nangal, the floodgates of the dam were opened at 3 pm. The release of water was gradually increased up to three feet by 5 pm. The BBMB has directed officials to strictly follow the plan to ensure the water release process remains safe and smooth. Sources said that about 45,000 cusecs water has been released on Tuesday from the Bhakra dam to bring the water level down to 1662 feet. Out of this 22,000 cusecs released in the natural flow of the river and remaining 23,000 cusecs released in Nangal Hydel canal that later connects with Bhakra main line and Anandpur Sahib hydel canal which ultimately joins Sutlej river near Kiratpur Sahib. Sources further said that the as on August 19, the water level at Bhakra Dam should be 1662 feet. But it was 1665 feet this time. There is also prediction of heavy rains in the catchment areas of the dam on the Sutlej river on August 24 and 25. The water level at the Bhakra Dam was 1,665 feet on Tuesday. This is 35 feet higher than the corresponding period last year. The water inflow was over 70,500 cusecs as against the 43,500 cusecs of last year, said an officer and added that the water level in the Pong Dam is 1,382 feet, 28 feet higher than last year, the inflow is 1.29 lakh cusecs and 18,000 cusecs of water is being released from the dam to manage the level. He added, With the heavy rainfall in the past week, the water inflow in both Bhakra and Pong dams was alarmingly high. The BBMB had thus decided to release excess water through the floodgates to ensure the safety of the dams. For the next few days, the controlled release of water would continue to keep the water in the reservoirs at a safe level. The board is continuously monitoring the situation. The BBMB had issued a warning to people residing in Bela region that falls inside the river bed of Sutlej and people residing on banks of river to avoid venturing near the river. Fazilka MLA Narinder Pal Singh Sawna, accompanied by officials, visited Muhar Khiva and Muhar Jamsher. He reached the villages with green fodder for cattle breeders. Sawna assured all possible help from the government. He said that the entire district administration has been engaged in relief work. He also reviewed the embankment being erected there. He said that instructions have been given to the officials to get the work of the Gardawari done as soon as possible so that the affected people can get compensation. He listened to the grievances of the villagers and assured them that the government would find a permanent solution to the recurring problem caused by floods.
Punjab Police Recruitment 2025: Constable Exam Result Declared, Direct Link Here
Punjab Police Constable Result 2025: Those who have cleared the written paper will be called for the next phase. Start preparing for these physical rounds right away.
Punjab Police Constable result 2025 out: Check your scores at punjabpolice.gov.in
Punjab Police Constable result 2025: The Punjab Police Constable result 2025 has been officially released on punjabpolice.gov.in. Candidates who appeared for the written examination held between May 4 and June 18, 2025, can now check and download their scorecards online using their roll number and date of birth. Successful candidates will proceed to the physical measurement test (PMT), physical screening test (PST), and document verification stages. Regular updates are available only on the official Punjab Police website.
'Shreyas Iyer will be part of the team': Ex-cricketer explains how
Aakash Chopra has voiced his surprise over Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from the Asia Cup reserve players list, despite Iyer's impressive IPL 2025 performance where he scored 604 runs and led Punjab Kings to the final. Chopra believes this omission sends a negative signal regarding Iyer's T20I future.
A Place Could've Been Created For Shreyas In Asia Cup Reserves: Aakash Chopra
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy: Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes Shreyas Iyer should have been named in the reserve players list for the upcoming Asia Cup, citing that it doesnt give out a great signal in terms of clarity over his T20I future. Iyer had amassed 604 runs at a strike rate of 175 in IPL 2025 and led Punjab Kings to being runners-up in the competition. Despite making big improvements in his game against the short ball and hitting spinners for fun in the competition, Iyer didnt find a place in both 15-member squad for Asia Cup and five reserve players list. It was something which left former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar baffled and now Chopra has echoed in same vein. Shreyas' name is not even there in the five reserves, and that is surprising. It's understandable that you couldn't have him in the 15 as you can't play him in the XI, and you wanted lower-order batters as backup, where Shivam Dube is there, and Rinku Singh will be given another chance, which is absolutely par for the course. However, a place could have been created in the reserve players at least, where you have kept Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Prasidh Krishna. Shreyas name could have been there, but you haven't kept it there either, and that doesn't send a great signal. The clarity in front of Shreyas' name is completely not there, said Chopra on his YouTube channel on Wednesday. At the same time, Chopra thinks Iyer can still make it to Indias squad for the 2026 Mens T20 World Cup provided he continues to perform well in ODI assignments. For now, Iyers next assignment will be playing for West Zone in the 2025/26 domestic season opening Duleep Trophy. However, a place could have been created in the reserve players at least, where you have kept Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Prasidh Krishna. Shreyas name could have been there, but you haven't kept it there either, and that doesn't send a great signal. The clarity in front of Shreyas' name is completely not there, said Chopra on his YouTube channel on Wednesday. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score This is the Asia Cup team. Don't attach the World Cup with it because there are 15 T20Is after this. The world changes in 15 T20Is. If he keeps scoring runs in ODIs, sooner or later, Shreyas Iyer will be part of the team. I have a strong feeling that Shreyas Iyer will be a part of India's T20 World Cup team, he added. Article Source: IANS
The love story of Geeta Basra and Harbhajan Singh began with a movie poster. Harbhajan was smitten and sought help from his friend Yuvraj Singh. Yuvraj provided the connection that started their romance. Harbhajan and Yuvraj's friendship began in their early cricket days. They played for Punjab and India together. Despite retirement, their bond remains strong. Read on to know how he helped him!
Uttar Pradesh: Rs 5.25 cr fraud unearthed at PNB in Balrampur, FIR filed against officials
A massive financial fraud involving unauthorized transactions amounting to Rs 5.25 crore has come to light at the Punjab National Bank's (PNB) Nahar Balaganj branch, Balrampur, Uttar Pradesh.
No milling of hybrid varieties, Punjab likely to face paddy procurement crisis
CHANDIGARH: With paddy cultivation touching an all-time high of 32.49 lakh hectares in Punjab, the state is once again staring at a procurement and storage crisis this kharif season. Rice millers have declared they will not mill hybrid varieties, even as the Punjab and Haryana HC on Monday struck down the states ban on such seeds. The situation is already tight. As of now, 146 LMT of rice and 77.86 LMT of wheat are stored in Food Corporation of India godowns across Punjab almost touching the full storage capacity of 180 LMT. With another 190 LMT of paddy expected to arrive in mandis, the state is running out of space. Millers insist that hybrid paddy is unviable. The outturn ratio should be 66 per cent, but in hybrids, broken rice is as high as 45 per cent. We have to buy rice at our own cost to meet FCI norms. Why should we suffer? asked Punjab Rice Industry Association vice-president Ranjit Singh Jossan. The association has demanded that reports prepared by IIT Kharagpur on hybrid varieties last year be made public. Association chief Bharat Bhushan Binta added that four lakh tonnes of last years paddy are still lying with millers. The government must allow trials of hybrids since FCI specifications allow 25% broken rice, he said. Farmers, however, have continued sowing hybrids across Majha, Doaba and even Malwa, lured by higher yields. But with millers refusing to process them, tensions are rising. Unless a solution is worked out, Punjab could see a repeat of last years bitter standoff.
Punjab rights panel pulls up rural dept for ignoring not filing report on bio-medical waste
Punjab Police Arrest 2 More Operatives Of Babbar Khalsa Terror Module
Days after busting Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module, Counter Intelligence Jalandhar has arrested two more operatives of the same module and recovered one 86P hand-grenade from their possession.
Punjab governor Gulab Chand Kataria inaugurates Dark Room Lab for children with special needs
SAEL signs 880MW solar PPAs in Gujarat and Punjab - PV Tech
SAEL signs 880MW solar PPAs in Gujarat and Punjab PV Tech
'I can't fathom Shreyas Iyers exclusion': Former India coach on Indias Asia Cup squad
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has questioned Shreyas Iyer's exclusion from the Asia Cup squad, despite his strong IPL 2025 performance where he scored 604 runs and led Punjab Kings to the final.
Abhishek Nayar cant Fathom Shreyas Iyers Exclusion From Indias Asia Cup Squad
With Shubman Gill: Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar could not fathom the fact that India excluded Shreyas Iyer from the Asia Cup squad, announced at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai on Tuesday. The selectors sprung a major surprise by including Test team captain Shubman Gill in the squad despite him missing the last few T20I matches, chief selector Ajiot Agarkar addressed the decision to leave Iyer out as no fault of his. Nor is it ours. I cant fathom or understand what reason could justify Shreyas Iyer not being part of the 20-member squad. Im not even talking about the final 15, but the 20 itself, which sends a clear message that Shreyas Iyer is not in the selectors scheme of things, at least from a T20 perspective, said Nayar to JioHotstar. Iyer had scored 604 runs at a strike rate of 175 in IPL 2025 and led the Punjab Kings to the final in Ahmedabad, but failed to find a place in the 15. Gills recall comes on the back of a strong IPL 2025 campaign for Gujarat Titans, where he led the team into the playoffs and amassed 650 runs in 15 innings at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 155.87. He also has an impressive T20I record, scoring 578 runs in 21 matches at an average of 30.42 and a strike rate of 139.27, with one century and three fifties. Notably, Gill is among the few Indians to have centuries in all three international formats. Iyer had scored 604 runs at a strike rate of 175 in IPL 2025 and led the Punjab Kings to the final in Ahmedabad, but failed to find a place in the 15. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score India seems to be moving in the direction of an all-format captain. With Shubman Gills return, Sanju Samsons fate has more or less been sealed; he wont feature in the playing XI now. You wont drop Tilak Varma or Hardik Pandya, which means Samson sits out, and Jitesh Sharma will likely get the nod again. One thing is very clear from this selection: the batting slots have been prioritized over personalities. With Gill coming in as vice-captain, he will definitely play and open the batting. This essentially pushes Sanju Samson out of the XI, said Chopra to JioHotstar. Article Source: IANS
Kharif season: Area under paddy goes up in Punjab, but problems galore
CHANDIGARH: Despite paddy being sown in the state in an area of 32.49 lakh hectares -the highest area under cultivation in the past couple of decades- Punjab is likely to face paddy procurement crisis during this kharif marketing season, like last year. The reason: rice millers have declared that they will not mill the hybrid varieties of paddy. Only on Monday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had quashed the state government's blanket ban on hybrid varieties. Punjab Rice Industry Association (PRIA) Vice President Ranjit Singh Jossan told TNIE that the farmers would be hit as rice millers will not mill the hybrid varieties. Why should we suffer? The outturn ratio of paddy is 66 per cent but the broken rice in hybrid varieties is 43 to 45 per cent. So, millers have to buy rice from the market at their own cost and give the 66 per cent milled rice to the government, he said. Further Ranjit Singh Jossan added that last year his association PRIA, with the backing of the Punjab government, asked the Centre to physically test hybrid paddy at IIT Kharagpur. The IIT teams processed the samples at three rice mills and prepared reports. But despite repeated requests, the reports were not made public. Now, with a crisis looming, we demand that the reports be released and the Central government compensate the industry for the losses caused by hybrid seed varieties, he demanded. Punjab Rice Industry Association President Bharat Bhusan Binta affirmed that there should be a trial of the hybrid variety as the specification of Food Corporation of India (FCI) is 25 per cent broken rice. Till date, approximately four lakh tonnes of paddy is still lying with the millers in their facilities, Binta noted. Sources in the state food civil supply department said that as on Tuesday, 146 Lakh Metric Tonnes (LMT) of rice lie in the godowns of Food Corporation of India (FCI) across the state. This is not including the wheat. Together they will come to 179 LMT of rice and wheat. But the total storage capacity of godowns is 180 LMT. With around 190 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of paddy expected to arrive in the mandis this season, once again there might be revived tensions over procurement, storage and financial viability for the states rice industry. Last year, after a a month long standoff between farmers, the government and the rice industry, the millers had agreed to mill the hybrid paddy varieties after imposing cuts on the price paid to farmers cultivating these varieties. The millers welcomed the decision to mill the hybrid paddy varieties by imposing cuts to compensate for the spoilage rates of 45 to 50 per cent. Later, rice millers in the state went on a prolonged strike demanding a ban on hybrid paddy seeds, citing huge losses due to excessive breakage during milling. Following this, the Punjab government banned both hybrid seeds. The government also announced that such varieties would not be purchased under the Minimum Support Price (MSP). Despite the earlier ban, hybrid paddy has been widely sown in Punjab this year, especially in the Majha and Doaba regions, with expansion reported in Malwa. In Majha, the area under hybrid varieties has gone up substantially, mainly because hybrid varieties offer higher yields to farmers. However, millers insist they will not process hybrid varieties. They argue that milling hybrid paddy produces only 55 to 57 per cent head rice compared to the standard 67 per cent, with a very high percentage of broken rice forcing them to buy additional rice at higher prices to meet their contracts. The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday set aside the state governments order of April 7, which had imposed a blanket ban on the use of hybrid paddy seeds in the state. The court said the order does not withstand the test of legality, as the state could not prohibit the use of varieties duly notified by the Union Government under the Seeds Act of 1966. The court upheld the administrative orders of April 4 and April 10, 2019, which had restricted the use of non-notified hybrid seeds while permitting the notified varieties. Leader of the Opposition and senior congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa demanded that the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government treat the issue with utmost seriousness and address it as an urgent priority. The Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already advanced paddy procurement, moving the commencement date from October 1 to September 15. The government must act without delay. With procurement set to begin in less than a month, timely intervention is essential, Bajwa asserted. He held the government directly responsible for the heavy losses suffered by farmers during the last paddy procurement season. Despite the Minimum Support Price (MSP) guarantee, many farmers were forced to sell their produce below MSP due to the government's failure to enforce procurement norms. In multiple districts, farmers received only Rs 1,700 to Rs 2,100 per quintal for their produce, even though it was officially billed at the MSP of Rs 2,300 per quintal by procurement agencies during the 2024 season. This was the largest scam in Punjabs agricultural history, and shockingly, it remains uninvestigated, Bajwa stated.
Punjabi University teachers threaten boycott over salary delay
Procurement peril: Punjab millers refuse to process hybrid paddy
NDRF 10th Battalion deploys teams to tackle rain, floods situation
NDRF 10th Battalion Commandant says we have 18 teams at our headquarters in Krishna district. To be prepared for any emergency during monsoon, four more teams from Punjab have also been deployed
SC Terms NCPCR Plea Against Punjab, Haryana HC Protection Order to Muslim Couple 'Strange'
Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and R. Mahadevan says commission had no locus standi, dismisses challenge to HC ruling citing Muslim Personal Law on marriage.
The Supreme Court today dismissed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), which had challenged a 2022 judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The high court had upheld the right of a 16-year-old Muslim girl to marry a Muslim man under Muslim Personal Law [] The post Supreme Court rejects appeal by NCPCR against High Court ruling permitting marriage of 16-Year-old muslim girl under personal law appeared first on India Legal .
'Happy To Have Him Back': Suryakumar Yadav On Gills Return To India's Asia Cup Squad
T20 World Cup: Indias T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav has welcomed Shubman Gills return to the shortest format, as the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee announced the 15-member squad for next months Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. Gill, who also captains Indias Test side, has been named vice-captain of the T20I team and marks his comeback after nearly a years absence from the format. In my opinion, the last time Shubman Gill played a T20I for India was when we went to Sri Lanka. When I was leading, he was the vice-captain. That's where we started the new cycle for the T20 World Cup, Suryakumar told reporters after the squad announcement on Tuesday. After that, he got busy with all the Test series. He didn't get an opportunity to play T20Is because he was busy with Test cricket and the Champions Trophy. He is in the squad and we are happy to have him. Gills recall comes on the back of a strong IPL 2025 campaign for Gujarat Titans, where he led the team into the playoffs and amassed 650 runs in 15 innings at an average of 50 and a strike rate of 155.87. He also has an impressive T20I record, scoring 578 runs in 21 matches at an average of 30.42 and a strike rate of 139.27, with one century and three fifties. Notably, Gill is among the few Indians to have scored centuries in all three international formats. Suryakumar underlined the importance of the Asia Cup as a stepping stone towards the 2026 T20 World Cup. This is the first big tournament we are playing after the T20 World Cup. We played a few bilaterals, but this is a good tournament to test ourselves. There are a lot of T20s before we play the first game of the T20 World Cup. This is where the journey starts for the tournament. Chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar admitted that Gills absence from recent T20Is was largely down to scheduling and commitments in other formats, which opened the door for other batters such as Sanju Samson. Sanju was playing because Shubman and Yashasvi were not available at that point. So was Abhishek. Abhishek's performances clearly make it hard to leave him out. Plus, his bowling is handy. But, like I said, Shubman was the vice-captain the last time he played T20 cricket. That was after the last World Cup, Agarkar said. Asked whether Gill walks straight back into the playing XI, Agarkar left it open: Captain and coach will take the call on the best balance for the team. Once we get to Dubai, we will have a bit more clarity. More options are available now. Shubman has been in great form anyway the last few months. So has Sanju. So two good options, along with Abhishek. On the omissions, Agarkar was candid. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who is part of the standby list, lost out to Abhishek Sharma. Its unfortunate. With what Abhishek has done over the last year or so, plus he gives us a bowling option if required. One of these guys was always going to miss out. Shreyas Iyer, despite a prolific IPL 2025 for Punjab Kings, was also left out. Agarkar explained, Again, no fault of his. Got to tell me who he can replace? At the moment, he will have to wait for his chance. On Rinku Singhs inclusion, Agarkar added that balance was key. Hes always been in the scheme of things. At the moment, we have two mystery spinners/wristspinners in Varun and Kuldeep, and Axar has been around for a while. When we need four spinners, he may always be in the mix. For now, we felt we needed an extra batter in Rinku. And you could only pick 15. If there were 16, maybe he couldve been in. Shreyas Iyer, despite a prolific IPL 2025 for Punjab Kings, was also left out. Agarkar explained, Again, no fault of his. Got to tell me who he can replace? At the moment, he will have to wait for his chance. Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score India, the defending champions, are placed in Group A alongside UAE, Pakistan, and Oman. They open their campaign against UAE in Dubai on September 10, followed by a high-voltage clash against Pakistan on September 14, and will round off the group stage against Oman in Abu Dhabi on September 19. The tournament runs from September 9 to 28 in the UAE. Article Source: IANS
Punjab National Bank migrates to secure bank.in domain
PNB has become the first Public Sector Bank in India to migrate its corporate website to the secure .bank.in domain, reaffirming its commitment to safe and secure digital banking for its customers
Criminal To Love? Top Court Asks, Junks Plea Over Muslim Girl's Marriage
The Supreme Court has dismissed a special leave petition by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, or NCPCR, that challenged a 2022 Punjab and Haryana High Court verdict granting protection to a (then) 16-year-old Muslim girl.
HC sets aside Punjab's decision to impose ban on hybrid paddy seeds
Rajasthans Manika Vishwakarma crowned Miss Universe India 2025
JAIPUR: Rajasthans Manika Vishwakarma has been crowned Miss Universe India 2025, earning the opportunity to represent the country at the 74th Miss Universe competition, scheduled to be held in Thailand on 21 November 2025. Manika, who hails from Sri Ganganagar, described the win as a proud moment for Rajasthan and the nation. This achievement proves that dreams can take flight even from small towns, she said while addressing the media in Jaipur after her victory. Sharing her journey, Manika said she began from her hometown Ganganagar before moving to Delhi for preparations. We must instill confidence and courage in ourselves. Everyone had a big role in my success. I thank all those who supported me and made me capable of this, she said. She added that the competition is not just a stage but a world that builds character. In the finale, Tanya Sharma emerged as the first runner-up. The judging panel included Miss Universe India owner Nikhil Anand, actress and Miss Universe India 2015 Urvashi Rautela, and director Farhad Samji. Anand said that Jaipur was chosen as the host city for the finale to showcase and promote Indias art and culture. Bollywood actress and former Miss Universe India Urvashi Rautela was also present as a jury member in this prestigious competition. She said, The competition was very tough, but the winner is with us. We are very happy that we have got our winner. She will definitely make us proud in Miss Universe. The grand finale saw 48 contestants from across the countryincluding Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Odisha, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and Delhicompete for the prestigious crown. With this victory, Manika Vishwakarma will now prepare to raise Indias flag high on the international stage in Miss Universe 2025.
Punjab, Haryana lead in water-stressed districts under catch the rain campaign
Road accident in Punjab leaves three dead
Police identified the deceased as Ishwar Lal, Mukesh and driver Rakesh, all residents of Bihar, currently residing in Kapurthala.
AAP Walks From Manish Sisodia's Do Anything To Win Punjab Poll Remark
The Aam Aadmi Party has distanced itself from senior leader Manish Sisodia's 'do whatever it takes to win' message to party workers prepping for the 2027 Punjab Assembly election.
2 Babbar Khalsa Terror Operatives Arrested, Punjab Police Recover Grenade
Counter Intelligence (CI), Jalandhar, arrested two individuals linked to the banned terror group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), Punjab police said on Tuesday.
Pakistan: Ahmadi Mosques Torched, Outrage Follows
Police reports say over 300 attackers armed with rods and bricks targeted Ahmadiyya worshippers during Independence Day processions in Dijkot.reports Asian Lite News A prominent minority group on Monday condemned attacks on religious minorities in Pakistan, citing the mob-led torching of two Ahmadiyya places of worship by leaders of the hardline Islamist party Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). The Voice of Pakistan Minority (VOPM) mentioned that on the occasion of Pakistans 78th Independence Day, extremists turned the countrys streets into battlegrounds of hate. In Faisalabad district of Punjab province, two Ahmadiyya places of worship were set ablaze by the mob serving as
Punjab Police Recover Hand Grenade After Arrest Of Two BKI Operatives
Chandigarh, Aug 19: A hand grenade has been recovered following the recent arrest of a few operatives of banned terror outfit Babbar Khalsa International, Punjab police said on Tuesday. Acting swiftly on forward and backward linkages, Counter Intelligence #Jalandhar, recovers one 86P Hand Grenade following the arrest of two #BKI operatives Ritik Naroliya and a juvenile from #Rajasthan, a few days back, Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav said in a post on X. He said the arrested accuseds disclosures [] The post Punjab Police Recover Hand Grenade After Arrest Of Two BKI Operatives appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Soldiers heart attack during leave linked to service stress, family entitled to special pension: HC
Punjab and Haryana High Court stated that if a soldier dies of a heart attack at home during annual leave, it is related to military service. The family is entitled to a special pension. The court dismissed a petition by the central government. It upheld the Armed Forces Tribunal order. Anju Bala's husband died of a heart attack.
INTERVIEW | Diversify exports; let US trade talks be side show
With US President Donald Trumps unpredictable stance on tariffs and the threat of a 50% levy on Indian goods, Indias exports to the US face unprecedented challenges. Many believe this is also an opportunity for India to diversify its export markets and push forward long-pending trade reforms. Rajiv Kumar, former Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog and Chairman of Pahle India Foundation, tells Dipak Mondal that India must look to Europe and China as alternative markets. Excerpts: The Bilateral Trade Agreement talks have been halted. The US delegation is not coming for now, and the meeting will be rescheduled for later. Given this background, where do you think the trade talks are headed? I think we have given too much space and mindshare to these trade talksin the media and policy circles. It feels like everything depends on them. But in todays world, we should be looking at other opportunities and developing our potential, rather than hankering after a market thats going to remain very uncertain for the next four years. You never know what the US administration will say today and do tomorrow. My take is lets see what happens and treat it as a side show, not the main show. The real question is how to enhance our export competitiveness, expand our markets, identify key export areas, and develop policies to foster their growth. This whole situation should be an opportunity to develop a proper export strategy, instead of depending so heavily on the US. Developing export efficiency or finding an alternative market will take time. In the short term, say if tariffs go up to 50%, how will that impact us? If tariffs increase to 50%, our exports will undoubtedly suffer. In categories like leather and leather products, the US market will become challenging because we will be unable to compete. But we cant change that. I suggest focusing on sectors where we are globally competitive and finding alternative markets for them. For example, in the leather goods sector, we have established a strong market presence in Europe. They may not be as big as the US, but they are significant. Similarly, Japan and China are large markets for marine products. Even in the short term, we should consider these alternatives. If the tariff is 25% instead of 50%, will things improve? Even a 25% tariff will reduce our competitiveness, and we could lose market share to countries like Vietnam. Should India impose retaliatory tariffs on US goods? No. We dont have the leverage. US exports to India are just about 2% of their total exports around $3040 billion. Thats nothing for them. Raising tariffs will only worsen relations, and they could retaliate further. Instead, we need to negotiate. If the US is such an important market for us and we lack leverage, then we should consider compromises whether in dairy, marine products, or agriculture. Look at areas where we can give a little, and then move forward. Retaliation is not an option for India. What alternate markets can absorb the kind of goods we currently export to the US? Europe is the most obvious option. The India-EU trade agreement has been under discussion for 18 years this is the time to conclude it. If the Europeans want lower duties on their cars or wines, we should consider it favourably. We have already agreed to concessions with the UK, so why not extend it to the EU? Our negotiating strategy has been about protecting weak sectors, but that prevents us from gaining new markets. For example, why protect automobiles when our biggest carmaker is Maruti, which is essentially a Japanese company? Instead, lets focus on the bigger picture conclude the EU deal and open up a market of 360 million people. China is another option. Why this Press Note 3, and why this on-engagement with China? I am happy that the Prime Minister is going to attend the SCO meet. Its the worlds second-largest economy and imports large quantities of agricultural products from the US. Why not us? Its not easy, but we need to take it seriously. Can China be a major export destination for India? Yes. China imports a huge volume of agricultural products. We could compete there. Additionally, as Chinese wages are rising, they are shifting away from labour-intensive manufacturing. That creates opportunities for us. But the key is strategy. The government must actively support private exporters. What support should the government give to the exporters? The support should be in the form of market-specific interventions, rather than general policies. For example, when I was at the NITI Aayog and spoke to people at Apple, their requirements were very different from those of other companies. We need customised approaches for each market and each sector. Also, each state in India should have its export promotion policy. What works for Punjab wont work for Tamil Nadu. For instance, Agra is a major leather hubif we bring in a big brand like Nike as an anchor investor, the entire supply chain can grow rapidly. Should we continue to protect our agricultural and dairy sectors? We need to be more nuanced. My only broad point is that we should not allow GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms), since we dont fully know their health effects. Beyond that, it has to be sector-specific. For example, theres no harm in importing maize to feed our cattle and poultry, and if it frees up land for other uses. The idea is to be granular, not general.
NHRC issues notice to Punjab government over assault of a journalist by two police officers
The incident occurred on August 1 in Batala in Gurudaspur
Manish Sisodias statement doesnt reflect AAP ideology: Punjab party chief Aman Arora
Youth unemployment in Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal higher than national avg
Video: Car Evades Them, Cops Follow It For 30 Minutes In Movie-Style Chase
Police attempted to stop a hatchback suspected to be carrying drugs at a toll plaza in Punjab, but the driver accelerated instead. What followed was a 30-minute chase through the streets and narrow lanes of the town of Bagha Purana in Moga district.
