Lok Sabha polls: PM Modi likely to kickstart electioneering in Punjab on May 23

Lok Sabha polls: PM Modi likely to kickstart electioneering in Punjab on May 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to visit Punjab for the BJP's election campaigning on May 23 and will extensively participate in the party's electioneering for two days. Speaking to ANI, Punjab BJP Secretary Rakesh Rathour said on Sunday that the Prime Minister will address three public rallies in Punjab on May 23 and 24. PM Modi will address a public rally in the second half of the day on May 23 in Patiala, followed by another rally the next day in Gurdaspur on May 24, Rathour said, adding that the Prime Minister will also address a public rally in Jalandhar on May 24 in the second half on Friday. Voting on the 13 seats in Punjab will take place on June 1. The schedule announcement comes days after Union Minister and senior BJP leader Hardeep Singh Puri asserted to bring Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Punjab's Ferozepur again as he recalled the security breach incident earlier in January 2022, due to which the PM's visit was called off midway. Puri said that the BJP is contesting all Lok Sabha seats in Punjab on its own for the first time after a long time and expressed confidence in the party receiving a positive response in the elections. According to government sources, earlier in March this year, the central government sought a detailed action-taken report from the Punjab government over the Prime Minister's security breach during his visit to the state on January 5, 2022. On January 5, 2022, the Prime Minister's convoy was held up at a flyover due to a blockade by protestors in Ferozepur, after which he returned from Punjab without attending any event, including a rally. An apex court committee, which enquired into a security lapse after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy was held up on a flyover in Punjab on January 5, blamed a senior State police officer for failing to discharge his duty to maintain law and order despite the availability of sufficient personnel, the Supreme Court said. Seven Punjab cops including Bathinda SP were suspended for the security breach. (ANI)

LS polls: PM Modi's campaign in Punjab to begin on May 23, first rally in Patiala

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will start his poll campaign in Punjab with his first rally in Patiala on Thursday, according to state BJP secretary. Punjab BJP general secretary Rakesh Rathour on Sunday said the prime minister will address three public rallies in the state on May 23 and May 24.

328 candidates allotted election symbols for 13 LS seats in Punjab, including 169 independents: State chief electoral officer

328 candidates allotted election symbols for 13 LS seats in Punjab, including 169 independents: State chief electoral officer Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C on Sunday said that 328 candidates contesting for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab have been allotted election symbols by the District Election Officers as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India. He said that out of the total 328 candidates, 169 are independent candidates contesting this time. He further said that voters can check the details of all these candidates and their affidavits submitted to the Election Commission on the KYC app. Providing further details, CEO Sibin C said that 26 candidates are contesting from Gurdaspur, including 14 independents, while 30 candidates are contesting from Amritsar, out of which 18 are independents. Similarly, 27 candidates are in the fray from Khadoor Sahib, of which 18 are independents. There are 20 candidates in the fray from Jalandhar, including eight independents. A total of 16 candidates are contesting from Hoshiarpur, out of which four are independents. Out of the total 28 candidates from Anandpur Sahib, 13 are independents. Of the 43 candidates in Ludhiana, 26 are independents. Out of the total 14 candidates in Fatehgarh Sahib, seven are independents. Out of the total 28 candidates from Faridkot, 12 are independents. A total of 29 candidates, including 17 independents, are contesting from Ferozepur. Of the total 18 candidates from Bathinda, eight are independents. Out of 23 candidates in Sangrur, nine are independents, while 15 independent out of total 26 candidates are contesting from Patiala. He added that the election preparations are in the final stages and polling will be held on June 1 from 7 am to 6 pm. In Punjab, voting for its 13 seats will take place in a single phase. The seventh and final phase on June 1 will see voting in Gurudaspur, Amritsar, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nandpur Sahib, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Firozpur, Bathinda, Sangrur, and Patiala constituencies. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)

Nine charred to death, 15 injured as moving bus catches fire in Haryana

CHANDIGARH: At least nine people, including six women, were burnt alive and more than 15 injured when a moving bus carrying devotees from Punjab caught fire near Tauru in Haryanas Nuh district early on Saturday, police said. The incident occurred on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) Expressway around 2 am when around 60 people, all residents of Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana, were returning in the bus after visiting pilgrim towns of Ujjan and Mathura-Vrindavan, police said. Nine people, including six women and three men, were killed in the accident. Fifteen people were injured and have been hospitalised. All the injured are stable, said a police official from Tauru. The cause is yet to be ascertained. A probe is underway, he said. After getting information, the police and a fire brigade team reached the spot brought the fire under control, but by then eight people were burnt alive, the police official said. The injured were rushed to the hospital. One of the injured died in the hospital, he said. A local eyewitness said that after seeing the bus on fire, they called out to the driver and asked him to stop. As the bus did not stop, so they chased the bus on a motorcycle and informed the driver, but by then the fire has spread in the bus. In another incident, four students of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law died in a car crash in Patiala when their speeding SUV met with an accident late on Friday night, police said. Three boys and a girl, all law students, died in the accident. The impact of the collision was so intense that police had to use tractors to pull a part of the crushed wreckage to take out the bodies, a police official said. According to witnesses, the SUV moving in high speed went off the road and crashed into the fields nearby.

4 students of Patiala law varsity killed as SUV hits tree

Doctor's advice to cope with heatwave: Cover body parts while going out, keep yourself hydrated

Doctor's advice to cope with heatwave: Cover body parts while going out, keep yourself hydrated Amidst increasing mercury, Dr Deepak Maheshwari, Principal of SMS Medical College, has shared tips on how to protect oneself from heatwaves and rising temperatures, emphasising covering the body parts and staying hydrated. Speaking with ANI, Dr Deepak Maheshwari said, In such situation, small kids, old people, and those suffering from respiratory, cardiac or any other chronic issues are quite vulnerable. Hence, I would request everyone, common and vulnerable people to not go outside in extreme sunlight, unless and until it is necessary. He added further, If you want to go, then cover as much part of your body, wear full-sleeved clothes, white colour clothes, and caps. Stressing the importance of hydration, Dr Maheshwari said, Keeping your body hydrated will solve half of the problems... It is extremely important to keep yourself hydrated... Earlier in the day, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast a heatwave and a severe heatwave condition across vast swathes of North India, including several parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi, between May 17 and 21. The premier weather forecasting agency said heatwave conditions were likely to prevail in parts of Uttar Pradesh from May 17-21; in isolated pockets of Gujarat between May 17 and 21; Bihar from May 17-20; Jharkhand between May 19 and 20; and north Madhya Pradesh from May 18-21; Gangetic West Bengal between May 18 and 20; and Odisha on May 20 and 21. While a red alert for severe heatwave was issued for west Rajasthan, an Orange alert was also out for Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, East Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. A yellow alert for a heatwave-like condition was issued as well for Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha. Rajasthan's Barmer recorded a maximum temperature of 46.5C on Friday, while Delhi's Ayanagar logged 46.2C. Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh recorded 44.9C while Gujarat's Surendranagar and Punjab's Patiala logged 44.7C and 44.4C respectively. An area is considered to be in the grip of a heatwave if the maximum temperature at a weather station reaches at least 40C and at least 30C or more for hilly regions. (ANI)

Heat wave sweeps India: Agra and Barmer hit 46.9C, Delhi close behind

Ayanagar in Delhi followed closely with a temperature of 46.2 degrees. Gwalior experienced a high of 44.9 degrees, while Surendranagar and Patiala both registered temperatures of 44.7 degrees Celsius.

Chandigarh Sizzles at a Scorching 44.5C!

Chandigarh Sizzles at a Scorching 44.5C! The maximum temperature in the city reached 44.5 degrees Celsius as hot weather conditions continued unabated in Haryana and Punjab, the weather office here said on Friday. According to the Meteorological Department, the common capital of the two states was hotter by six notches above the season's normal limits. Rohtak and Sirsa in Haryana recorded identical maximums of 45.8 degrees Celsius, while heatwave also swept Hisar, Karnal and Ambala, which recorded temperatures of 45.5, 43.4 and 43.4 degrees Celsius, respectively, it said. Bhiwani recorded a maximum temperature of 43.2 degrees Celsius, the MeT department said. In Punjab, the maximum temperature in Amritsar reached 44.3 degrees Celsius, while in Faridkot it was 43 degrees Celsius, it said. According to the weather office, the mercury settled at 44.4 degrees Celsius in Patiala and Pathankot, and 43.8 degrees Celsius in Ludhiana. Gurdaspur recorded a high of 43 degrees Celsius while Mohali registered a maximum of 43.2 degrees Celsius, it said.

Whole Lota Splash

The humble lota, a spherical water vessel, is a rare sight in city life. Yet, in the villages of India and its hinterland, it is part of rituals and daily chores. The balti (bucket), too, has disappeared from urban bathrooms since the time we installed showers. We no longer lug double-decker tiffins to the office in an age of fast-delivery food options. The kulhad (an earthenware cup) is now limited to, if at all, roadside tea stalls and shacks, and train stations. The matkas (earthenware pots) and surahis (earthenware cylindrical water vessels), once known for their natural cooling properties and preserving water nutrients in the heat of the great Indian summers are now nowhere to be found. While one may, in the embrace of modern living, shy away from using such desi items, a Delhi-based product designer made a bold decision to resurrect such quintessentially Indian artefacts at the prestigious The Milan Design Week (MDW) 2024. Gunjan Guptas showcase, the Indian Tiny Mega Store, curated by notable design scholar Maria Cristina Didero, was on view from April 15 to 21. Gupta debuted 21 pieces from her home dcor brand Ikkis; they are exclusively available at her Delhi store from this month. Modern re-imaginations Each piece, which she put at her Milan show, is a contemporary reimagining of traditional Indian dinnerware, drinkware, serveware, and other utilitarian articles. For instance, the rustic kulhad has been transformed into a sophisticated copper water goblet with a terracotta coating, almost an Indian answer to the wine glass. A spherical brass lota has been given a unique elongated slender shape to serve as a decanter for holding chilled beverages. Gunjan Gupta with curator Maria Cristina Didero, Indian Tiny Mega Store, at Milan Design Week A set of two modest chai glasses stand elevated in look and style with an elegant brass stem with esoteric engravings on the surface, making it a unique glassware to sip champagne from. A Patiala balti, seen as a fixture near hand pumps in villages, has been reintroduced as a chiller carrier for cool beverages, especially if you have a house-party in mind. In Guptas hands, the humble surahi has assimilated Chinese tea-pot aesthetics in terracotta-coated copper. The matka has been transformed into a stylish jug to pour water from. A pankha (hand fan), which used to be the go-to during long power cuts in summers a couple of decades ago, takes the shape of a thali (plate), letting us relive the forgotten times. As a designer, I wanted to honour these ancient forms and bring them into the 21st century, infusing them with a new function, value, and quality. That, to me, is truly celebrating the past while embracing the future, Gupta tells TMS, adding that in a country like India, where cultural heritage is at risk of being overshadowed by rapid development, she ensures that her creations serve as a conduit for cultural sustainability, too. The functionality, practicality and accessibility of her designs got her a multitude of responses from visitors from Japan, Sweden, New York, South Africa, and more. That signifies that it is not just about the Indianness in the object that appealed to people, but the universality of the classical Indian forms, says the designer. Business wisdom dictates that Indian designers must align with Western standards of quality to remain relevant in the global market. But theres a need to present our narratives in a way that reflects our unique identity, free from the Western gaze, she says. Writing a global story Guptas inspiration for the Indian Tiny Megastore comes from her childhood. Her earliest influence was her mothers kitchen, always full of guests and food. I grew up in Mumbai. My family members often recount stories of me enjoying the clutter in the kitchen, showing a fascination for arranging objects and setting the table in my own way. My mother allowed me to be free and creative from a young age, which is how I was able to develop a sense of design. Later armed with a masters degree in design from Londons Central St Martins College in 2006, Gupta was associated with research and design for Sea Wind, the 14-storey home of Mukesh Ambanis family in Mumbai, early on in her career. Around this time, she began to wonder why India was obsessed with the Western design world in the 90s and the 2000s? I noticed that despite being in India, our outlook remained globally oriented, with a preference for sourcing products from international design hubs such as Milan, Brazil, the US, and France. At that time, there was no Pinterest or internet for inspiration. Interior designers would often travel to such destinations and return with stacks of physical catalogues to draw ideas from. When Gupta shifted base to Delhi in 1999, she discovered that India was absent from the collectable design landscape. In 2006, she launched her brand Studio Wrap, and Ikkis in 2019, to craft modern re-imaginations of typical Indian products. From crafting a mudawala throne chair inspired by bicycle vendors of India who carry mobile shops on their backs to a bori throne chair used by labourers who carry sacks on their backs to matka-shaped stone tables, she has taken to international fairs like Design Miami, Art Basel, Fuorisalone in Milan, and Design Days Dubai, the unique language of traditional Indian design. My recently concluded show at MDW was an extension of my practiceto steer clear of disposable trends and spotlight novel iterations of Indias handmade and craft vernacular, she says.

Fundamental right to be informed of grounds of arrest: SC

Following SC's ruling that NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief Prabir Purkayastha's arrest and remand were illegal, Patiala House Court ordered his release on bail bonds worth Rs 1 lakh, with three conditions: he shall not contact witnesses or approvers in the case, he shall not discuss the merits of the case, and he shall not travel abroad without the court's permission.

LS Polls: Haryana with 16 beats neighbour Punjab in fielding women candidates

CHANDIGARH: Four major parties in Punjab have fielded only six women candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, with BJP picking three, Congress two, and SAD one. AAP has not fielded any woman candidate. In neighbouring Haryana, parties have fielded 16 women and one in Himachal Pradesh. The Aam Aadmi Party was the first to announce candidates for all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab but it has not given ticket to any woman. Tuesday was the last day to file nominations. BJPs three women candidates are Preneet Kaur, wife of former CM Amarinder Singh, from Patiala; Anita Som Parkash, wife of Union minister of state Som Parkash, from Hoshiarpur (reserved); and former IAS officer Parampal Kaur Sidhu, daughter-in-law of Akali Dal leader SS Maluka, from Bathinda. Preneet was the Congresss MP, but she quit the party and joined the BJP. Congress two woman candidates are Yamini Gomar from Hoshiarpur and Amarjit Kaur Sahoke from Faridkot, both reserve seats. The Shiromani Akali Dal has fielded MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, from Bathinda for the fourth time. A former Union minister, Harsimrat defeated Raninder Singh, son Amarinder Singh, from Bathinda in 2009 LS polls. She defeated her brother-in-law Manpreet Singh Badal of Congress in 2014, and current Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring in 2019. A former government schoolteacher, Sahoke resigned from her job in 2013 and joined SAD and was elected as a zila parishad member. She also remained chairman of the zila parishad from 2013 to 2018. She contested assembly elections from Jagraon in 2017 but was defeated. Then she quit SAD and joined Congress. The 49-year old Gomar was AAP candidate from Hoshiarpur and came third. She resigned from AAP in 2016 and joined the Congress. It is unfortunate that AAP has not given representation to any woman in the parliamentary polls. The party often talks about women empowerment and equality but could not find even a single woman candidate, said Partap Singh Bajwa, Congress leader. In Haryana, BJP has given ticket to Banto Kataria from Amabla (reserved) and Congress to former union minister and ex-state unit president Kumari Selja from Sirsa.INLD has announced Sunaina Chautala from Hisar and she faces her cousin sister-in-law Naina Singh Chautala of JJP. Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Anurag Aggarwal said that after withdrawal of nominations, 223 candidates, including 16 women, are left in the contest for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Hisar has the maximum women candidates three out of 28. Kurukshetra has most number of candidates at 31, but only one woman. At Ambala, 14 candidates, including two women, are contesting. In Sirsa, one woman is among 19 candidates. Karnal has two women candidates, Rohtak two, Bhiwani-Mahendragarh two, Gurgaon one, and Faridabad two. In Himachal, BJP has fielded actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut from Mandi.

People across country want to make Narendra Modi PM again: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami

People across country want to make Narendra Modi PM again: Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami Uttarakhand CM and BJP leader Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the entire country in unison felt that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tirelessly worked for 140 crore people of the country in the past 10 years and they want to make him PM again. He participated in the nomination filing process of the BJP candidate from Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha seat Dr Subhash Sharma in Punjab on Tuesday. Pushkar Singh Dhami said, I visited many parts of the country during this (Lok Sabha) election in the last 25 days. A different kind of enthusiasm can be seen among people. All over the country, people want to make Modi ji the PM again. From Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Atak to Cuttack, everyone feels that PM Modi has served the country tirelessly in the past 10 years for 140 crore people of the country. We know that wherever there is a double-engine government in the country, at that place development has been at a rapid pace. He further said that PM Modi has worked for the people considering them to be his family members. In West Bengal's Hoogly in this hot weather, thousands of people including women and youth were out in the streets which was overwhelming. In Telangana's Warangal, Secunderabad and other places people are coming forward and feel that PM Modi has worked for them considering them to be his family members. This election is the time for PM Modi to get the reward for his sacrifice and hard work, he added. Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed confidence in the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Punjab and said that the state will create history on June 4. Dhami held a roadshow in support of the BJP candidate Dr Subhash Sharma from the Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha seat. Sharma is facing Congress nominee Vijay Inder Singla, AAP's Malvinder Singh Kang and Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) Prem Singh Chandumajra for the seat. In Punjab, voting for its 13 seats will take place in a single phase. The seventh and final phase on June 1 will see voting in Gurudaspur, Amritsar, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nandpur Sahib, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Firozpur, Bathinda, Sangrur, and Patiala constituencies. In the previous Lok Sabha Elections of 2019, the INC-led UPA alliance secured eight seats with a vote share of 40.6 per cent, while the NDA managed to secure four with a voting percentage of 9.7. The AAP, making its debut, secured one seat. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and AAP bagged 4 seats each while Congress secured 3 seats. The BJP managed to secure only two seats. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)

Punjab Police busts terror module operated by Iqbalpreet Singh, four held in Rajpura

Punjab Police busts terror module operated by Iqbalpreet Singh, four held in Rajpura Punjab's Anti-Gangster Task Force has busted a terror module operated by foreign-based mastermind Iqbalpreet Singh alias Buchi with the arrest of four module members, including key operative Gurwinder Singh alias Shera, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav. As per the information, accused Gurwinder Shera, who was presently out on bail, was earlier arrested by the AGTF in 2022 for conspiring target killings on the directions of Iqbalpreet Buchi, who had paid him Rs 1.50 lakh to execute target killings in the state. The other three arrested module members have been identified as Gurpreet Singh of Patiala, Ranjit Singh alias Sonu and Jagjit Singh alias Jashan of Patti, both residents of Patti in Tarn Taran. The arrests were made in Patiala's Rajpura. Police teams have also recovered three pistols along with 13 live cartridges from their possession, besides impounding their Mahindra Scorpio car. DGP Gaurav Yadav said that acting on the reliable inputs, AGTF teams under the supervision of ADGP Promod Ban laid a Naka at Liberty Chowk in Rajpura. Police teams headed by AIG Gurmeet Singh Chauhan and AIG Sandeep Goel and led by DSP Bikramjit Singh Brar managed to arrest them when they were travelling in their Mahindra Scorpio car, he said. He said that during the interrogation, Gurwinder Shera revealed that Iqbalpreet Buchi had regrouped their gang and was planning to commit sensational crimes in Punjab to disturb the hard-earned peace and harmony of the border state. Pertinently, Iqbalpreet Buchi was in touch with deceased terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and is also a close associate of Ramandeep Bagga alias Canadian, who was a main shooter in seven target killings that took place during 2016-2017, and he has been facing 11 criminal cases pertaining to murder, attempt to murder, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Arms Act etc. Presently, Bagga is lodged in Tihar Jail. Sharing more details, AIG Sandeep Goel said that further investigations are on to ascertain the involvement of more members in this radicalised group. More arrests are expected, he added. A case has been registered under section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 25(6)(7) of the Arms Act Police Station State Crime in SAS Nagar. Further investigation is underway. (ANI)

LS polls: Punjab CEO Sibin C releases final list of total voters in state

LS polls: Punjab CEO Sibin C releases final list of total voters in state Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C on Tuesday released the final list of total voters of Punjab for Lok Sabha Elections 2024. A total of 2,14,61,739 voters are eligible to cast their votes for the elections to be held in Punjab on June 1, 2024. According to an official statement, providing further details, Sibin C said that May 4 was the deadline for registering new voters in Punjab and the forms submitted by 4 May were to be decided by May 14. According to the voter list released today, the total number of voters in Punjab is 2,14,61,739. These include 1,12,86,726 male voters, 1,01,74,240 female voters and 773 transgender voters. The Chief Electoral Officer said that 5,38,715 voters belong to the 18-19 age group, who will be casting their votes for the first time. Similarly, 1,89,855 voters are aged above 85 years. The total number of 'Divyang' voters is 1,58,718. For the 13 Lok Sabha seats, a total of 24,451 polling stations will be set up, with 16,517 in villages and 7,934 in cities. In Punjab, 100 per cent photo identity cards (EPIC) have been made. Instructions have already been given to the Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Election Officers, to ensure all arrangements are made for the convenience of voters at the polling booths. He urged voters to participate enthusiastically to achieve the target of 'Is Vaar 70 Paar'. There are a total of 16,05,204 voters in the Lok Sabha constituency of Gurdaspur, including 8,48,885 male voters, 7,56,283 female voters, and 36 transgender voters. In Amritsar, there are a total of 16,11,263 voters, including 8,45,434 male voters, 7,65,766 female voters, and 63 transgender voters. Similarly, Khadoor Sahib has a total of 16,67,797 voters, including 8,76,281 male voters, 7,91,449 female voters and 67 transgender voters. Jalandhar has a total of 16,54,003 voters, including 8,59,687 male voters, 7,94,272 female voters and 44 transgender voters. Likewise, Hoshiarpur has a total of 16,01,826 voters including 8,30,840 male voters, 7,70,942 female voters and 44 transgender voters. Anandpur Sahib has a total of 17,32,211 voters, including 9,04,050 male voters, 8,28,097 female voters and 64 transgender voters. Ludhiana has a total of 17,58,614 voters, out of which 9,37,094 are male voters, 8,21,386 are female voters and 134 are transgender voters. Fatehgarh Sahib has a total of 15,52,567 voters, including 8,23,339 male voters, 7,29,196 female voters and 32 transgender voters. Faridkot has a total of 15,94,033 voters, including 8,42,184 male voters, 7,51,768 female voters and 81 transgender voters. Ferozepur has a total of 16,70,008 voters, including 8,80,617 male voters, 7,89,343 female voters and 48 transgender voters. Bathinda has a total of 16,51,188 voters, including 8,70,014 male voters, 7,81,140 female voters and 34 transgender voters. Sangrur has a total of 15,56,601 voters, including 8,24,001 male voters, 7,32,554 female voters and 46 transgender voters. Similarly, Patiala has a total of 18,06,424 voters, including 9,44,300 male voters, 8,62,044 female voters and 80 transgender voters. Sibin C further said that there will be a total of 24,451 polling stations for 13 Lok Sabha seats. These include 1895 in Gurdaspur, Amritsar 1684, Khadoor Sahib 1974, Jalandhar 1951, Hoshiarpur 1963, Anandpur Sahib 2068, Ludhiana 1843, Fatehgarh Sahib 1821, Faridkot 1688, Ferozepur 1903, Bathinda 1814, Sangrur 1765 and in Patiala 2082 Polling Stations. In Punjab, voting for its 13 seats will take place in a single phase. The seventh and final phase on June 1 will see voting in Gurudaspur, Amritsar, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nandpur Sahib, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Firozpur, Bathinda, Sangrur, and Patiala constituencies. The counting of votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)

Amit Shah doctored video case: Accused Arun Reddy gets bail from Delhi Court

Amit Shah doctored video case: Accused Arun Reddy gets bail from Delhi Court The Patiala House Court of Delhi on Monday granted bail to accused Arun Reddy who allegedly handled the 'Spirit of Congress' X account, in the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's deepfake morphed video' case on furnishing of bail bonds in the sum of Rs. 50,000/- with one surety in the like amount. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Nabila Wali on Monday observed that the prime allegation against the applicant/ accused on the basis of which he was arrested is being the 'Admin' of the Whats App group on which the alleged fake video was first posted for circulation. However, there are no allegations of the applicant/ accused having posted/ circulated the said video on any forum. Reddy was recently arrested by the Delhi Police in the case and was in Judicial Custody. According to the Police he handles the group called 'Spirit of Congress' X account, in the Union Home Minister Amit Shah 'deepfake morphed video' case. The Delhi Police had arrested Arun Reddy, who handles the 'Spirit of Congress' X account, in connection with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah's doctored video case. In the doctored video, the Union Home Minster is purportedly heard saying that the BJP stands against the reservations in the country. However, during his address at a public meeting in Congress-ruled Telangana, Shah said, If the BJP forms the government here, we will withdraw the unconstitutional reservations to Muslims. We will ensure that the SCs, STs and OBCs get quotas as guaranteed under the Constitution. Earlier, five Congress workers were arrested by the Telangana Police in connection with Shah's fake video case. (ANI)

Punjab polls: Congress' Preneet Kaur, AAP's Dhaliwal, other candidates file nominations

Punjab polls: Congress' Preneet Kaur, AAP's Dhaliwal, other candidates file nominations A number of candidates, including the BJP's Preneet Kaur and AAP's Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, filed their nominations on Monday for the June 1 Lok Sabha polls in Punjab. Preneet Kaur and her AAP challenger Balbir Singh filed their nominations in Patiala while the AAP's Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal filed his papers from Amritsar. BJP candidate Arvind Khanna filed his papers from the Sangrur parliamentary seat while SAD nominee Virsa Singh Valtoha submitted his nomination for the Khadoor Sahib seat in the Tarn Taran district. Nominations can be filed till May 14 while scrutiny of papers will take place on May 15. The last date for the withdrawal of nominations is May 17. While filing her papers, four-time MP Preneet Kaur was accompanied by her son Raninder Singh, daughter Jai Inder Kaur and BJP leaders. Before filling her papers, she paid obeisance at Patiala's historic Burj Baba Ala Singh. Kaur, who joined the BJP in March, represented the Patiala constituency in 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2019 on Congress tickets. She was suspended by the Congress in February last year soon after her husband and former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh joined the BJP. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar accompanied Arvind Khanna who filed his nomination from the Sangrur parliamentary constituency. Polling for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held on June 1.

Punjab: Preneet Kaur BJP candidate from Patiala files nomination for Lok Sabha polls

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Delhi car showroom firing case: Second accused arrested from Kolkata

Delhi car showroom firing case: Second accused arrested from Kolkata A second person involved in firing case at a car showroom in the national capital's Tilak Nagar has been arrested from his hideout in Kolkata, Delhi Police said on Monday. The accused, identified as Mohit was arrested by Kolkata Police with the help of Crime Branch of Delhi Police, in the recent firing case which left four people injured and triggered panic among the locals. Delhi Police upon receiving intelligence from sources, detected location of Mohit who was hiding in Kolkata. In the initial phase of the investigation, the Delhi Police team found out that the suspect might flee the country from Kolkata. To halt his escape, the team of Delhi Police Crime Branch shared all the information with the Kolkata Police leading to his arrest. Personnel of Delhi Police Crime Branch have reached Kolkata and the accused will be brought to Delhi today on transit remand, officials said. The term transit remand refers to the judicial magistrate's order remanding an arrested person to police custody for their transit to another state. It is the remand of the accused, sought by police, for taking the accused from one place to another in their own custody. The Delhi Police Special Cell had earlier arrested one accused identified as Ketan one of the three people who were involved in opening fire at a car showroom in Tilak Nagar area. Ketan was arrested from Panipat and produced him before the Patiala House Court, which sent him to police custody for four days. He had informed police that gangster Himanshu Bhau, who is sitting abroad, had ordered him to open fire at the showroom, not to kill anyone, but to scare the showroom owner. Himanshu Bhau is close to gangster Neeraj Bawana and gangster Naveen Bali. (ANI)

INTERVIEW | We respect farmers, but they should let us campaign in hinterland

Former Union minister of state for external affairs, four-time MP from Patiala and a scion of the erstwhile royal family, the 79-year-old Preneet Kaur is contesting as a BJP candidate from Patiala for the first time. The wife of former Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh told Harpreet Bajwa in an interview that she always supported farmers but the final call will be with the government that comes to power and the farmers. Excerpts: Farmers are opposing BJP candidates across Punjab. Why are they doing so? The farmers have a right to oppose. However, it is also our right to be able to go anywhere; we should respect each other. What is your stand on bringing a law on Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all crops? Look, I do not want to say anything on this, we support them (farmers), we have always supported them, but the final call will be with the government that comes to power after the elections. The farmers should get what they deserve. You have been an MP from Patiala for 4 terms. Are you seeking votes in the name of PM Modi or the works you have done for the constituency? I am seeking votes based on works done by me for my constituency and also in the name of PM Modi both because I seek votes for the party and party manifesto and I also seek votes on the relationship that I have with the people of my constituency. I cannot list the work I have done -- it is 25 years of work. I have full faith in the bond that I have with the people. What are the main issues in your constituency? One of the main issues is the future of our youth and employment. I am happy that PM Modi is creating opportunities where people can stand on their own two feet -- from the cart-puller to rural women. For instance, the lakhpati didi idea is helping generate work as government jobs are very few. For the first time, the BJP is contesting solo in Punjab. What are the partys prospects? I think the party will certainly do well to firm up its roots. We have a good platform with PM and the work done by him. We will perform very well. Any possibility of a post-poll alliance with SAD as you and your husband Capt Amarinder Singh have been advocating? Im afraid I cannot say anything on that. It can be answered by the Akali Dal and BJP central leadership. Traditionally, there has been an alliance that keeps a bhaicharik (brotherly) relationship between communities. Punjab is witnessing a four-concerned contest. Will it benefit BJP? You will have to wait until June 4, but we will do well. Why did you join the BJP after decades of association with Congress? Ideologically, BJP and Congress are different. As far as Capt Sahib, myself and my family are concerned, we have always worked for the people of Punjab. That is our ideology. How do you rate the performance of AAP in Punjab? Not very well; theres nothing on the ground. Corruption is rampant and all the tall promises are visible only on billboards and advertisements.

Punjab: Sunil Jakhar, Assam CM to accompany Parneet Kaur to file nomination from Patiala tomorrow

The News Mill

Khalistani Tiger Force Plots Conspiracy Against India; Home Ministry Launches Probe

Five of the most wanted terrorists from the Khalistani Tiger Force are currently scattered across five different countries, actively plotting a major conspiracy against India. What's alarming is the revelation that the threads of this conspiracy lead back to the Patiala Central Jail in Punjab. Acting on intelligence inputs, the Home Ministry has mandated the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to delve into the matter. Subsequently, the NIA has initiated an investigation in compliance with the Home Ministry's directive.

Battle for Punjab: BJP nominates maximum turncoats as key Lok Sabha candidates

CHANDIGARH: Of the 52 candidates declared by the four major political partiesthe AAP, BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)in Punjab, 15 are defectors. Topping the list is the BJP with seven such candidates, followed by Congress and AAP with three each and SAD with one. Most of the leaders have switched over from Congress. A leading political analyst, Professor Kuldip Singh, told this newspaper, Since there was a shortage of candidates in both the BJP and AAP, they ventured out, giving the turncoats a field day, especially with the BJP. In Jalandhar, all the parties have defectors. Most of them are from Congress, which is the oldest political party. The bigger the family, the more likely there is an internal rift. The BJP used to fight on three Lok Sabha seats in alliance with SAD. Now, it is contesting solo and needs candidates. Taking defectors on board is a step to fill the gap. Among the turncoats fielded by the BJP are sitting MPs Preneet Kaur from Patiala and Ravneet Singh Bittu from Ludhiana. Both ditched Congress to join the saffron party in March this year. Sushil Kumar Rinku from Jalandhar, an AAP leader and former minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi from Ferozepur was formerly with the Congress. While Preneet Kaurs switch was on expected lines as her husband, former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, whom the Congress unceremoniously removed from the post of CM, joined the BJP in September 2022, Bittu joining the BJP came as a surprise. Sodhi joined the saffron party just ahead of the 2022 assembly polls as he was the sports minister in the Amarinder Singh-led cabinet, and he has been fielded from the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat. Also, three-time former SAD MLA Manjit Singh Manna Mianwind, who joined the BJP in January 2022, has been fielded from Khadoor Sahib. In Jalandhar, all parties have defectors According to political analyst Kuldip Singh, Since there was a shortage of candidates in both the BJP and AAP, they gave the turncoats a field day, especially the BJP. In Jalandhar, all the parties have defectors. Most of them are from the Congress, which is the oldest political party. The bigger the family, the more likely there is an internal rift. Rinku is the most conspicuous party-hopper, as he changed parties twice. He was the Congress MLA from Jalandhar (West) in 2017 and joined AAP in April last year ahead of the Jalandhar Lok Sabha by-poll, becoming the lone MP of the party. He switched to the BJP in March this year. Meanwhile, former Congress leader Gejja Ram Valmiki, who joined BJP in 2022, was given a ticket by Fategarh Sahib. Also, Arvind Khanna, who joined the BJP, has been fielded from Sangrur. The BJP is fighting these polls solo this time.

Waive off or lower challan? How to easily settle the Delhi Traffic Police challan in courts; know date, location, process

Delhi Traffic Police Challan: The National Lok Adalat session is going to be held on May 11, 2024 from 10am till 4pm at warka, Karkardooma, Patiala House, Rohini, Rouse Avenue, Saket and Tis Hazari district courts of Delhi. If you have any DL traffic challan which is pending, then go here and settle it.

Delhi: One held after firing at car showroom in Tilak Nagar area

The accused, identified as Ketan, a 20-year-old, was arrested during his fleeing attempt from Panipat and produced before Patiala House Court by the Delhi Police Special Cell team on Wednesday

Delhi: One held after incident of firing reported at car showroom in Tilak Nagar

Delhi: One held after incident of firing reported at car showroom in Tilak Nagar Delhi Police Special Cell arrested one accused after he along with two other shooters opened fire at a car showroom in the Tilak Nagar area. The accused has been sent to police custody for four days, police officials said on Wednesday. Delhi Police said, An incident of firing has been reported in a car showroom in the Tilak Nagar area. Multiple shots were fired. Some people have sustained injuries due to the broken glass and are undergoing treatment. Further details awaited. The accused had been identified as Ketan (20), the Special Cell of Delhi Police said. The accused was arrested from Panipat and produced before Patiala House Court by the Special Cell team on Wednesday. The accused has been sent to police custody for four days. Delhi police further said, The accused who has been arrested had reached the showroom in Tilak Nagar area with two shooters on his bike. The shooters opened fire on the showroom and after that, Ketan along with the shooters fled the place in the bike. After travelling some distance both the shooters fled separately and Ketan left towards Panipat on his bike from where the police caught him, a pistol was also recovered from Ketan. According to Special Cell sources, during interrogation, Ketan revealed that gangster Himanshu Bhau, sitting abroad, had ordered him to open fire at the showroom. Himanshu Bhau is close to gangster Neeraj Bawana and gangster Naveen Bali. Delhi police further said, Accused Ketan on the instructions of gangster Himanshu Bhau, had fired at the showroom. He fired about 20 rounds. His intention was not to kill anyone, but only to scare. He had no idea about the showroom owner but on the advice of Himanshu Bhau, he opened fire. According to sources, the Special Cell team can soon take custody of gangster Naveen Bali. The Special Cell team is interrogating Ketan about the whereabouts of the two shooters. (ANI)

Capt ancestor sold Sikhs to Abdali for Patiala: CM

Lok Sabha polls: Congress candidate Dharamvira Gandhi files nomination from Patiala seat

Dharamvira Gandhi, the Congress candidate for the Patiala Lok Sabha constituency, filed his nomination papers after a roadshow in Patiala, accompanied by Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and other party leaders. Warring highlighted Gandhi's overwhelming support from voters, emphasizing his commitment to raise their issues in Parliament. He took a jab at BJP candidate Preneet Kaur, the sitting MP, suggesting her inability to address concerns effectively.

Congress Names Sher Singh Ghubaya as Candidate for Firozpur Lok Sabha Seat

Amritsar: The All India Congress Committee (AICC) announced on Tuesday that Sher Singh Ghubaya will be the Congress candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from the Firozpur constituency in Punjab.According to a press release issued by the AICC, The Central Election Committee has approved the candidature of Shri Sher Singh Ghubaya as Congress candidate to contest the ensuing general elections to the Lok Sabha from 10 - Firozpur Parliamentary constituency of Punjab. Punjab will have voting for all its 13 seats in a single phase, with the final phase scheduled for June 1. The constituencies where polling will take place include Firozpur, Ludhiana, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Khadoor Sahib, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Nandpur Sahib, Fatehgarh Sahib, Faridkot, Bathinda, Sangrur, and Patiala.Meanwhile, polling is underway for 93 Lok Sabha seats across 12 states and union territories in the third phase of the general election on Tuesday. The states and union territories where elections are being held in this phase are Assam (4), Bihar (5), Chhattisgarh (7), Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (2), Goa (2), Gujarat (25), Karnataka (14), Maharashtra (11), Madhya Pradesh (8), Uttar Pradesh (10), and West Bengal (4). The BJP has won the Surat seat unopposed.In this phase, more than 1300 candidates, including around 120 women, are contesting. A total of 17.24 crore voters are eligible to cast their votes in this phase at 1.85 lakh polling stations. Prominent leaders contesting in today's elections include Union Home Minister Amit Shah, former Madhya Pradesh chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Digvijaya Singh, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav, and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule, among others. In the 2019 general election, the BJP won 72 of the 93 seats that are going to the polls today. The Lok Sabha elections are being held across seven phases, from April 19 to June 1. The counting is scheduled for June 4. Modi Creating Hatred for Political Gain, Says Sonia Gandhi in a Video Message Container Carrying 666 Crore Worth of Gold Jewels Capsizes in Tamil Nadu CBI and Lokayukta Complaint Filed in 800 Crore Scam Involving Mallikarjun Kharge's Son-in-law

Punjab BJP chief raises concerns over protests faced by party candidates

Punjab BJP chief raises concerns over protests faced by party candidates Amid the BJP candidates facing protests from the farmers in Punjab, state party chief Sunil Jakhar Monday sought the intervention of the chief electoral officer, claiming that the party nominees were ''being forced to withdraw from campaigns''. Jakhar expressed the apprehension on the ''possible collusion'' of the ruling AAP and other parties in causing obstructions and encumbrances in the campaign of the BJP candidates. The BJP candidates and leaders have been facing protests from the farmers while campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls. As part of the protests, the farmers ask questions to the BJP leaders and show them black flags for not agreeing to their demands. A delegation of the BJP leaders, led by Jakhar, Monday submitted a memorandum to Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C, claiming that the state machinery has miserably failed to ensure the right of campaign of the BJP candidates in the poll fray. Without providing an equal platform to campaign, the election process will be rendered futile, claimed Jakhar, who was flanked by party leaders Parminder Brar and Vineet Joshi. ''While the BJP has always stood for the rights of the farmers believing in dialogue as the way forward, such unchecked protests against the BJP candidates, who are being forced to withdraw from campaigns in parts of Punjab, can lead to unforeseeable consequences and untoward incidents of violence and clashes,'' Jakhar said in the memorandum. ''The possibility of anti-social elements sneaking in under the garb of the farmer protest and creating havoc cannot be ruled out. This would vitiate the elections rendering both the process and the final outcome unfair,'' he said. Jakhar said if the election machinery does not intervene to check this ''well-planned conspiracy'' against the BJP, it will vitiate the elections rendering both the process and the final outcome unfair. ''Free and fair elections and the right to campaign have always remained quintessential ingredients in flourishing democracies. This epistle is to bring to your notice and highlight our apprehension of a well-calibrated 'sponsored' denial of the right of the BJP candidates to campaign in Punjab in the backdrop of the deteriorating law and order situation under the incumbent AAP government led by Bhagwant Mann,'' said Jakhar. He alleged deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab while underlining the ongoing disruptions and denial of the right to campaign to the BJP candidates. ''It remains the responsibility of the Punjab Electoral Office, the state administrative and the police apparatus to ensure the BJP candidates have unhindered access to every part to exert their democratic right to campaign,'' he said. However, he added, dozens of incidents in the recent past and the latest incident in Patiala, where a farmer died falling on his own on a road during the campaign of BJP candidate (from Patiala) Preneet Kaur, need immediate attention. The apprehension of ''collusion'' of the political parties including the AAP, the SAD and the Congress in scripting such ''disruptions'' for the BJP candidates looms large, Jakhar said. The state machinery, he added, cannot act as a ''conduit'' to facilitate such obstructions. Jakhar said these parties are clearly ''rattled'' by the increasing footprints of the BJP in Punjab. The state BJP chief said, ''The state DGP, Chief Secretary need to be put on notice for lapses that are leading to obstruction in BJP campaign and resulting in amplified threat to security of party candidates in poll fray.'' Protests and obstructions during the elections cannot take place without prior permission and notice, he said, lamenting what was happening at the ground level augments the BJPs apprehensions of a ''sponsored link'' to the ongoing disruptions. ''We apprehend threats to the safety of our candidates during elections. The office of the CEO cannot be a mute spectator to the underlying conspiracy to deny the right to campaign to the BJP. ''The BJP has utmost faith in the election process and the EC teams in states. We expect the CEO to urgently intervene keeping in mind the facts cited above,'' said Jakhar.

Punjab Polls: General, Police Observers Deployed

Punjab Polls: General, Police Observers Deployed The Election Commission has appointed general and police observers for 13 seats in Punjab to ensure peaceful and transparent elections. They will assume their responsibilities from May 14, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C said in a statement. The nomination process for the Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will commence on May 7. Sibin C said 13 IAS officers from various states have been appointed as general observers, while seven IPS officers have been appointed as police observers. Their role is to ensure adherence to the rules and directives of the ECI during the elections, regarding the Model Code of Conduct, he said. Among the IAS officers who have been appointed as general observers are K Mahesh for Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, Siddharth Jain for Amritsar, Abhimanyu Kumar for Khadoor Sahib, J Meghanatha Reddy for Jalandhar, Dr. R. Anandakumar for Hoshiarpur and Dr Heera Lal for Anandpur Sahib. Divya Mittal has been appointed for Ludhiana, Rakesh Shankar for Fatehgarh Sahib, Roohi Khan for Faridkot, Kapil Meena for Ferozepur, Dr S Prabhakar for Bathinda, Shanavas for Sangrur and Om Prakash Bakoria for Patiala Lok Sabha seat. Police observers include IPS officers Kushal Pal Singh for Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seats, Sweta Shrimali for Amritsar and Khadoor Sahib, Satish Kumar Gajbhiye for Jalandhar and Ludhiana, Sandeep Gajanan Diwan for Anandpur Sahib and Fatehgarh Sahib, B Shankar Jaiswal for Bathinda and Faridkot, A.R. Damodhar for Ferozepur and Amir Javed for Sangrur and Patiala Lok Sabha seats. Fifteen IRS officers have already been appointed as expenditure observers.

BJP leader, others booked a day after farmer dies at stir

Patiala: Farmer Surinderpal died after scuffle with BJP workers. Harwinder Singh booked under Section 304. Unionists demand arrest, compensation. Autopsy pending. Administration to meet farmers for accountability and justice.

Punjab's Experiment with Political Alliances Proves Costly, Says Badal

Punjab's Experiment with Political Alliances Proves Costly, Says Badal Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday said experimenting with AAP and Congress has ''cost Punjab dearly'', with all its core issues, including federal autonomy, being thrown on the back burner. Badal urged the people of Punjab to put their faith in the SAD to ensure the state's voice reaches Parliament. The SAD president made the remarks during a tour of the Dera Bassi assembly segment while campaigning in favour of the party's Patiala candidate N K Sharma as part of his party's 'Punjab Bachao Yatra'. ''Our experiments have cost us dearly. Earlier the Congress misled you with false promises of a loan waiver, jobs for every household and Rs 2,500 per month to the unemployed youth but did nothing. ''Then the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) went a step further and promised Rs 1,000 per month to women, besides promising to eradicate the menace of drugs. This promise was also false and AAP stands thoroughly exposed as it has bankrupted the state by taking on a loan of Rs 1 lakh crore,'' Badal said. Asserting that the SAD alone could fulfil the aspirations of the state, Badal said, ''We are committed to federal autonomy to ensure the rights of Punjab are safeguarded.'' Similarly, we feel the sentiments of the Sikh community should also be respected,'' he said. ''This was not being done and that is why we chose to stand by our principles and contest this election alone. We will continue on this path but will never compromise with our core ideology,'' Badal said. Stating that Punjab was for everyone, Badal said ''divisive politics propagated by Delhi-based parties which are based on religion and casteism will never succeed in the state''. ''Punjabis are secular by nature and follow the principle of 'sarbat da bhala' propounded by our Guru Sahiban. I am confident they will repose faith in their own regional party SAD and shun Delhi-based parties'', he said. Badal said only SAD would be able to raise the voice of Punjab in Parliament as MPs of Delhi-based parties have kept quiet on crucial issues of Punjab ''since they take directions from their heads for whom Punjab is of no consequence.'' ''For the SAD, Punjab and Punjab alone is important. We will raise your voice in Parliament and ensure it is heard,'' Badal added.

Bajrang Punia provisionally suspended, WFI to seek clarity from WADA after NADA's alleged neglect

Bajrang Punia provisionally suspended, WFI to seek clarity from WADA after NADA's alleged neglect Bajrang Punia has been handed provisional suspension for refusing to give his sample for dope test during recent trials and the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) is furious that NADA kept it ''in dark'' on the development and is planning to write to World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on the matter. Bajrang was handed provisional suspension on April 23 by National Anti Doping Agency (NADA) and asked to send his reply by May 7 to avoid further disciplinary action. The trials to pick the men's national team for the Asian Olympic Qualifiers in Bishkek were held in Sonepat on March 10 and Bajrang had walked off the venue without providing his urine sample after losing his bout. Reacting to his suspension, Bajrang said he never refused to provide his sample to NADA officials. ''I want to clarify that I never refused to give my sample to NADA officials. I requested them to first answer me as to what action they took on the expired kit they brought to take my sample and then take my dope test,'' Bajrang wrote on X. ''My lawyer Vidush Singhania will reply to this letter,'' he wrote further. The Tokyo Games bronze medallist also posted a video in which he displayed ''expired kits'' being sent for sample collection and asked the official why such kits were brought. The video is from the time a dope sample collecting officer visited him to take samples. In the video, Bajrang said he was fortunate to have a team that noticed the expiry date and what would have innocent junior wrestlers done in case such kits reach them. He also alleged that former WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh was using such kits to scare women wrestlers who had the guts to come out in the open against him. ''I am not blaming you. This is work of the big crocodiles sitting above. Money talks in these matter,'' he was heard telling the officer in the video. If Bajrang fails to come out clean with his reply, he will be out of the race for Paris Olympic Qualification. According to the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) Code, ''Refusing, or failing without compelling justification, to submit to sample collection after notification as authorized in applicable anti-doping rules or otherwise evading sample collection is an anti-doping rule violation.'' Meanwhile WFI President Sanjay Singh expressed his surprise that NADA did not inform them about the suspension. ''It's really surprising that NADA did not keep us in loop while suspending Bajrang. I had a meeting with NADA DG and other officials on April 25 and this matter was not raised in that meeting,'' Sanjay told PTI. ''They keep communicating with us on matters such as whereabout clause requirements, long list (for Paris Olympics) and so on. Even we had a discussion about the recent Federation Cup, where they sent officials to collect samples from the winners. ''But they did not let us know about this suspension of Bajrang Punia. I called NADA officials this morning and they had no answer to my query. Now, I plan to write to NADA and also inform WADA about this,'' he said. It was reported that Vinesh Phogat had also initially refused to provide her sample after she won the women's 50kg trials in Patiala. ''We were not informed by anyone whose samples were taken after trials (in Sonepat and Patiala) and what came out of those samples. Just imagine if Bajrang had come to compete in the Federation Cup. We would have allowed him because we had no clue that he had been suspended,'' the WFI chief added. Meanwhile, Bhupender Singh Bajwa, who was the head of the dissolved ad-hoc panel, told PTI they also have no communication regarding the suspension of Bajrang. ''I have got the mail checked. We have no such communication. We got a mail on April 18 about a warning to Bajrang but the April 23 communication is not with us. I don't know to which email ID they sent it,'' Bajwa said. The World Qualifiers in Turkey from May 9 is the last chance for Indian wrestlers to lock quotas for the Paris Olympics. Sujeet Kalkal will represent India in the men's freestyle 65kg class, a category in which Bajrang competes. If Sujeet wins the quota, the WFI may ask him and other quota winners to appear in one final trial to decide who represents India in the Paris Games, starting July 26. So far, four Indian women wrestlers -- Vinesh Phogat (50kg), Antim Panghal (53kg), Anshu Malik (57kg) and Reetika Hooda (76kg) -- have qualified for the Olympics.

Rail Roko protest: 55-year-old woman farmer dies at Shambhu railway station in Punjabs Patiala

Patiala, May 5: A woman farmer, identified as Balwinder Kaur of Tarn Taran district, died during the ongoing Rail Roko' protest at the Shambhu railway station here on Sunday. Balwinder, 55, is the first woman farmer who died since the second phase of farmers' protest began on February 13. She was part of a jatha [] The post Rail Roko protest: 55-year-old woman farmer dies at Shambhu railway station in Punjabs Patiala appeared first on Northlines .

Farmer dies during protest against BJP candidate in Punjabs Patiala

Patiala: A farmer died during a protest against BJP candidate Preneet Kaur here on Saturday, following which Kaur cancelled his poll campaign programmes for the day and Sunday. Sixty-year-old farmer Surinder Pal Singh fell on the ground during the protest at the Sihra village. Protesting farmers alleged that Singh fell after security personnel pushed them. 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 .

AAP believes in welfare, not division, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann takes on PM Modi at Patiala roadshow

Patiala: Ahead of his visit to Gujarat, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a roadshow in favour of AAP candidate Dr Balbir Singh in Tripuri Market here today. Mann said, We do not believe in dividing communities for petty political gains. We believe in welfare and offering affordable healthcare, education [] The post AAP believes in welfare, not division, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann takes on PM Modi at Patiala roadshow appeared first on Northlines .

Delhi HC reserves its order on NewsClick HR heads bail plea in UAPA case

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its order on the bail plea of NewsClicks Human Resources head Amit Chakravarty, in a case lodged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act over allegations that the media outlet received money to spread pro-China propaganda. On Tuesday, Delhis Patiala House Court took cognisance of Delhi Polices 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 Assembly Elections: EC Deploys 15 Expenditure Observers

Punjab Assembly Elections: EC Deploys 15 Expenditure Observers The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday appointed expenditure observers for Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab to ensure parties comply with expenditure regulations during the campaign period, officials said. These 15 expenditure observers are entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing the expenditure incurred by candidates and political parties during the campaign period and ensuring that it is in compliance with election expenditure regulations, they said. Harshad S Vengurlekar has been appointed for Gurdaspur parliamentary constituency, Bare Ganesh Sudhakar for Amritsar, Anurag Tripathi for Khadoor Sahib, Madhav Deshmukh for Jalandhar (SC), and Pawan Kumar Khetan for Hoshiarpur, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C said. Similarly, Shilpi Sinha has been appointed for Anandpur Sahib, Pankaj Kumar and Chetan D Kalamkar for Ludhiana, and Akhilesh Kumar Yadava and Nandini R Nair for Bathinda constituency, he said. Additionally, Anand Kumar has been designated for Fatehgarh Sahib, Manish Kumar for Faridkot, Nagendra Yadav for Ferozepur, Amit Sanjay Gaurav for Sangrur, and Meetu Agarwal for Patiala as expenditure observers. Polling for 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will take place on June 1, the Punjab chief electoral officer said.

PUP Exam Result 2024 Released: Visit punjabiuniversity.ac.in to View Your Scores

Punjabi University Patiala (PUP) has announced the release of the results for various courses including BA, MA, MSc, and others. The results are now available online on the official website of the university - punjabiuniversity.ac.in. Students can access and download their PUP results by providing their roll number.

Speech of Dr Kanwaljeet Singh at Tohra Institute, Bahadurgarh (Punjab)

A Seminar on Gurmukhi Education System on 25th April 2024 at Panth Ratan Jathedar Gurcharan Singh Tohra Institute of Advanced Studies in Sikhism Bahadurgarh,Patiala This News/Article Speech of Dr Kanwaljeet Singh at Tohra Institute, Bahadurgarh (Punjab) appeared first on Sikh Siyasat News .

BJP fields Harsimrat Kaur Badal as candidate for Lok Sabha bypoll in Bathinda

BJP fields Harsimrat Kaur Badal as candidate for Lok Sabha bypoll in Bathinda Parampal Kaur Sidhu, the BJP candidate from the Bathinda Lok Sabha seat, does not see a big challenge in sitting MP and SAD nominee Harsimrat Kaur Badal, claiming there is a massive'' anti-incumbency against her. The Bathinda constituency is considered a stronghold of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) with Harsimrat Kaur Badal, a former Union minister and wife of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, bagging the seat in the 2009, 2014 and 2019 general elections. She has been fielded again from the seat by the SAD. Sidhu is the daughter-in-law of senior Akali leader Sikander Singh Maluka. She, along with her husband Gurpreet Singh Maluka, joined the BJP recently while Sikander Singh continues to remain with the Sukhbir Singh Badal-led party. She (Harsimrat) is not a big challenge. There is massive anti-incumbency against her. She has never been in touch with the public, claimed Sidhu, a 2011-batch IAS officer who quit her job to join politics. Sidhu said Harsimrat Kaur Badal, the daughter-in-law of five-time Punjab chief minister and SAD patriarch late Parkash Singh Badal, won in 2019 because of the BJP support. Now, without the support of the BJP, she should not even think about of winning this seat, Sidhu told PTI. The BJP is contesting the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab on its own for the first time since 1996 after the SAD walked out of the NDA in 2020 over the now-repealed farm laws. Accusing Badal of taking credit for development projects in Bathinda, Sidhu said it was because of the BJP government at the Centre that an All India Institute of Medical Sciences and a central university came up in the constituency, besides a network of roads. Keeping in mind the interests of the Sikh community, the BJP government built the Kartarpur corridor, removed goods and services tax (GST) on items used for making langar in gurdwaras and announced Veer Bal Diwas to be observed on December 26 every year to mark the martyrdom day of the sons of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru. Everything is in the BJP's favour, she asserted. Sidhu said when her father-in-law sees for himself the BJP wave and realises that the public opinion is in favour of the saffron party, he will be convinced that she took a ''good decision''. Maluka, a former cabinet minister, had earlier said that he had tried to stop his son and daughter-in-law from joining the BJP. Donning the role of a politician after working as an officer in the state government, Sidhu said she does not see any positive change in Punjab under the new AAP government while asserting that she has always been working towards resolving the problems of the people. Taking on the AAP, Sidhu alleged there was ''nil'' performance by the Bhagwant Mann-led dispensation in the state. Files are not cleared for several days. There is no review of any department. Nothing is happening in the state government. Only statements are issued, alleged Sidhu whose last posting was as the managing director of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation. It is only the BJP which will form the government at the Centre, she asserted. Responding to farmers protesting against the BJP candidates, Sidhu accused the SAD of orchestrating agitations, including those in the Bathinda constituency. Within a few minutes, the pictures of such protests are uploaded on the SADs Facebook, she claimed. The BJP candidates and leaders have been facing protests from farmers during poll campaigning. BJP's Faridkot candidate Hans Raj Hans, Amritsar candidate Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Patiala candidate Preneet Kaur and Gurdaspur candidate Dinesh Babbu have faced the farmers' anger. For the Bathinda parliamentary constituency, Sidhu said she wanted a rail coach factory to be set up and more industrial units to come up. Besides Badal and Sidhu, AAPs Gurmeet Singh Khuddian and Congress partys Jeet Mohinder Sidhu are in the fray from the Bathinda seat.

What Is Saccharin? The Artificial Sweetener Found In Cake That Killed Patiala Girl

Saccharin was discovered in 1879 by Constantin Fahlberg, a chemistry professor at Johns Hopkins University.

Parliament security breach case: Delhi court extends police custody of all 6 accused till May 25

Delhi's Patiala house court on Thursday granted Delhi police more 30 days to complete the ongoing investigation in the Parliament security breach case. The case is registered under the stringent section of UAPA (The Unlawful activities (prevention) Act, 1967). The custody has been extended of all the six accused till May 25.

Noida Eateries, Hospitals Extend 'Democracy Discount' to Voters on April 26

Noida Eateries, Hospitals Extend 'Democracy Discount' to Voters on April 26 Restaurants and hospitals here are offering discounts on their services to citizens who go out to vote in the Lok Sabha elections on April 26. The initiative called Democracy Discount allows the citizens to avail 20 per cent discount in restaurants in Noida and Greater Noida by showing their finger with voter ink on April 26 and April 27. National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) has exhorted member companies for the initiative, which has seen about two dozen restaurants in the constituency coming on board till Wednesday. Among restaurants offering the discount are Desi Vibes, Kaffiiaa, I Sacked Newton, De Valentino Caf, Noida Social, Getafix, Osteria, Chica Loca, F Bar Noida, Xero Courtyard Gardens Galleria, Dirty Rabbit, Baby Dragon, Trippy Tequila, Cafe Delhi heights, Ching Singh, Paso Noida, Moire Cafe & Lounge, The Beer Caf, Sky by Swagath, 'Imperfecto and The Patiala Kkitchen, according to NRAI. ''The idea is to encourage citizens for more voter turnout,'' Varun Khera, the Uttar Pradesh unit head of NRAI, told PTI. Naresh Madan, owner of Imperfecto, said it's a ''win-win situation'' for citizens, they can participate in the election voting and also have meals at discounts at their three restaurants in the constituency. ''All the customers have to do is show their fingers marked with voting ink and they'll get the discount. We won't even ask for other ID proofs, just the voting ink is proof enough,'' Madan said. Gautam Buddh Nagar, comprising the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida, in western Uttar Pradesh goes to polls on April 26 in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections with over 26 lakh registered voters. Meanwhile, hospitals are offering free full body checks to voters. Felix Hospital in Noida's Sector 137 is also offering a 100 per cent discount on full body check-ups to voters under its initiative ''Vote for Healthy India''. ''Citizens can come to the hospital and show the voting ink mark on their fingers to avail full body check-up worth Rs 6,500 free of cost. The offer will be available from April 26 to 30,'' Felix Hospitals CEO and Chairman Dr D K Gupta told PTI. Gautam Buddh Nagar recorded a voter turnout of 60.47 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, 60.38 per cent in 2014 and an abysmal 48 per cent in 2009, according to Election Commission statistics. The constituency has consistently recorded voter turnout lower than the national average of 67.40 per cent in 2019, 66 per cent in 2014 and 58 per cent in 2009, the data showed.

Health Tips: Know What is saccharin?

The tragic death of a 10-year-old girl in Patiala, Punjab last month shook the entire country. The cause of the girl's death is said to be a cake ordered online to celebrate her birthday. The health of the girl's entire family deteriorated when they ate the cake ordered online for her birthday. Now the new facts that have come to light in this case are raising many questions regarding the quality of food items. According to a report, the cake was found to contain excessive amounts of saccharin, a sweet-tasting synthetic compound that imparts a sweet taste. Saccharin is usually used in small quantities in food items, but its excessive quantity can rapidly increase blood sugar levels. According to the TOI report, District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Vijay Jindal said that a sample of the cake was taken for testing and the report found that excessive amounts of saccharin, a synthetic chemical that gives a sweet taste, were used in making the cake. Was used. Officials said that action will be taken against the bakery as a case has already been registered against its owner. After this incident, the food ordering app Zomato banned the bakery owner and removed the bakery from its platform. What is saccharin? Saccharin is a synthetic sweetener that was discovered in 1879 by Constantin Fahlberg, a chemist working at Johns Hopkins University. It is about 300 to 400 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar), but has no calories, which is why it is popular as a sugar substitute in various foods and drinks. Saccharin was widely used during sugar shortages in the early 20th century and became a common ingredient in diet sodas, tabletop sweeteners, and other low-calorie products. Saccharin's Link to Bladder Cancer Although saccharin is approved for use as a food additive in many countries, concerns have been raised about its potentially harmful effects on the body. A major concern is its link with bladder cancer, especially in animal studies. Although these findings have not been consistently replicated in humans, some studies suggest a possible link between high amounts of saccharin consumption and an increased risk of bladder cancer, especially in people who consume high amounts over a long period... Digestive health deteriorates: Apart from this, saccharin can also disturb the balance of intestinal bacteria, which can have adverse effects on digestive health. Some research suggests that synthetic sweeteners such as saccharin may alter intestinal microbiota composition, potentially contributing to metabolic disorders such as obesity and insulin resistance.

Lok Sabha elections: SAD announces Ranjit Singh Dhillon as party's candidate from Ludhiana

Lok Sabha elections: SAD announces Ranjit Singh Dhillon as party's candidate from Ludhiana The Shiromani Akali Dal has announced former MLA Ranjit Singh Dhillon as party's candidate for the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat. Following the allocation of the ticket, there was a warm welcome from party workers for the former Ludhiana MLA. Highlighting the pressing issues in Ludhiana, Dhillon emphasized the city's diverse demographics, comprising industrialists, shopkeepers, and businessmen, each with their own set of concerns. Speaking to ANI, Dhillon said, There are a lot of issues in Ludhiana. It is such a big city. Here there are many industrialists, shopkeepers, businessman, there are a lot of issues to fight elections here. Slamming the current Ludhiana MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, for 'lack of work' in the area, Dhillon said, On what grounds are they going to ask for votes? He has been an MP for ten years now, he hasn't solved any issue till now. He has been examined now, it won't happen again. In last ten years what has he done for the area. The one who did not do anything for ten years, wont do anything in future as well, Ranjit Singh said. Appealing to voters to prioritize character and performance, Dhillon said, I appeal the people to vote on the character of the candidate. If you see my record as a councillor as an MLA and if I will get a chance again, I will change Ludhiana, he said. Other leaders who are in fray in the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat are, Ravneet Singh Bittu, BJP's candidate from Ludhiana who recently quit the Congress party to join the BJP and AAP MLA Ashok Parashar Pappi. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Bittu defeated Simarjeet Singh Bains from the Lok Insaaf Party by 76,372 votes. In 2014, he defeated the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Harvinder Singh Phoolka with a margin of 19,709 votes. In Punjab, the Congress that is going solo in the general elections has fielded Gurjeet Singh Aujla from the Amritsar seat, Amar Singh from Fathgarh Sahib, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu from Bhatinda, Sukhpal Singh Khaira from Sangrur, and Dharamvir Gandhi from Patiala. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, the INC-led UPA alliance won eight seats, while the NDA secured four. Polling for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will take place in the last phase on June 1. (ANI)

High levels of synthetic sweetener detected in cake linked to 10-year-old Punjab girl's death

Officials reported on Monday that the cake, which was consumed by a 0-year-old girl named Manvi in Patiala, Punjab, hours before her death contained a high level of artificial sweetener. The incident occurred on March 24 when Manvi's family fell ill after consuming the cake ordered online for her birthday.

73 Trains On Ambala-Amritsar Route Cancelled As Farmers Protest Continues For 5th Day

As many as 73 trains on the Ambala-Amritsar route were cancelled on Sunday as farmers continued to squat on tracks at the Shambhu railway station in Punjab's Patiala district for the fifth day, officials said.

73 trains on Ambala-Amritsar route cancelled as farmers squat on tracks in Shambhu for 5th day

73 trains on Ambala-Amritsar route cancelled as farmers squat on tracks in Shambhu for 5th day As many as 73 trains on the Ambala-Amritsar route were cancelled on Sunday as farmers continued to squat on tracks at the Shambhu railway station in Punjab's Patiala district for the fifth day, officials said. The protestors have been demanding the release of three farmers arrested by the Haryana Police during the ongoing stir. A total of 73 trains were cancelled on Sunday, the railway officials said. The cancellation of trains over the last five days was causing financial losses, besides inconveniencing passengers, they said. Many trains were also being diverted due to the farmers' protest, they added. The farmers have been protesting under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) in Patiala district's Shambhu. They began their protest for the release of arrested farmers on Wednesday by squatting on the tracks on the Ambala Ludhiana-Amritsar route in Shambhu near the Punjab-Haryana border. Farmer leaders have said the protest will continue until the three farmers are released. The SKM (Non-Political) and the KMM are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers to press the government to accept their demands, including legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. The farmers have been staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 when their march was stopped by the security forces.

Delhi Court directs tenant to vacate Vasant Kunj property belonging to an 84-year-old senior citizen

Delhi Court directs tenant to vacate Vasant Kunj property belonging to an 84-year-old senior citizen The Patiala House Court of Delhi has directed the tenant to vacate a property situated in Vasant Kunj and also to pay the arrears of rent on the 2nd date of the hearing on the suit (within 28 days) filed by the landlord, who is a senior citizen (84 years old). The landlord recently filed a suit in Patiala House Court, Delhi, for eviction, possession and recovery of arrears of rent against the tenant of a flat illegally occupied in the Vasant Kunj area. The said suit was listed on March 18 and thereafter it was listed on April 16. The landlord, through his counsel in the said suit, contended that the tenant has not paid the rent for the last few months and, upon requesting it, the tenant threatened the landlord with dire consequences and refused to vacate the flat. The landlord, through his counsel, further contended that the tenant has restricted his entry to visit the suit property and has also damaged the property and made structural changes. The landlord, through his counsel, further contended in the suit that he is a senior citizen and 84 years old and is suffering immensely due to the unlawful acts of the tenant. The landlord further contended through his counsel that the cheques given to the landlord for payment of rent have also been dishonoured. The landlord is helpless in the present situation and the tenant has cheated and played fraud upon the landlord, his counsel said. After hearing the submissions of the counsel for the landlord and the tenant present in court in person, the Addition District Judge on April 16, directed the tenant to vacate the flat and also directed the tenant to pay the arrears of rent of Rs 1,61,000 and decreed the suit with consent on the 2nd date of hearing within 28 days in favour of the landlord and against the tenant. The landlord is represented through Sumit Gehlot and TS Thakran Advocates of Fidelegal Advocates & Solicitors. (ANI)

Toddler hospitalised after eating expired chocolate from grocery store in Patiala

Patiala, Apr 20: A one-and-a-half-year-old girl was hospitalised after allegedly eating expired chocolate purchased from a grocery store in Patiala. According to officials, the child identified as Rabia, a native of Ludhiana, was visiting Patiala to attend a wedding with her family. Narrating the incident, Vicky Kumar from Topkhana Mod, a relative of Rabia said [] The post Toddler hospitalised after eating expired chocolate from grocery store in Patiala appeared first on Northlines .

54 Trains On Ambala-Amritsar Route Cancelled As Farmers Protest Continues For 4th Day

A total of 54 trains on the Ambala-Amritsar route were cancelled on Saturday as farmers squatted on tracks at the Shambhu railway station in Punjab's Patiala district for the fourth day, officials said.

54 Trains On Ambala-Amritsar Route Cancelled As Farmers Protest Continues

A total of 54 trains on the Ambala-Amritsar route were cancelled on Saturday as farmers squatted on tracks at the Shambhu railway station in Punjab's Patiala district for the fourth day, officials said.

Punjab Police DIG announces ongoing judicial investigation into Sangrur jail clash

Punjab Police DIG announces ongoing judicial investigation into Sangrur jail clash A day after two inmates were killed in a clash among prisoners in a jail in Sangrur district, Deputy Inspector General of Police Harcharan Singh Bhullar on Saturday visited the prison and said a judicial probe in the matter was underway. Two prisoners identified as Harsh and Dharmender died while two others Gagandeep Singh and Mohd Sehwaz were injured in the clash. Punjab Police DIG Bhullar said an FIR has been registered in the matter. Speaking to reporters in Sangrur after visiting the jail, Bhullar said the inmates involved in the clash had an argument over some issue a few days back. On Friday, the clash took place in which two persons were killed and two sustained serious injuries, Bhullar said, adding that the injured were admitted to Rajindra hospital in Patiala. Bhullar said the FIR has been lodged against 10 persons and the accused were involved in crimes related to murders and attempt to murders. The judicial inquiry was underway, he added. Replying to a question, Bhullar said the inmates used two small knives, a water pipe and the branch of a tree in the clash. He said police will investigate how knives reached inside the jail.

Patiala Lok Sabha constituency: Know polling date, candidates list, past election results

The parliamentary elections in Punjab's 13 seats are scheduled to be conducted in a single phase on June 1 (seventh phase). The Patiala seat is one of Punjab's 13 Lok Sabha constituencies.

Punjab: Rail roko protest by farmers at Shambhu disrupt train services for second day

Patiala, Apr 18: The train service remained disrupted on Thursday as farmers continued their rail roko' protest on the second consecutive day at the railway station near Shambhu Border here. Meanwhile, attempts to mollify the protesting farmers for lifting the sit-in from the railway track failed on the second day. Farmers under the banner of [] The post Punjab: Rail roko protest by farmers at Shambhu disrupt train services for second day appeared first on Northlines .

Focus on Vinesh Phogat as Indian wrestlers begin Olympic quota hunt

Focus on Vinesh Phogat as Indian wrestlers begin Olympic quota hunt The spotlight will be on two-time Olympian Vinesh Phogat as she along with 16 other Indian wrestlers begin their chase for Paris Games quota places at the Asia Olympic qualifiers beginning here on Friday. As many as 36 quotas will be up for grabs in 18 weight categories across three disciplines -- freestyle, women and greco-roman -- during the event, with India representing in all but one weight category. Antim Panghal, 19, has already sealed a quota place in women's 53kg for India en route to her bronze medal winning feat at the 2023 World Wrestling Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. It will be time for the rest of the Indian wrestlers such as Vinesh (60kg), Reetika Hooda (76kg), the current Under-23 world champion Anshu (57kg), Mansi (62kg) and Nisha (68kg) to put their best foot forward and seal their quota places. However, none of the Indians will be under the scanner like Vinesh, the 2018 Asian Games and 2022 Commonwealth Games medallist, who was one of the face of Indian wrestlers' protest against former national federation (WFI) president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. The 29-year-old, who has been in the news for wrong reasons of late, had won the national trials in March in 50kg. Though, at the selection trials in Patiala, she had competed in the 53kg category as well after the authorities allowed her but she lost in the semifinals. Vinesh also had alleged that her personal coach and physio were being denied accreditation for the Asian Olympic qualifying tournament. She will be desperate to put all the noise behind her and put up a good show to make it to what could be her third Olympics. In men's freestyle category, Aman Sehrawat (57kg) will hog the limelight after he earned his place after outwitting Tokyo Olympic medallist Ravi Dahiya in the national trials. He also looks in good form as he had claimed a gold at the Zagreb Open in January this year. Among others, Sujeet too will be closely watched as he leads the challenge in 65kg category following the failure of Tokyo bronze medallist Bajrang Punia. Deepak Punia (86kg), who had come close to winning a medal at the Tokyo Games, will also eye a good outing, while Jaideep (74kg), Deepak (97kg) and Sumit (125kg) will also look to produce their best game to claim a quota for India. There will be no gold medal, repechage or bronze-medal bouts in the continental qualifiers with winners of both semi-finals in each Olympic weight class earning a quota for their countries at the Paris Games. In greco-roman, Sumit (60kg), Ashu (67kg), Vikas (77kg), Sunil (87kg), Nitesh (97kg) and Naveen (130kg) will look for a good show.

Punjab: Trains affected as farmers on track demanding release of fellow protesters

Chandigarh: Farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha on Wednesday squatted on a rail track in Patiala district near the Punjab and Haryana border, demanding the release of three farmers who had been arrested by the Haryana Police. The movement of more than 30 trains was impacted as 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: Several trains affected as farmers squat on track demanding release of fellow protesters

Punjab: Several trains affected as farmers squat on track demanding release of fellow protesters Farmers under the banner of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha on Wednesday squatted on a rail track in Patiala district near the Punjab and Haryana border, demanding the release of three farmers who had been arrested by the Haryana Police. The movement of more than 30 trains was impacted as they were either diverted, cancelled or short-terminated because of the blockade at the Shambhu Railway Station, railway authorities said. The disruption in rail movement also caused inconvenience to rail passengers on the occasion of Ram Navami. KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said the Haryana administration had given them an assurance that the arrested farmers would be released by April 16. ''When our farmers were not released, we decided to squat on the rail track,'' Pandher said. Three farmers, including Navdeep Singh, were arrested during the ongoing farmers' stir. Though the Punjab Police had erected barricades to prevent protesters from heading towards the rail track, farmers forced their way and sat on the Ambala-Ludhiana rail track. Farmer leaders said they will not end their protest until the protesters are released. ''If the government releases them now, we will vacate the rail tracks within 10 minutes,'' said another farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal. The farmer leaders said they were forced to sit on the rail track as the Haryana government failed to accept their demand. Pandher threatened to squat on more rail tracks if the three farmers were not released in the coming days. According to railway authorities, trains from Amritsar to New Jalpaiguri, Amritsar to Kathiar, Pathankot to Old Delhi, Amritsar to Tata Nagar, Kolkata to Amritsar, Delhi to Amritsar, Haridwar to Amritsar and Darbhanga to Amritsar were diverted. While trains from Ludhiana to Churu and Churu to Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt to Jalandhar City, Ludhiana to Ambala Cantt, and Patiala to Ambala were cancelled, they said. The SKM (non-political) and the KMM are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers to press the government to accept their demands which include that the Centre should give a legal guarantee of Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops. The farmers have been staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana since February 13 when their march was stopped by the security forces.

Punjab: Farmers squat on railway track at Shambhu border demanding release of 3 fellow protesters

Patiala, Apr 17: Farmers under the banner of Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non- Political) on Wednesday squatted on a railway track near Shambhu Border here, demanding release of three farmers who had been arrested by the Haryana Police. The protest also disrupted rail traffic and left hundreds of commuters stranded on the [] The post Punjab: Farmers squat on railway track at Shambhu border demanding release of 3 fellow protesters appeared first on Northlines .

Navami Puja 2024: Prepare your doll Rani like this for Kanya Puja, people will praise after seeing the cuteness.

During Chaitra Navratri, people worship the nine forms of Mata Rani for nine days. It is believed that whoever worships all the forms of Mata Rani with true heart, all his wishes are fulfilled. This is the reason why people worship Mata Rani in every house. Many people even fast for nine days. After fasting for nine days, many people break the fast on Ashtami day and many people break the fast by worshiping the girl on Navami day. There is a tradition of feeding Halwa Puri to nine girls before breaking the fast. Small girls dress up very beautifully for Kanya Puja. In such a situation, if you also have a daughter in your house, whom you are going to make sit for Kanya Puja, then you can specially prepare her. In this article, we will show you some looks of TV serial child artist Ariya Sakaria, from which you can take tips to dress up your little doll. Sharara suit Suit salwar gives a very cute look on little girls. In such a situation, on the day of Kanya Puja, you can make her wear a Sharara suit. To complete this look, apply a small bindi on her forehead. Sharara-kurta Such a pink-colored sharara kurta will look very cute. Along with this, make your doll wear a beautiful neckpiece. This will also look lovely. Skirt-top This type of floral print skirt and crop top will give a cute look to your daughter. If she has long hair, keep her hair open. Along with this, definitely wear oxidized earrings and a neckpiece. Patiala Suit You will get this type of Patiala suit in the market. You can also buy such a suit for your daughter. This also looks quite cute. Kilt Little girls have lehenga. In such a situation, if you want, you can make your daughter wear a lehenga during Kanya Puja. Along with wearing a lehenga, if she also wears bangles in her hands, she will look even more cute. Anarkali suit You can dress your little girl in a pink colored Anarkali suit like this. This looks quite beautiful. Along with this, make him wear something light around his neck. (PC: Instagram)

BJP Releases Second List of Candidates for Punjab Lok Sabha Polls

Amritsar: T he BJP unveiled its second list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Punjab on Tuesday. Among the notable changes, Union Minister Som Parkash has been replaced by his wife as the party's candidate for the Hoshiarpur Lok Sabha seat. Anita Som Parkash will now represent the party in the Hoshiarpur reserve parliamentary constituency, expressing gratitude to the party leadership for the opportunity. Hoshiarpur, previously won by the BJP in both the 2014 and 2019 polls, sees Anita Som Parkash taking over from her husband. The constituency was one of the three seats contested by the BJP in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal previously, but the BJP is now contesting independently. Anita will be facing AAP nominee Raj Kumar Chabbewal in the upcoming elections, with the Congress and SAD yet to announce their candidates for Hoshiarpur. Additionally, former IAS officer Parampal Kaur Sidhu has been nominated by the BJP for the Bathinda parliamentary seat, currently held by SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Sidhu, daughter-in-law of senior Akali leader Sinkander Singh Maluka, recently joined the BJP along with her husband Gurpreet Singh Maluka. She resigned from her position as a 2011-batch IAS officer before joining the party. Sidhu's opponents include Congress candidate Jeet Mohinder Sidhu and AAP's Gurmeet Singh Khudian, with the SAD yet to name its candidate for Bathinda. Moreover, former MLA from Baba Bakala seat Manjit Singh Manna Mianwind has been nominated by the BJP for the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat, currently held by Congress MP Jasbir Singh. Laljit Singh Bhullar is the AAP candidate for this seat. With these latest announcements, the BJP has finalized candidates for nine out of the total 13 seats in Punjab. The party had previously announced candidates for Ludhiana, Amritsar, Faridkot, Patiala, Gurdaspur, and Jalandhar. Polling for all 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab is scheduled for the final phase on June 1. Arvind Kejriwal Seeks Court Permission for Video Consultation with Doctor Tragic Incident Unfolds: Mother and Infant Daughter Engulfed in Flames Two Arrested in Connection with Shooting Outside Salman Khan's Residence

LS polls: BJP releases list of three more candidates to contest from Punjab

CHANDIGARH: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced the list of three more candidates for Lok Sabha elections in Punjab as the saffron party has given two women tickets. Former IAS officer Parampal Kaur Maluka has been fielded from Bathinda and Anita Som Parkash, wife of Union Minister Som Parkash, will contest from Hoshiarpur. Thus three ladies have been given tickets by the saffron party till date. The saffron party announced the name of Manjit Manna from Khadoor Sahib. He is former Baba Bakala MLA. The ruling party dropped Union Minister of state for Commerce and Industries Som Parkash from Hoshiarpur citing his age but decided to field his wife Anita Som Parkash to keep the influential local leaders support intact. The 70-year old Anita, for past decades, ran a community kitchen in Phagwara for the needy and is considered the brain behind Parkashs political career. Hoshiarpur, a reserved seat is regarded as a saffron party stronghold. The BJP has won this seat for the past two terms. It has fielded former IAS officer Parampal Kaur Sidhu from Bathinda. She is the daughter-in-law of senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Ex-minister Sikander Singh Maluka. Kaur is likely to face former Union minister and three-time sitting MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Harsimrat is the wife of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal. Kaur a philosophy and zoology postgraduate was posted as Managing Director of the Punjab State Industrial Development Corporation and Additional Director, PUNGRAIN. She had sought voluntary retirement from service. LS polls: AAP announces final list of candidates to contest from Punjab In the early 1990s, she became the first woman block development and panchayat officer (BDPO) in the state. She was promoted as district development and panchayat officer when her father-in-law SS Maluka was the Rural Development and Panchayats Minister of Punjab and then her case was sent to the UPSC for direct induction to the IAS through the nomination route joining as non-state civil services IAS officer on January 15, 2016. Her superannuation was due in October this year. On Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party released its inaugural list of six candidates, including three turncoats for the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab. While Ravneet Singh Bittu was given a ticket from Ludhiana, Sushil Kumar Rinku a former AAP MP who joined BJP was fielded from Jalandhar. Rinku had won the Lok Sabha bypolls from the same seat last year. Preneet Kaur, Congress MP and wife of former chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, was fielded from Patiala as she switched allegiance to BJP earlier in March. Hans Raj Hans, a renowned Sufi singer-turned-politician, and Taranjeet Singh Sandhu, a retired Indian diplomat will contest from Faridkot and Amritsar, respectively. So far, the saffron party has announced nine candidates in Punjab. BJP will contest LS polls on its own in Punjab: State BJP chief Sunil Jakhar

Farmers wave black flags at BJP Patiala candidate Preneet Kaur

Farmers wave black flags at BJP Patiala candidate Preneet Kaur

Cong names candidates for 6 LS seats in Punjab, fields Charanjit Channi from Jalandhar

Cong names candidates for 6 LS seats in Punjab, fields Charanjit Channi from Jalandhar The Congress on Sunday named its candidates for six Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, fielding former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, along with two sitting MPs, an MLA and a former MP. The party has fielded Channi from the Jalandhar (SC) seat and sitting MPs Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Amar Singh from the Amritsar and the Fatehgarh Sahib (SC) seats respectively. The Congress nominated MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat, former MP Dharamvira Gandhi from Patiala and former MLA Jeet Mohinder Sidhu from Bathinda. Polling on all 13 Lok Sabha seats in the state will take place in the last phase on June 1. The Congress bet on Channi from the Jalandhar (SC) seat despite opposition from Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary. A few days ago, Chaudhary even resigned as the partys chief whip in the Punjab Assembly. Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary, the son of two-time Congress MP Santokh Chaudhary, had pointed towards Channi's electoral defeats from both the Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur segments he had contested in the 2022 Punjab Assembly polls. Santokh Chaudhary died in January last year during Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra. His wife Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary had unsuccessfully contested the Jalandhar parliamentary bypoll in May last year. Channi belongs to the Scheduled Castes community which makes up nearly 32 per cent of Punjab's population. He represented the Chamkaur Sahib Assembly constituency in 2007, 2012 and 2017. Channi became the chief minister of Punjab in 2021 after the Congress replaced Amarinder Singh with him. The BJP has fielded sitting MP Sushil Rinku from the Jalandhar (SC) seat. Although AAP is yet to name its candidate, former Akali MLA Pawan Kumar Tinu, who joined the party on Sunday, is likely to be the party's nominee. The Congress fielded sitting MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla from Amritsar. Former deputy chief minister and MLA O P Soni's name was also doing rounds for this seat. Aujla won the Amritsar seat in the 2017 bypolls and was elected again in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. AAP has fielded Cabinet minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from the Amritsar seat. The Shiromani Akali Dal has named former MLA Anil Joshi as its candidate and the BJP Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Sitting MP from the Fatehgarh Sahib (SC) seat Amar Singh, a former bureaucrat, has been renominated by the Congress. In 2019, Singh defeated SAD candidate Darbara Singh Guru from the constituency. In the Sangrur seat, the Congress showed its faith in All India Kisan Congress chairman and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. Khaira, a firebrand leader, was elected as MLA in 2007 and 2017 from the Bholath seat. He had unsuccessfully contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. AAP has fielded Cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer from the Sangrur seat, currently represented by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) MP Simranjit Singh Mann. The Congress has fielded former AAP MP Dharamvira Gandhi from the Patiala Lok Sabha seat. Gandhi, a doctor by profession, joined the party recently. Gandhi won the Lok Sabha election as an AAP candidate in 2014, defeating the Congress' Preneet Kaur from Patiala. After quitting AAP in 2016, he had formed his own political outfit Nawan Punjab Party, which he merged with the Congress. Gandhi has been pitted this time against BJP nominee Preneet Kaur and AAP candidate Dr Balbir Singh. From the Bathinda seat, the Congress has named former MLA from Talwandi Sabo Jeet Mohinder Sidhu. Sidhu rejoined the Congress last year after quitting the Shiromani Akali Dal. The Bathinda seat is currently held by SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. AAP has fielded Cabinet minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian from the seat.

Congress fields Kanhaiya Kumar in North East Delhi against BJP's Manoj Tiwari

NEW DELHI: The Congress on Sunday issued another list of 10 candidates for the Lok Sabha election in Delhi and Punjab, tapping former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi for the Jalandhar-SC Lok Sabha seat. According to the list, the party has fielded veteran politician J P Agarwal from the Chandni Chowk seat and youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar from the North East Delhi seat. Kumar will be pitted against BJP's Manoj Tiwari, the sole BJP candidate not replaced in the national capital. Free healthcare, equal pay for women, minimum daily wage: Key promises from Congress manifesto For the North West Delhi Lok Sabha seat, the party announced the name of former MP Udit Raj. In Punjab, the party renominated its sitting MPs Gurjeet Singh Aujla from Amritsar and Amar Singh from Fatehgarh Sahib (SC) Lok Sabha seat. Former MP Dharvir Gandhi will be contesting from the Patiala Lok Sabha seat. His candidature comes mere days after he joined the Congress leaving the Aam Aadmi Party. The party has nominated its All India Kisan wing chief Sukhpal Singh Khaira from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat and Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu from the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, which is currently represented by SAD chief's wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal. The Congress announced the name of Ujjwal Revti Raman Singh from Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad Lok Sabha seat. The opposition party also announced a list of 75 candidates for the Odisha assembly elections.

Farmers wave black flags at BJP candidate Preneet Kaur, raise slogans against Modi govt

Farmers wave black flags at BJP candidate Preneet Kaur, raise slogans against Modi govt Farmers waved black flags at BJP candidate from Patiala Lok Sabha seat Preneet Kaur and raised slogans against the BJP-led government at the Centre while she was addressing party workers at Samana town on Sunday. Farmers owing allegiance to Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) and Kirti Kisan Union held a demonstration against Kaur when she arrived in Samana for the party event. According to police officials, some protesters were detained and later released. Kaur had faced protests by farmers earlier too. A few days ago, Hans Raj Hans and Taranjit Singh Sandhu, BJP candidates from Faridkot and Amritsar, respectively faced protests by farmers. Black flags were waved at them when they were campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls. Farmers under the banner of Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) have announced that they will oppose the BJP and would ask people to ''punish'' the saffron party in the Lok Sabha polls. The SKM, which had spearheaded the 2020-21 farmers' protest, has even prepared an 11-point questionnaire such as why there has been no legal guarantee for MSP and why farmers were not allowed to head towards Delhi. Kaur, the incumbent MP of Patiala, joined the BJP last month and was filed by the party from the same seat. She was suspended by the Congress in February last year soon after her husband, former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, joined the BJP. She represented the Patiala seat in 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2019. BJP candidate from Ludhiana Ravneet Singh Bittu termed the demonstrations against party nominees in some villages of Punjab ''politically motivated'' and claimed that the BJP government at the Center has done a lot for the benefit of the farmers of Punjab in the last 10 years. On the contrary, the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in Punjab has done nothing for the farmers, the three-time MP claimed. During their assembly election campaign in 2022, AAP leaders had claimed that if voted to power, their government would give MSP on all 22 crops and also address other demands of the farmers immediately, Bittu claimed. But the Mann government has not done anything for the people of Punjab, he alleged. The BJP leader said the ''politically motivated'' demonstrations against party candidates would phase out eventually. He accused AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and his party of deviating from every promise they made to the people of the country from Ramlila Maidan during the Anna Hazare movement.

Lok Sabha: Congress releases candidates list for Delhi and Punjab, Kanhaiya Kumar to contest from North East Delhi

In Punjab, Gurjeet Singh Aujla is standing from Amritsar for Congress, Charanjit Singh Channi from Jalandhar, Amar Singh from Fatehgarh Saheb, Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu from Bhatinda, Sukhpal Singh Khaira from Sangrur and Dr Dharamvir Gandhi from Patiala. Congress also released a list of 75 candidates for upcoming Odisha assembly elections.

SAD announces first list of seven candidates for Punjab LS elections

CHANDIGARH : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday announced its first list of seven Lok Sabha candidates for Punjab, fielding senior party leaders Prem Singh Chandumajra from Anandpur Sahib and Daljit Singh Cheema from Gurdaspur. The SAD also fielded former minister Anil Joshi from Amritsar, former MLAs N K Sharma and Iqbal Singh Jhunda from Patiala and Sangrur seats respectively, Bikramjit Singh Khalsa from Fatehgarh Sahib and Rajwinder Singh from Faridkot. Polling for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will be held in the last round of the seven-phase elections on June 1.The SAD will be contesting the Lok Sabha polls on its own for the first time since 1996, when it joined hands with the BJP. It walked out of the NDA in 2020 The SAD has fielded its senior leader and former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra from Anandpur Sahib seat, which is currently represented by Congress MP Manish Tewari. While the AAP has fielded its state unit chief spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang from Anandpur Sahib, the Congress and the BJP are yet to announce their candidates. The SAD has fielded former education minister Cheema from Gurdaspur seat, currently held by BJPs Sunny Deol. He is pitted against BJP candidate Dinesh Babbu. The Congress and the AAP are yet to announce their candidates for the seat, currently held by Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla. From Amritsar, the SAD has fielded former BJP MLA and former minister Anil Joshi. Joshi was Amritsar North MLA in 2007 and 2012. He quit the BJP in 2021 and joined the Akali Dal. He will be facing BJP nominee and former diplomat Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and AAPs Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal. Amritsar seat is presently represented by Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla. From Patiala, the SAD has fielded former MLA N K Sharma. He will be facing BJPs Preneet Kaur and AAPs Dr Balbir Singh. The SAD has fielded senior party leader Iqbal Singh Jhundan from Sangrur seat, currently held by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) MP Simranjit Singh Mann. From Faridkot, the SAD has fielded Rajwinder Singh, the grandson of the late Punjab minister Gurdev Singh Badal, from Faridkot seat. Faridkot seat is currently represented by Congress MP Mohammad Sadique.

In a first, SAD will contest Amritsar, Gurdaspur seats

CHANDIGARH : The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) released the first list of seven candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha election on Saturday. For the first time in more than two decades, the party will be contesting the Amritsar and Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seats. In this list, party stalwarts Daljit Singh Cheema and Prem Singh Chandumajra have been given tickets. Surprisingly, the name of former union minister and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, is missing so far. She could either be fielded from her existing constituency Bathinda or Ferozepur. Interestingly, two Hindu leaders of the party have been given tickets by the panthic party. Former BJP Minister Anil Joshi has been fielded from Amritsar, thus creating trouble for BJP candidate Taranjit Singh Sandhu, a former Indian Ambassador to the United States. The Shiromani Akali Dal has given a ticket to its senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema from Gurdaspur, as Cheemas native village falls in this district, and he has studied here. Besides, the first ten years of his political career were active here. Cheema was eyeing a ticket from Anandpur Sahib, as he had remained an MLA from there and an education minister in the SAD-BJP Government. The party will be, for the first time in many decades, fighting polls on this seat, as in previous elections, it had an alliance with BJP. Thus, this seat fell in the share of the saffron party as per the seat-sharing arrangement with SAD. The party has nominated NK Sharma, a two-time former Dera Bassi MLA and realtor, to contest from Patiala. One advantage in his favour is the absence of opposition within Patiala. The party leadership is united in supporting him, and former minister Surjit Singh Rakhra has endorsed Sharmas candidacy.

SAD Releases First List of Candidates for Punjab Lok Sabha Polls

Amritsar: On the auspicious occasion of Baisakhi, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), led by Sukhbir Singh Badal, unveiled its initial list of seven candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections scheduled for June 1. These candidates will be contesting from various parliamentary constituencies across Punjab. The lineup includes esteemed individuals such as former cabinet minister Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, nominated for Gurdaspur, ex-MP Prem Singh Chandumajra for Anandpur Sahib, former MLA NK Sharma for Patiala, Anil Joshi, a former cabinet minister, for Amritsar, Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, a former MLA, for Fatehgarh Sahib, Rajwinder Singh (the grandson of former cabinet minister Gurdev Singh Badal) for the Faridkot reserve constituency, and former MLA Iqbal Singh Jhundan for Sangrur. The decision to release their candidate list comes after the BJP's announcement on March 26 that it would contest all 13 parliamentary seats in Punjab independently, thus concluding negotiations with the SAD to re-establish their alliance before the Lok Sabha polls. Despite this, the SAD emphasized that principles outweighed political strategies for the 103-year-old party. Sukhbir Singh Badal, the party president who emerged victorious in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Ferozepur, declared that he would not be participating in the parliamentary elections this time. Notably, his wife and former Union minister, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, has not been named in the initial list. There is speculation that she might contest from either her current constituency, Bathinda, or Ferozepur. the bomb, that could destroy Iran's infrastructure Tragic Collision in Central Delhi: School Bus, Motorcycle, and Auto-Rickshaw Involved ED Attaches Properties worth 230 crore in West Bengal Teachers Recruitment Scam

Lok Sabha elections: Two Hindu leaders among Akali Dal's first list of seven candidates

CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Saturday released its first list of seven candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Party bigwigs Daljit Singh Cheema and Prem Singh Chandumajra have found a place in the first list. For the first time in more than two decades, the party will be contesting the Amritsar and Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seats. Interestingly two Hindu leaders have been given tickets by the panthic party. Former BJP minister Anil Joshi has been fielded from Amritsar against BJP candidate Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who was India's Ambassador to the United States. This is a strategic move by the Akali Dal to tap into the urban Hindu electorate while leveraging his political experience. Earlier, BJP leaders Hardeep Puri and Arun Jaitley had unsuccessfully contested from Amritsar in 2019 and 2014. In Patiala, two-time former Dera Bassi MLA and realtor NK Sharma has been given the ticket. Patiala will witness a tough contest with the BJP fielding former Congress MP Preneet Kaur, while the ruling Aam Aadmi Party has already announced the candidature of state health minister Dr Balbir Singh. The Congress is likely to field former AAP MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi, who joined the party recently. Senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema has been fielded from Gurdaspur. His native village of Cheema falls in this district where he spent the first ten years of his political career. Cheema, who was the education minister in the SAD-BJP government, had been eyeing the ticket from Anandpur Sahib as was an MLA from there. Ex-SGPC chief Jagir Kaur returns to Shiromani Akali Dal on eve of LS polls The party has expressed confidence in former MP Prem Singh Chandumajra by fielding him once again from Anandpur Sahib. He had won from here in 2014 but lost to Manish Tewari of the Congress in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. From Fatehgarh Sahib, the SAD has fielded Bikramjit Singh Khalsa, while Rajwinder Singh, grandson of Gurdev Singh Badal, will contest from Faridkot and Iqbal Singh Jhoonda is the party candidate from Sangrur. Taking to X, senior party leader and former minister Daljit Singh Cheema said, Choosing the historic & pious occasion of Khalsa Sirjana Divas as the most suited day to sound the poll bugle, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal released the first list of candidates. In the 2019 elections, the Congress had won eight of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, the Akali Dal and BJP two each and the AAP 1. In the last Lok Sabha polls, the BJP and Akali Dal were allies, with the BJP winning two of the three seats assigned to it and the Akali Dal winning two of the 10 seats it contested.

Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Akali Dal Releases First List, Names 7 Candidates Including Daljeet Singh Cheema From Gurdaspur

According to the list, Daljit Singh Cheema will run in Gurdaspur, while Prem Singh Chandumajra will represent Anandpur Sahib. N.K. Sharma, a former Dera Bassi legislator, has been nominated for Patiala, and Anil Joshi, a former minister and BJP defector, will contest from Amritsar.

Lok Sabha polls: BSP announces Jagjit Chharbarh as candidate from Patiala seat

Baisakhi 2024: If you want to show off your charm on Baisakhi, wear Paranda in your hair, your look will look different.

The festival of Baisakhi is very important for Punjabis. People start preparing for this festival long in advance. Baisakhi is a spring harvest festival, which is celebrated every year on 13 or 14 April, this year this festival will be celebrated on 13 April 2024. On the day of Baisakhi, men and women are seen in traditional attire. In this festival, while boys wear traditional kurta and pajama, women show their beauty by wearing Patiala suits. Women also apply makeup in a special way to make their look more beautiful. If you also want to make your look special, then definitely wear Paranda in your hair. Paranda looks amazing. If you also want to install Paranda, then this article is helpful for you. In this article, we will teach you how to install many types of Paranda, after installing which your look will look beautiful. Matching paranda If you are thinking of wearing a paranda matching the suit, then this is a better option. Such a Paranda looks very beautiful. This will also make you look lovely. Wear paranda with hairstyle If you want to make a different type of hairstyle, then you can make braids in your hair and apply Paranda. This type of hairstyle looks amazing. Mirrored veranda If you have long hair, you can wear such a mirrored paranda. Such a paranda looks lovely with a Patiala suit. With this, you can apply Mangtika. Gota Wala Paranda This type of braid looks very lovely. You can add a Paranda with a goatee in a simple braid. While applying it, take some hair outwards, so that your look looks beautiful. Put Paranda with a French braid If you want, you can make a French braid and put Paranda in it. It looks very beautiful. If you wear earrings with this, your look will look very beautiful. (PC: Instagram)

DNA test of those who join BJP should be conducted: SAD chief Sukhbir Badal

Patiala, Apr 12: SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday said the DNA test of those who are joining the BJP should be conducted and said that his party is the voice of Punjab. Badal was addressing a gathering after inducting state BJP executive member and social activist professor Sumrinder Singh Sira into the Shiromani [] The post DNA test of those who join BJP should be conducted: SAD chief Sukhbir Badal appeared first on Northlines .

Ayesha Khan shot for 'Khali Botal' music video in Patiala palace for 18 hours a day

Ludhiana Court Refuses to Stay Release Of Diljit Dosanjh's Netflix Film Chamkila

Patiala-based Ishdeep Singh Randhawa claimed that Chamkila's first wife had sold rights of the film to his dad.

Case Against Punjab Cinema Hall Owner For Screening Ads Violating Poll Code

Police on Tuesday registered a case against an owner and a manager of a cinema hall in Patiala for violating the Model Code of Conduct by screening promotional videos showing the Punjab government logo.

LS polls: Cinema owner, manager in Punjab's Patiala booked for MCC violation

LS polls: Cinema owner, manager in Punjab's Patiala booked for MCC violation Police on Tuesday registered a case against an owner and a manager of a cinema hall in Patiala for violating the Model Code of Conduct by screening promotional videos showing the Punjab government logo. The action was taken following a complaint received from an RTI activist in this regard. Punjab Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C said that his office had received the complaint regarding gross violation of the Model Code of Conduct as the promotional video ads featuring the Punjab government logo and the chief minister's appearance are being played in cinemas across the state. Taking immediate cognizance of the complaint, the Punjab CEO had sought a report from the Patiala deputy commissioner under whose jurisdiction the cinema hall falls, the secretary public relations department, and also from all deputy commissioners-cum DEOs in the state to ascertain the status of display of such government advertisements in any of the cinema halls across the state. The CEO said that a notice was issued to the manager of the cinema hall and later a flying squad team visited the cinema hall. Thereafter, being a matter primarily related with the display of an advertisement in the cinema hall, the case was put up before the Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC). As per the MCMC committee's recommendations, the police in Patiala registered a case under section 188 (disobedience to order promulgated by a public servant) and section 177 (furnishing false information) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

SKM readies questionnaire for BJP candidates in Punjab

SKM readies questionnaire for BJP candidates in Punjab The Samyukta Kisan Morcha on Tuesday prepared a questionnaire for farmers to pose questions, including why ''force'' was used against them, to BJP candidates during their poll campaign in Punjab villages. The SKM, which had spearheaded the 2020-21 farmers' stir against the now-repealed farm laws, has already said that it will oppose the BJP and will ask people to ''punish'' the party in the Lok Sabha polls. Polling for the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab will take place in the last phase on June 1. Addressing the media here, SKM leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said farmers do not have any personal enmity with the BJP but they will pose questions to its candidates if they come to seek their votes. ''We will remain peaceful and will not involve in any confrontation with BJP people,'' he said. Rajewal also asked farmers to remain in discipline while posing questions to the BJP candidates. BJP candidates Preneet Kaur from Patiala, Hans Raj Hans from Faridkot and Taranjit Singh Sandhu from Amritsar have faced farmers' ire in the past few days. They were shown black flags by farmers when they were campaigning for the Lok Sabha polls. Rajewal said the 11-point questionnaire in the shape of posters will be put up at the entry point of every village. Sharing details of the questionnaire, Rajewal said the BJP candidates will be asked why roads were blocked by installing iron roads and barricades to prevent farmers from going to Delhi. Farmers will also ask a question about Subhkaran Singh, 21, who died allegedly during clashes with the Haryana security personnel. Rajewal said the BJP candidates will also be asked why a minimum support price (MSP) has not been given a legal status yet and why the Swaminathan Commission's report has not been implemented. The questionnaire will also include questions pertaining to the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence, cases registered against farmers during the 2020-21 agitation, farm loan waiver and the Electricity Amendment Act. The SKM (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha are spearheading the 'Delhi Chalo' march by farmers to press the government to accept their demands, which include a legal guarantee of an MSP for crops. The protesting farmers from Punjab have been camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13, when security forces stopped them from marching towards Delhi.

Baisakhi 2024: You can spread your beauty by wearing such a suit on the day of Baisakhi.

The festival of Baisakhi is celebrated with great pomp in Punjab. People start preparing for it many days in advance. Although this festival is celebrated every year on 13th or 14th April, but if we talk about this year, then this year this festival will be celebrated on 13th April. On this day people dress up in traditional manner. While on one hand men wear traditional kurta and pajama, women wear different types of suits. Every girl wants to look her most beautiful on the day of Baisakhi. For this, girls choose suits for themselves according to the trend. If you also want to look different and beautiful this Baisakhi, then in this article we will show you some such suits which are in trend these days. If you wear a suit like this on a festival day, everyone will praise you after seeing your look. Patiala Suit You can carry a traditional look by wearing this type of suit. In Punjab, women prefer to wear Patiala suits in most of the programs. With this you can carry mojaris on your feet. Apart from this, Paranda in hair and bangles in hands will complete your look. Palazzo suit Nowadays women like this type of palazzo suit a lot. It is quite comfortable, so most women like to wear it. You can carry a similar suit on the day of Baisakhi. Sharara suit If you like Sharara suit, then you can show your beauty by wearing this type of suit. With this, if you want, you can put Paranda in your hair. Kurta with churidar pajami Girls who are newly married can carry heavy work kurta with such churidar pajami. It also looks very beautiful. Anarkali suit Anarkali suit is very comfortable to wear. Due to this, you can carry this type of Anarkali suit on the day of Baisakhi. If its length is short, then complete your look by wearing churidar pajami with it. Tunic suit This type of Angrakha suit looks very lovely. With this, if you want, keep your hair open. If it is of full sleeve, then there is no problem, otherwise definitely wear bangles in your hands. With this you can also carry Kolhapuri. (PC: Instagram)

Snatcher targets elderly woman in Patiala; CCTV captures brazen daylight snatching

'Who fired the bullets?': Farmers to greet BJP candidates in Punjab and Haryana with 11 questions

CHANDIGARH: The protesting farmers from Punjab and Haryana have decided to ask leaders and candidates of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 11 questions whenever they are out campaigning during the Lok Sabha elections. Among this is a poser on what happened during their latest agitation for a guaranteed Minimum Selling Price: Why were the roads (to Delhi) blocked by digging them with iron rods? Who put up barricades, fired bullets and teargas shells on farmers during their agitation? Are we foreigners that we were not allowed to go to Delhi? The committee comprising of five Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leaders -- Balbir Singh Rajewal, Prem Singh Bhangu, Ravneet Singh Brar, Angrej Singh and Baldev Singh Nihalgarh -- met in Chandigarh at the Kisan Bhawan and prepared a questionnaire for all the BJP candidates in the states. Senior leader of SKM and President All India Kisan Federation, Prem Singh Bhangu and Harinder Singh Lakhowal president of BKU (Lakhowal), said that BJP is anti-farmer, anti-democratic, anti-federal and pro-corporate, and so it has to be stoutly opposed and exposed. It has no right to take the votes and should be opposed and questioned peacefully in a democratic way, said Bhangu. How real is our farmers' angst? The farmer leaders appealed to the people to cast their vote in favour of candidates who are in a position to defeat the BJP candidates. They said the eleven questions will be sent to farmers in both the states. In most villages, farmers have been putting up posters that read, Farmers are barred from entering Delhi, BJP is banned from entering villages. (EPS Photo) Another banner dedicated to young farmer Shubhkaran and pasted in several villages read, What was my fault? I was merely coming to Delhi remind you (Modi government) of your promises. Farmers are again at loggerheads with the Modi government after they gave a call for a Delhi Chalo on February 13. Many saffron party candidates like Preneet Kaur from Patiala, Hans Raj Hans from Faridkot, former ambassador to US Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who is standing from Amritsar in Punjab, and BJP MP and Rohtak candidate Arvind Sharma in neighboring Haryana as also Hisar candidate Ranjit Singh Chautala have faced farmers' protests. The 11 questions 1. Why were the roads blocked by digging them with iron rods? Who put upbarricades, fired bullets and teargas shells on farmers during their agitation? Are we foreigners that we were not allowed to go to Delhi? 2. Why was the young farmer Shubhkaran killed by firing and made a martyr? Why were 400 farmers injured and their tractors damaged? 3. Why have you not implemented Dr MS Swaminathan's report? What is the problem in giving MSP legal status and fixing it as per C2 plus 50 percent? 4. Why Lakhimpur Kheri farmers have not been given justice and keeping Ajay Mishra Teny in the union cabinet. 5. Why were the cases registered against farmers during the agitation not withdrawn? 6. Why was farmers' debt not waived when you have not any difficulty in waiving the corporates huge debt? 7. Why was the Electricity Amendment Act presented in the Parliament despite promises that this will not be done? 8. Why was agriculture not kept out from the purview of the Pollution Act? 9. Why have you sold the country to corporates by way of corruption through Electoral bonds? Why farming is more important than IT to India's economy and why MSP reforms shouldn't wait 10. Why have Bhakhra and Pong Dams been snatched from Punjab by enacting the Dam Safety Act? 11. Why you are destroying the marketing system of Punjab by setting up Silos?

Injuries are mentally challenging, delighted to be back in competition: Mirabai Chanu

Injuries are mentally challenging, delighted to be back in competition: Mirabai Chanu She heaved her lowest weight in years at the World Cup recently but Olympic silver-medallist Mirabai Chanu is actually quite chuffed about her performance as she managed it on the back of just one month's training after enduring a challenging injury breakdown. With only four months to go for the Paris Olympics, Chanu, who was competing in her first tournament since her Asian Games breakdown, finished 12th at the IWF World Cup with a total effort of 184kg (81kg+103kg), a whopping 33kg behind China's Hou Zhihui, who will look to defend her Olympic title. ''I was delighted to be back in competition. Everything is okay now, recovery is good. I'm training at 70 per cent,'' Chanu told PTI. After watching her opponents raise the bar by breaking records in the 49kg weight class, Chanu's confidence received a significant boost when she heaved the barbell after just a month of training. ''It felt very good. After the injury (at Asian Games), I lifted weights after 4-5 months and I got a lot of confidence,'' she said. ''Weightlifting is different, there is always fear as to what will happen. I felt confident that I was able to make a recovery so fast,'' added Chanu, who is exclusively managed by IOS Sports. An Asian Games medal is the only one that Chanu, who has a personal best of 88kg in snatch and 119kg in clean and jerk, hasn't been able to get her hands on. She has stood on the podium at the Olympics, World Championships, Commonwealth Games and the Asian Championships. In the 2022 edition of the continental showpiece, she not only missed a medal in Hangzhou but also suffered hip tendonitis, with less than a year to go for the Olympics. What ensued was a dark and challenging period for the 29-year-old as she could only do upper-body exercises and relied on her mother, who travelled to Patiala, for emotional support. ''When we returned from the Asian Games, the doctor said I need to rest. But even after that, it didn't get okay. I used to feel pain while squatting. Injury always leads to mental disturbance. You keep on thinking what will happen in the future? Will I be able to train? ''I called my family, my mother stayed here with me. That gave me a lot of support. I relaxed my mind and did the exercises that I could in 4-5 months.'' Chanu's perseverance paid off and she was able to make a relatively quick recovery. ''I only just started training...hardly one month. Given that, I was able to perform well. But now we know what I have to work on and what needs to be done. Everything is going well and if things continue I will give my best in Paris.'' Only wrestler Sushil Kumar and shuttler PV Sindhu have won back-to-back medals in individual sports for India at the Olympics. ''This time 200kg won't fetch a medal. There will be a tough fight. Plans are in place for a 205kg plus total but execution needs to be perfect. ''The daily training will determine how the total will be in Paris,'' chief coach Vijay Sharma said. At the Tokyo Games, a total effort of 202kg was enough for Chanu to fetch the silver. But with competition increasing, Sharma reckons a 205kg plus total is the minimum she will have to lift. ''We need to work really hard for a medal. Because of the injury, we have to go slow. Every training session is important. We don't want to risk anything by going fast. ''The main training is left. 184kg was an easy task. The most important thing is to go from 184kg to 205kg. A lot of things need to be done. ''We are going slow because we have time if we go fast we can face problems. We need to peak in July-August. Slowly the training load will increase. It will happen, we just need to be injury-free.'' As far as the coveted 90kg snatch mark goes, both Chanu and Sharma are confident that it will come soon. ''I'm tweaking my technique and I'm confident I will be able to reach the mark,'' Chanu said.

Girl dies after eating cake ordered through Zomato on birthday celebration

A girl died in Patiala after eating a cake ordered online. Family fell ill. Incident raised concerns about cloud kitchen regulations. Police investigating food poisoning. Concerns about bakery safety surfaced.

10-yr-old Patiala girl dies after eating cake ordered on Zomato; Bakery delisted after probe finds order originated from other city

In Patiala, a 10-year-old girl tragically died after consuming a Zomato cake, sparking concerns about food safety and cloud kitchen regulations. The family ordered the cake on March 24th, leading to severe illness among them. Zomato delisted the restaurant and cooperates with the investigation. Police suspect food poisoning, highlighting discrepancies in the order's origin. Online criticism emphasizes the need for stricter safety measures.

Zomato Removes Restaurant 10-year-old Girl Dies After Eating Cake ordered Online for her Birthday

A 10-year-old girls birthday party in Patiala ended in tragedy as she reportedly died due to complications while ordering a cake online. The incident sparked outrage online and raised concerns about the food delivery platforms rules on cloud kitchens. According to reports, the family ordered the cake through Zomato on March 24 and the girl ... Read more

Stolen vehicle of JP Nadda's wife recovered from Varanasi; three held

Stolen vehicle of JP Nadda's wife recovered from Varanasi; three held The vehicle of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda's wife that was stolen last month was recovered from Varanasi and three people were apprehended by the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS), the police said on Sunday. Along with the stolen vehicle, the police also recovered the vehicle used for the robbery. Complainant Joginder Singh lodged a complaint at Govindpuri Police Station, wherein he reported the theft of the said vehicle on March 19. Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered under section 379 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The case was transferred to the Anti-Auto Theft Squad/SED. The team led by Inspector Rajender Singh Dagar started working on interstate auto lifters. During investigation, the team analysed the CCTV cameras. The investigative team developed specific clue about habitual auto lifters Shahid and Shivansh Tripathi, along with their gang. The police said that accused Shivansh Tripathi was apprehended by the police team at the instance of secret informer from the vicinity of Patiala House Court on March 22. During interrogation, the accused disclosed that he, along with his associates Shahid from Badkal Faridabad and his son-in law Farooq from Chandan Hola, Delhi along with a person named Shahkul, committed the theft of the concerned vehicle from Giri Nagar, Govindpuri. Thereafter at the instance of above accused, the police also recovered a car from Expressway Police Station, Gautam Buddh Nagar that was used in the robbery. During further interrogation, the accused disclosed that the stolen vehicle was shifted to the farmhouse of co-accused Shahid's son-in-law Farooq, in Faridabad, Haryana. The accused revealed that he along with Shahid sold the stolen vehicle to one habitual receiver of stolen cars namely Saleem, in Lakhimpur Khiri, Uttar Pradesh, the police said. According to the police, Saleem further sells the stolen cars across Muradabad, Sitapur, Hathras, Mainpuri and north-eastern states of the country. The police obtained the remand of accused Shivansh and conducted raids in Lakhimpur Khiri. Thereafter, at the instance of Shivansh, co-accused Saleem was apprehended. During interrogation, Saleem disclosed that he had further sold the stolen vehicle to one habitual receiver namely Mohd Raees alias Pappu. Based on this information, accused Mohd Raees was arrested from Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. He disclosed that he further sold the stolen vehicle to one Furkan, a resident of Amroha, Uttar Pradesh. Thereafter, the police obtained four days police custody of accused Mohd Raees. Further, upon his instance, the stolen vehicle was recovered from Beniyabagh parking in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The AATS of Delhi Police also received assistance from the UP Police and Faridabad Police in nabbing the culprits. Further, further investigation is underway in the case, the police said. (ANI)

BJPs royal challengers

NEW DELHI : The BJP has fielded over 10 descendants of erstwhile royal families in the Lok Sabha elections, some of whom are making their political debut. The BJP has picked Rajmata Amrita Roy of the erstwhile Krishnanagar royal family to take on Mohua Moitra of the Trinamool Congress in the Krishnanagar constituency in West Bengal. Moitra was expelled as an MP over the cash-for-query case, and is facing a CBI investigation in the case. Amrita Roy, who is making her political debut, belongs to the 18th-century Raja Krishnachandra Roys family of Nadia. Roy has credited Raja Krishnachandra Roy with saving Sanatana Dharma and the Bengali language by siding with the British against Nawab Siraj-ud Daula during the Battle of Plassey in 1757. As per available records, Krishnachandra Roy was a zamindar (landlord) and raja (king) from 1728 to 1782. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a recent telephonic conversation, lauded Amrita Roys commitment to fighting corruption and the royal familys contributions towards social reforms. The BJP maintains equality with everyone, whether a film star or a simple worker or former queen and king. We have made many members of shahi parivar party candidates for the Lok Sabha elections, said a senior functionary of the BJP. Five of the candidates from the former royal families are contesting polls for the first time. Members of royal families participating in politics is not new in Indian politics. But what catches the attention this time is that the BJP has emerged as the first choice for a majority of them, a party leader said. The BJP has fielded Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar from Mysore Lok Sabha seat, replacing incumbent MP Pratap Simha. It was on Simhas visitor pass, some intruders had got access to the Parliament in December 2023. Wadiyars maternal granduncle Srikantadatta Narsimharaja Wadiyar who was elected on a Congress ticket from Mysore in 1984, 1989, 1996 and 1999 died in 2013 without leaving an heir. Yaduveer was then adopted and declared the titular head of the erstwhile Mysore throne in 2015. From the East Tripura Lok Sabha seat, the BJP has fielded Maharani Kriti Singh Debbarma, who hails from Manikya dynasty of Tripura, in place of incumbent MP Revati Verma. In Odisha, the BJP has fielded Malavika Keshari Deo and Sangeeta Kumari Singh Deo, belonging to the erstwhile Kalahandi and Patnagarh-Bolangir princely states, respectively. The BJP has also fielded Mahima Singh, married into the royal family of Mewar. She is contesting from Rajsamand Lok Sabha seat in Rajasthan. In the desert state, the BJP has also fielded Dushyant Singh, son of former Rajasthan chief minister and senior BJP leader Vasundhara Raje, a member of the erstwhile Scindia royal family of Gwalior. Dushyant is contesting from Jhalawar-Baran, from where he was elected as a BJP MP four times. Preneet Kaur, now contesting from Patiala Lok Sabha seat on the BJP ticket, also belongs to the Patiala royal family, while Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, contesting from Guna constituency in Madhya Pradesh now, is also the senior member of royal Gwalior family. He is also called maharaja (king) of Gwalior and is contesting the general elections for the first time on the BJP ticket. The partys candidate from Guna in Madhya Pradesh is another Scindia dynast and a Congress-turned BJP leader Jyotiraditya Scindia. In 2019, Scindia, then contesting on a Congress ticket, had lost from Guna to a former aide who had crossed over to the BJP. He is currently a Rajya Sabha MP. The BJPs candidate from Patiala is Preneet Kaur, the wife of former chief minister Amarinder Singh, who belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Patiala. The BJP has fielded many others who owe direct or indirect lineage with several erstwhile royal families, a party leader said. Party emerges as first choice for royalty Members of royal families participating in politics is not new in Indian politics. But what catches the attention this time is that the BJP has emerged as the first choice for a majority of them, said a leader.