
Punjab: Protest in 14 districts against ‘privatisation' in power sector
During the Amritsar protest, state leaders Satnam Singh Pannu and Sarwan Singh Pandher said the state government was aligning with the central government and 'misleading' people. Leaders Jasbir Singh Piddi and Savinder Singh Chutala said the Punjab government is buying expensive electricity from private thermal power plants. They stated that the Aam Aadmi Party, before forming the government, had promised to cancel these power purchase agreements. 'Instead of cancelling them, the government has been implementing laws since 2020 that aim to completely privatise the electricity board, acting on the directions of the central government,' they said.
They added that the Electricity Amendment Bill of 2023 is now being reintroduced in the monsoon session of Parliament. 'This bill seeks to hand over the rights to determine electricity rates and supply to private companies. Prepaid meters are being installed under this policy. Union power minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Punjab's power minister Harbhajan Singh, in a press conference, declared that prepaid meters would be installed in all government offices and employee residences by August 31, and thereafter in general households as well,' said Pandher.
Resolutions were passed against the land pooling policy and the tax-free trade agreements between India and the US. They said a large-scale movement would be launched against the land pooling policy. Regarding the tax-free trade agreements between India and the US, they said it would destroy local businesses. They said the government should withdraw it or face large-scale agitation.
The third resolution mentioned that the drug de-addiction programme of the Punjab government had 'failed'.
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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Fear grips AAP workers over land pooling push
Jalandhar: A confrontation in Kot Kalan village here on Thursday night, where farmers burned Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) publicity material and confronted two party workers, has left AAP campaigners apprehensive about promoting the controversial land pooling policy in rural areas. On Friday evening, representatives from six villages whose land is earmarked for the pooling scheme reiterated their refusal to surrender their land. Gathering at Kot Kalan, they issued a stern warning to AAP workers, stating that anyone attempting to advocate for the policy in their villages would be responsible for the unsavoury situation and consequences. According to AAP insiders, the local-level office bearers in Jalandhar and other areas of the state find themselves in a catch-22 situation. While the party high command has issued clear directives to engage with farmers and explain the policy, ground workers fear hostile receptions. "There are sections within the party who are worried that if the party office bearers or workers face a hostile situation in a village, and as such incidents are invariably filmed, it can lead to embarrassment not only for the involved party members but can provide material for more negative propaganda on social media to the opposition parties, as well as several Punjabi activists and netizens who are zealously contributing to the counter-narrative against the policy," said an AAP insider. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo BOX Kukkar Pind passes resolution against policy According to the advertisement issued by the state govt on June 6, 1,000 acres of land from six villages - Kukkar Pind, Kot Khurd, Kot Kalan, Rehmanpur, Alipur, and Nangal Krar Khan – come under land pooling. Around 700 acres of these are from Kukkar Pind alone. A 'gram sabha' meeting of Kukkar Pind held on July 20 passed a resolution rejecting their village land being brought under land pooling. The resolution argued that the scheme would have the worst impact on small farmers and farm labourers. The resolution stated that after thorough deliberations, the village panchayat and the residents decided to 'strongly oppose' the land pooling policy and that they would not allow the Punjab govt to implement it in their village. They appealed to the state govt to review its decision and resolve the issue before things start taking an unsavoury turn. The village also decided to send the gram sabha resolution to the Punjab chief minister, revenue minister, and Jalandhar deputy commissioner. BKU (Doaba) block president Sukhbir Singh, who is also from Kukkar Pind, said that other villages were also in the process of calling a gram sabha meeting. MSID:: 122907311 413 |


Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Kangana's crack at Punjab triggers political avalanche
Chandigarh: BJP MP Kangana Ranaut 's claim that drugs entering Himachal Pradesh from Punjab were fuelling a youth addiction crisis has triggered bipartisan condemnation in Punjab, with senior members of both Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress accusing the actor-turned-politician of spreading misinformation for political ends. Punjab finance minister, Harpal Singh Cheema, on Friday dismissed Ranaut's remarks as "absurd" and "irrelevant," accusing her of seeking media attention habitually with "baseless" commentary. Responding to her comments while briefing reporters on cabinet decisions, Cheema said Ranaut lacked "basic knowledge of society" and made "objectionable statements" frequently about women and social issues. Cheema cited national drug abuse data that, he said, placed Punjab lower than several BJP-run states, including Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, in terms of prevalence. "Punjab is working proactively to eliminate this menace," he claimed. He further alleged that drugs from Gujarat — Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state — were being trafficked to other parts of the country. Kangana should survey Gujarat first, while the PM and the (Union) home minister must answer where these drugs were coming from, Cheema said. Echoing similar sentiments, senior Punjab Congress member Pargat Singh slammed Ranaut's statement as "incorrect factually" and demanded an apology. "She is tarnishing the image of Punjabis by spreading baseless and incomplete narratives. If the BJP believes in national unity truly, it must stop weaponising misinformation against Punjab and other non-BJP-run states. This is not just politics — it concerns truth, dignity, and the honour of Punjab. Pargat Singh alleged that Gujarat's ports had become "India's drug gateway", citing seizures of narcotics worth more than ₹21,000 crore, and criticised the BJP's silence on the matter, saying: "When it comes to votes, the BJP praises Punjab's sacrifices. But when it's time for accountability, we're the first to be vilified." Both politicians said Punjab were not the source of the crisis, but one of its worst victims. "Our youth are suffering. Families are breaking apart. The entire state is engaged in a daily battle," said Pargat Singh. "To blame Punjab is to insult our struggle." Ranaut made her remarks to the media outside Parliament on Friday, claiming that drugs entering Himachal via Punjab were leading young Himachalis to crime and addiction. "Our children are gullible and naïve," she said. Her comments followed a warning by HP governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, who said the state could become "Udta Punjab" within five years if urgent action was not taken. Shukla said drug cases under the NDPS Act had risen by over 340% since 2012. Quotes: 'Speak about Gujarat gateway' Punjab has taken the initiative to wipe out the menace. Kangana should go to Gujarat and survey the extent to which drugs are pushed into the country from that state Harpal Singh Cheema | FM, Punjab When it comes to votes, the BJP praises Punjab's sacrifices. But when it's time for accountability, we're the first to be vilified. Our youth are suffering. To blame Punjab is to insult our struggle Pargat Singh | Senior member, Punjab Cong MSID:: 122905285 413 |


NDTV
12 hours ago
- NDTV
Kangana Ranaut, Himachal Governor's "Udta Punjab" Remark Sparks Row
Chandigarh: A political row has erupted between Punjab and Himachal Pradesh after actor-turned-politician and BJP MP Kangana Ranaut linked the rising drug abuse in her home state to narcotics trafficking from Pakistan via Punjab. Her remarks, made while backing Himachal Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla's "Udta Punjab" warning, have drawn a rebuttal from Punjab's ruling Aam Aadmi Party. On Friday, while speaking outside Parliament during the Monsoon Session, the newly elected Mandi MP alleged that drugs were entering Himachal Pradesh through Punjab, impacting the state's youth and families. "Drugs coming to Himachal Pradesh from Pakistan via Punjab is affecting youth and families in the state," Ms Ranaut claimed. Drawing parallels with the situation in parts of Punjab that were spotlighted in the 2016 Bollywood film 'Udta Punjab', Ms Ranaut said, "The situation of drugs in Himachal is so dire that if a strict action isn't initiated soon, the state will become like some of those Punjab villages which only have windows and women now." Ms Ranaut claimed that many young Himachalis were falling victim to addiction and turning to crime. "Our children are gullible, naïve and simple," she claimed. "They are now opting for theft; they have sold their parents' jewellery, are stealing cars to fund their drug habits. Parents come to us crying. They lock themselves in rooms, break furniture, scream, and cry for help. This is worse than death for them." Her comments came a day after Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla issued a public warning that the state could become the next "Udta Punjab" if the growing drug menace was not tackled urgently. Mr Shukla said that narcotics-related cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act had surged by over 340 per cent, from around 500 cases in 2012 to approximately 2,200 in 2023. "This is not just a campaign but a mission to protect our future generations and preserve the social fabric of our communities," Mr Shukla said. "The threat is real and growing. If immediate and determined steps are not taken, Himachal could resemble Punjab's drug crisis in just five years." The governor also criticised the state's lack of rehabilitation infrastructure. "There is only one rehabilitation facility run by the Red Cross in Kullu," he said. "The government has said land has been identified for a centre in Sirmaur, but there's been no progress on the ground. The absence of state-run rehabilitation centres shows a lack of urgency." Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema accused the BJP MP of irresponsibility. "Kangana Ranaut should first conduct a survey in BJP-ruled states before blaming Punjab," Mr Cheema said. "This is not the first time she has made such absurd and baseless statements. She is habitual in speaking without evidence." Mr Cheema questioned why Ranaut was silent on other BJP-ruled states. "There is a greater drug menace in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and even in Himachal Pradesh than in Punjab," he said.