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Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
After Dhuri, railway bridge politics reaches Doraha: AAP MLA Giaspura protests against ‘non-construction' of ROB; Bittu says Pb govt sitting on NOC
Payal's AAP MLA Manvinder Singh Giaspura, along with hundreds of his supporters, sat on a protest near Doraha railway station, Ludhiana district, on Monday against the non-construction of a four-lane railway overbridge (ROB) between Doraha and Sahnewal on the Ambala-Ludhiana section for over a decade. This came a day after Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Union Minister of State (MoS) for Railways and BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu got into a war of words regarding the upcoming ROB in Sangrur district's Dhuri. Slamming Bittu for 'playing politics in Mann's constituency Dhuri, but failing to construct a ROB in his home district Ludhiana', Giaspura said the ROB at level crossing no. 164AB has not been constructed despite the issuance of a 'requisite no objection certificate (NOC)' by the ruling AAP government in Punjab. Giaspura said: 'The AAP-led Punjab government has already issued an NOC to the Railways, regarding the project… If they won't construct the ROB for our local residents, then we won't also let trains cross here. We have even paid the state's project share, but nothing is being done. We are not asking Bittu for any favour, we are asking for our right.' 'First, construct the ROB in your home district, then go for Dhuri,' Giaspura said, while threatening to 'sit on 24×7 protests as well as block railway traffic if they don't begin the ROB work at the earliest.' During their protest against the Centre and Railways over 'inordinate delay' in the Doraha-Sahnewal bridge project, Giaspura further said: 'Before playing politics in Dhuri, Bittu should take care of the inconvenience faced by the people in his home district Ludhiana. The project has been pending since 2012… The previous Congress and SAD-BJP governments did nothing to complete it. Doraha residents were happy that something could be done now as Bittu, a local, has become the Union MoS for Railways. However, even he failed to solve the issue. Bittu became a minister despite losing the Lok Sabha elections from Ludhiana, but he is yet to learn his lessons. Residents face inconvenience, with many accidents happening due to the missing bridge.' Bittu trashes Giaspura's claims, says Punjab govt sitting on NOC 'despite multiple letters to Mann' Reacting to this, Bittu told The Indian Express on Monday that he will 'write and personally handover a fresh letter to Mann, demanding clear and correct NOC for the Doraha ROB' as he denied Giaspura's claims. Bittu said: 'I have sent at least four letters to the CM Mann to issue an NOC to the Railways, but we have not received it yet. Earlier, the Doraha ROB was being handled by a private company under the directions of the PWD Department, Punjab government. However, the company left the work midway after PWD terminated their contract in 2021. Now, the Punjab government is contesting an arbitration case against that company, while not being ready for issuing the NOC, despite repeated reminders. Earlier they had provided a conditional NOC, which wasn't according to Railway's parameters so they were asking to provide a clear NOC which hasn't come till date. This politics over the Doraha ROB is being played by the AAP because I had exposed their hollow claims in Dhuri on Sunday.' Bittu also wrote on X: 'MLA Giaspura Sahib, stop misleading people. If you have the correct NOC given by the Punjab government for Doraha bridge, then where can I come to get the NOC from you.' Bittu's spokesperson meanwhile said: 'The Punjab government has only approved a general arrangement drawing, that too just four days back, with a condition that the railways will obtain NoC before execution of the work.' In a letter dated May 22 this year, Bittu wrote to Mann that there has been an 'inordinate delay' in issuing 'No Objection Certificate (NOC) by Public Works Department (PWD) of Punjab for the construction of a 4-Lane ROB at level crossing number 164 AB.' 'Severe inconvenience is being faced by the public over the past 10-15 years due to this busy level crossing… The ROB was originally planned to be constructed by Punjab PWB at their own cost (approximately Rs 70 crore) as per present cost. However, the contract was terminated by the PWD in 2021 and very less progress was made. The Ministry of Railways has stepped in to construct the ROB entirely at Railway's cost. PWD may be requested to solve the arbitration case independently.. and direct PWD for early issuance of a clear NOC,' wrote Bittu to Mann. Giaspura meanwhile said that the AAP government 'has already given its financial share and the NOC on November 11, 2024.' Bittu's spokesperson however said that the NOC earlier provided by the Punjab government was 'conditional one asking the Railways to bear the cost and claims associated with arbitration proceedings.' 'They were told to provide an unconditional and a clear NOC which they haven't till date even as a new work including both the railway span and approach roads were sanctioned by the Railway Board on 29.02.2024 itself,' he added. Another written reminder to Mann was sent on June 2 also, he said. On Sunday, Mann had announced that the work on Dhuri RoB would begin soon. Reacting to this, Bittu had slammed Mann for 'taking fake credit' as the 'the Railways is in the process of granting an approval for the RoB adjoining Dhuri LC 62A railway crossing — without efforts from Mann or the ruling AAP government in the state'.
India Today
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
AAP suspends Punjab MLA Vijay Pratap Singh for 5 years over ‘anti-party activities'
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday suspended Amritsar-North MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh for five years, citing anti-party activities. The decision was approved by the party's Political Affairs Committee and announced by its Punjab suspension follows his recent criticism of the AAP-led Punjab government, particularly over the arrest of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia. Vijay Pratap Singh had publicly raised questions about the handling of Majithia's arrest in a disproportionate assets case, calling the early-morning Vigilance Bureau raid "against ethical principles" and criticising the government for not securing a remand or conducting an interrogation while Majithia was in spokesperson Neel Garg said, "No political party can work without discipline. Recently, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau nabbed Bikram Majithia and people are applauding the effort, but MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh publicly opposed this and raised questions on the timing of the arrest. This is not tolerable. If he had any objection, then he could have raised it on party platform. So the Political Affairs Committee of the party suspended the MLA for five years." The party emphasised that it would not tolerate any "politics on drugs" and reiterated that those obstructing anti-drug efforts have no place in leader Manish Sisodia, supporting the party's decision, said, "AAP is a party of discipline. It is a party of public interest. Anyone who breaks that discipline and does something that is not in the pub for personal ego will face consequences."advertisementWhile the suspended MLA did not respond to calls or messages, he posted on Facebook indicating that he remained undeterred by the suspension, stating he does not fear consequences. His post, written in Punjabi, said "Kabir, that death which the world fears — to my mind, it brings bliss." Vijay Pratap Singh's Facebook post indicates that he remains undeterred. Reacting to the suspension, senior Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa criticised the AAP's move, calling it punitive against a whistleblower."Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh is an honest and courageous MLA. He has been punished for speaking the truth. This suspension is a badge of honour for standing with Punjab," Bajwa @Kvijaypratap joined @AamAadmiParty, @ArvindKejriwal made BIG promises:'We will bring the culprits of Bargari to justice.''We will wipe out the drug mafia.''We stand for Punjab & Punjabiyat.'But what is the reality today?Kunwar Vijay Pratap — one of Partap Singh Bajwa (@Partap_Sbajwa) June 29, 2025Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh is a former IPS officer of 1998-batch, had resigned from police service in 2021 to join AAP and was later elected as MLA from Amritsar (North). His induction into the party was marked by considerable fanfare and strategic emphasis on clean has previously voiced criticism of his own party's government on multiple occasions, marking a pattern of dissent that the party now deems unacceptable.- EndsMust Watch
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Punjab Congress leaders under vigilance scrutiny fear being targeted by AAP-led govt ahead of 2027 polls
CHANDIGARH: With 19 months left till the 2027 assembly elections, the Punjab Congress leadership is apprehensive that the current AAP-led Punjab government might target party leaders who are facing vigilance inquiries. Such concerns have been raised following the arrest of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Majithia in a drugs and disproportionate assets case, while former Health Minister and AAP MLA Vijay Singla and his OSD Pradeep Kumar were given a clean chit in a corruption case registered against them in 2022. Sources said that a charge sheet has been filed in cases registered against former Congress MLA Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon and former cabinet minister OP Soni. Other Congress leaders who are facing vigilance inquiries include: Punjab Congress President and Member of Parliament from Ludhiana Amarinder Raja Warring, former Chief Minister and Member of Parliament from Jalandhar Charanjit Singh Channi, former cabinet ministers Sunder Shyam Arora and Vijay Inder Singla, and MLAs Barindemeet Singh Pahra and Pargat Singh. Channi, who himself is under the scrutiny of the vigilance, claimed that those politicians who are vocal against the government are being targeted by the AAP government. "They have already been after me for a long time, several party leaders, including Jalandhar (Cantonment) MLA Pargat Singh, were under the lens of the vigilance bureau. After Bikram Majithia, Pargat Singh might be next target of the government," he said. Ludhiana MP Warring said, "It would be premature to comment at this moment." On the other hand, Punjab Police has given a clean chit to former Health Minister and AAP MLA Vijay Singla and his OSD Pradeep Kumar in corruption case registered against them in 2022 at Phase 8 Police Station in Mohali. The state police have filed a closure report in a court in Mohali recently, citing that no conclusive evidence was found to proceed against the accused. The court will take up the matter on July 14. While thhe complainant in the case, Rajinder Singh, a government engineer on deputation with Punjab Health System Corporation, has agreed with the closure report. It is worth mentioning here that the complainant had submitted that he was summoned to Punjab Bhawan, and a commission of one per cent was demanded from him. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had dismissed Singla from his cabinet.
United News of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Action against Majithia an act of political vendetta: Badal
Chandigarh, June 25 (UNI) Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal today termed the Punjab Vigilance Bureau action against senior party leader Bikram Singh Majithia as an act of political vendetta. Badal said that SAD stands with Majithia. He said it was obvious that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and the Aam Aadmi Party "were baffled by Majithia's exposes on their corrupt and immoral acts". "These attempts to suppress voices of Majithia and other Akali leaders won't succeed," he said, and added that it was not the first time that the Akali leadership was targeted with the intention of political vendetta. "We will fight it out," Badal asserted. Badal also said that officials should desist from filing what he termed as "false cases". He said that officials should know that the false cases filed by them under the AAP-led Punjab government and "all the acts of oppression would be investigated when the time comes". He appealed to police not not to break the law saying that "only one-and-a-half-years is left for regime change", in reference to the next assembly elections. Earlier, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) conducted a raid on the Amritsar residence of Bikram Singh Majithia, a senior SAD leader and former Punjab minister, and arrested him in connection with a disproportionate assets case. The raid was reportedly linked to findings from an ongoing investigation into a 2021 drug-trafficking case against Majithia. Majithia was taken to Mohali for questioning. Besides SAD, opposition parties like BJP and Congress have come out in support of Majithia, alleging that the arrest was a case of political vendetta. UNI GS MR RN
Hans India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
AAP wins key seats in Gujarat and Punjab by-elections
New Delhi: After a disappointing performance in the Delhi Assembly elections earlier this year, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has made a strong political comeback by securing victories in crucial by-elections held in Gujarat and Punjab. These wins have rejuvenated the party's cadre and bolstered its national ambitions, bringing back a festive atmosphere to the AAP headquarters in Delhi. In Gujarat, AAP achieved a significant breakthrough by winning the Visavadar Assembly seat, traditionally considered a BJP stronghold. Party leader Gopal Italia emerged victorious with a convincing margin of over 17,000 votes. Italia garnered 75,942 votes, while his closest rival, Kirit Patel of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), secured 58,388 votes. The win in Visavadar is being viewed as a strong indication of AAP's growing influence in a state long dominated by the BJP. Meanwhile, in Punjab's Ludhiana West constituency, AAP scored another key victory. Sanjeev Arora, currently serving as a member of the Rajya Sabha for the party, won the by-election by defeating candidates from both the Congress and BJP. Arora received 35,179 votes, while Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Anshu came in second with 24,542 votes. The Ludhiana West seat had been vacant since January 2025, following the sudden death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi due to a gunshot injury. Fourteen candidates had contested for the seat, but Arora's campaign maintained a clear edge from the start. The dual victories triggered celebrations at the AAP headquarters in Delhi, where senior party leaders, including Delhi state president Saurabh Bhardwaj and senior leader Gopal Rai gathered to congratulate the workers. Bhardwaj called it a strong return for party convener Arvind Kejriwal, saying, 'This is not just a win in by-elections—this is a strong statement from the people.' The sentiment was echoed by many within the party, who believe that these results represent a shift in momentum after recent setbacks. Political observers have also pointed to the broader implications of the Ludhiana West result. According to analyst Naveen Gautam, the victory is not just a local triumph, it reflects continued public support for the AAP-led government in Punjab, just two years ahead of the next Assembly elections. He noted that the seat, formed in 1977, has mostly been dominated by Congress in recent decades, making AAP's repeat win even more meaningful. More significantly, the Ludhiana West result has sparked discussions about a potential change in AAP's leadership dynamics. Since Sanjeev Arora will now serve in the Punjab Assembly, he is expected to vacate his Rajya Sabha seat. This has led to widespread speculation that Arvind Kejriwal could be nominated to Parliament through this route. Notably, he is currently out on bail in a money laundering case related to the Delhi liquorpolicy, a seat in the Rajya Sabha could offer Kejriwal political insulation and a new platform in central politics.
