Latest news with #SukhjinderSinghRandhawa
Hindustan Times
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Longer sessions will give members more time to raise issues, says Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa
As the 18th Lok Sabha completes its first year, here's a look at first-time MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa's performance in the lower House of Parliament and his plans for his constituency. Congress MP from Gurdaspur Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa How do you look at your experience in the first year of the 18th Lok Sabha? Being a member of three parliamentary committees, my experience has been good. I got the opportunity to serve the people on these panels. I have raised a number of questions in the House on several issues concerning Punjab and my constituency. However, the duration of the sessions is shrinking which leaves many issues undiscussed. The upcoming monsoon session is scheduled from July 21 to August 21, but there will be only 20 sittings. What was the high point of the year for you personally or your party in the House? My party raised numerous issues during this one year including the inclusion of other backward classes (OBCs) data in the census. The efforts remained successful as the ruling party accepted the demand. On farmers' issues, we registered protests and walked out from the House. The ruling party was forced to invite the farmer leaders for talks. We also raised the issue of Manipur making it clear that normalcy and peace cannot return at gunpoint. MP Report Card | Longer sessions will give members more time to raise issues, says Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa Are you satisfied with the number of sittings of the Lok Sabha? I would say that if we are not provided an opportunity to speak due to lack of time, what is the use of the House? There should be more sittings of the House. Once upon a time, the Parliament sessions lasted for six months. Now, the session duration has been reduced to two months only. How can one speak or raise issues in such a short duration? As a member of the committee on consumer affairs, food and public distribution, I raised issues like problems faced in the lifting of paddy and improvement in the delivery of ration schemes. I also raised my concerns over the betterment of LIC and BSNL in the public undertakings panel. What is the most effective way to raise issues of public importance in the House? Zero hour is there for every member of the House to raise issues concerning national importance and his constituency. However, due to lack of time, several issues go undiscussed. There needs to be a mechanism in place so that more issues can be taken up for discussion in the House. What difference have you made to your constituency in the last one year, and what do you plan to do in the remaining term as MP? Most of the predecessors rarely visited the constituency be it BJP's Sunny Deol or late Vinod Khanna. However, I spend most of my time in the constituency, meeting people and addressing local issues. My constituency is situated along the vulnerable border and the condition of the link roads, especially in the border belt, is dilapidated. There is a need to widen and strengthen these road links in view of the surge in vehicles and armed forces movement. Besides, ensuring the repair and widening of these crucial link roads, I will try to resolve the issue of the drinking water problem in the Sujanpur area. Bringing medical college to Gurdaspur is one of my top most priority, for which cooperation of the state government is needed. I will also raise a demand for the opening of the Kartarpur corridor at the earliest, as it is related to the sentiments of Sikhs across the globe.
The Hindu
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rajasthan Congress decides to not ally with BAP for panchayat polls
The Opposition Congress in Rajasthan has started preparations for the local body and panchayat elections. In a coordination committee meeting held on July 5, the party has decided to contest the polls 'on its own' and not enter into an alliance with the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) in the tribal-dominated Vagad region, unlike in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Founded in 2023 by Rajkumar Roat ahead of the State Assembly election, BAP emerged victorious in three seats in the Assembly poll that year and won one seat in the by-election in 2024, taking its tally in the Assembly to four. Concerned about the inroads made by BAP in the region, the Congress is now promoting its own Other Backward Class (OBC) leaders in its organisational activities. 'The Congress is strengthening [its] organisation in the Vagad region. The leaders and party workers who wish to come back after leaving [the party] will need to explain why they had deserted the Congress,' said AICC State in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra said the booth-level agents would be appointed within a week to monitor the voter list revision. Congress has also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of deliberately delaying the polls. Mr. Dotasra on Monday said that the State government had appointed the OBC Commission after 18 months in office to meet the Supreme Court-mandated condition for a survey before giving reservation in the municipal elections. 'The pending OBC report will be used as an excuse to postpone the polls,' he said. The party plans to launch protests across the State over the BJP's alleged misuse of constitutional provisions. AICC co-incharges Ritvik Makwana and Chiranjeevi Rao, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Tika Ram Jully, and other State leaders also attended the strategy meeting.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Rajasthan Cong. decides to not ally with BAP for panchayat polls
The Opposition Congress in Rajasthan has started preparations for the local body and panchayat elections. In a coordination committee meeting held on July 5, the party has decided to contest the polls 'on its own' and not enter into an alliance with the Bharat Adivasi Party (BAP) in the tribal-dominated Vagad region, unlike in the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Founded in 2023 by Rajkumar Roat ahead of the State Assembly election, BAP emerged victorious in three seats in the Assembly poll that year and won one seat in the by-election in 2024, taking its tally in the Assembly to four. Concerned about the inroads made by BAP in the region, the Congress is now promoting its own Other Backward Class (OBC) leaders in its organisational activities. 'The Congress is strengthening [its] organisation in the Vagad region. The leaders and party workers who wish to come back after leaving [the party] will need to explain why they had deserted the Congress,' said AICC State in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress Committee president Govind Singh Dotasra said the booth-level agents would be appointed within a week to monitor the voter list revision. Congress has also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of deliberately delaying the polls. Mr. Dotasra on Monday said that the State government had appointed the OBC Commission after 18 months in office to meet the Supreme Court-mandated condition for a survey before giving reservation in the municipal elections. 'The pending OBC report will be used as an excuse to postpone the polls,' he said. The party plans to launch protests across the State over the BJP's alleged misuse of constitutional provisions. AICC co-incharges Ritvik Makwana and Chiranjeevi Rao, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Tika Ram Jully, and other State leaders also attended the strategy meeting.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Iran Hacks Into Israeli CCTVs, Refines Strikes With Surveillance Footage: Officials
Indus Water War Heats Up: Now Omar Abdullah Refuses To Divert Water To Punjab, Congress Hits Back A fresh water dispute has erupted between Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, just weeks after Punjab's clash with Haryana. This time, it's over the proposed 113 km canal to divert surplus Indus water from J&K to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to prevent it from flowing to Pakistan. J&K CM Omar Abdullah has rejected the idea, saying Jammu itself faces water scarcity. 'Why should I send water to Punjab?' he asked, reminding that Punjab already has three rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty. He also invoked the decades-old Shahpur Kandi barrage dispute, insisting J&K won't give up more water. Reacting sharply, Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa accused Abdullah of undermining Punjab's sacrifice and patriotism, pointing to Punjab's suffering during Operation Sindoor, saying 'Pakistan attacked Punjab more than Jammu & Kashmir.' The conflict exposes deeper fault lines in India's federal water-sharing model, raising questions of equity, national interest, and regional politics — especially with Pakistan watching closely as India attempts to control its Indus water allocations.#waterdispute #punjabvsjk #induswaters #shahpurkandi #operationsindoor #omarabdullah #sukhjinderrandhawa #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews 6.0K views | 6 hours ago
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tulsi Gabbard Posts Testimony Clip On Iran After Trump Rebukes Her Statement On Nuclear Weapons
Indus Water War Heats Up: Now Omar Abdullah Refuses To Divert Water To Punjab, Congress Hits Back A fresh water dispute has erupted between Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab, just weeks after Punjab's clash with Haryana. This time, it's over the proposed 113 km canal to divert surplus Indus water from J&K to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to prevent it from flowing to Pakistan. J&K CM Omar Abdullah has rejected the idea, saying Jammu itself faces water scarcity. 'Why should I send water to Punjab?' he asked, reminding that Punjab already has three rivers under the Indus Waters Treaty. He also invoked the decades-old Shahpur Kandi barrage dispute, insisting J&K won't give up more water. Reacting sharply, Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa accused Abdullah of undermining Punjab's sacrifice and patriotism, pointing to Punjab's suffering during Operation Sindoor, saying 'Pakistan attacked Punjab more than Jammu & Kashmir.' The conflict exposes deeper fault lines in India's federal water-sharing model, raising questions of equity, national interest, and regional politics — especially with Pakistan watching closely as India attempts to control its Indus water allocations.#waterdispute #punjabvsjk #induswaters #shahpurkandi #operationsindoor #omarabdullah #sukhjinderrandhawa #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews 6.0K views | 6 hours ago
