News Analysis India

Tag: Punjab

  • AAP’s Media Crackdown: Zee News Channel Faces Blackout In Mann Ruled Punjab |

    The Bhagwan led Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has stopped the telecast of Zee News channel in the state. The black out of the media group comes without any formal notice by the Punjab government. Zee News’ viewers in Punjab have confirmed that they are unable to access the channel. Our viewers termed Mann government’s decision as ‘dictatorial’ and likened it to ban on the press during emergency.

    ZEE NEWS has always done journalism based on facts. As the oldest channel in the country, we understand our responsibility towards the people. The Mann government’s action comes amidst our coverage of the Punjab Lok Sabha elections where we raised the issues of the people and highlighted the shortcomings of the government.

    The same thing happened during the Emergency. Then the government collapsed. Whenever there has been an attempt to suppress the fourth pillar of democracy… the result has not been good.

    No matter how hard Arvind Kejriwal or Bhagwant Mann try, Zee News will continue to show the truth. The reality of people like Kejriwal, who cannot face the truth, will continue to reach the people. The people of Punjab are with Zee News.

  • BJP: Large number of Sikhs, including DSGMC members, join BJP

    New Delhi: A large number of Sikhs, including members of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, joined the BJP on Saturday. Citing a host of measures taken by the government to help the minority community, BJP president J P Nadda on the occasion said if anybody has really worked for the community, it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nadda also cited central government decisions such as the opening of the Kartarpur Sahib corridor, the FCRA registration for donations to the Golden Temple and the action against accused in the 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases. He said the BJP highly regarded the contribution and sacrifices of the community for the country and will keep working for its welfare. The BJP has been in an overdrive to deepen its bond with Sikhs and is looking to put up a strong fight in the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab, where they are in a majority. A number of well known Sikh politicians from the state have joined the party recently.

  • Lok Sabha polls 2024: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress announces a list of 7 candidates for upcoming polls in Bihar and Punjab

    The Central Election Committee of the Congress party has selected candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Bihar and Punjab. The meeting, chaired by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by leaders like Sonia Gandhi, Salman Khurshid, and Ambika Soni, finalized the candidates for several key constituencies.Bihar CandidatesPaschim Champaran: Madan Mohan TiwariMuzaffarpur: Ajay NishadMaharajganj: Akash Prasad SinghSamastipur (SC): Sunny HazariSasaram (SC): Manoj KumarPunjab CandidatesHoshiarpur (SC): Ms. Yamini GomarFaridkot (SC): Smt. Amarjit Kaur SahokeAllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther StatesWhile the Congress is contesting all the 13 seats in Punjab, in Bihar it is set to field candidates on nine seats and is part of the Mahagathbandhan formation with RJD and the Left parties.

    The Congress has so far declared 285 candidates for the seven phase parliamentary polls that began on April 19.

  • Punjab: SAD’s Harsimrat Kaur Badal slams CM Mann on Tarn Taran case ‘Aise CM Ko Chullu Bhar Paani…’ – The Economic Times Video

    Shiromani Akali Dal’s MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal slammed Aam Aadmi Party on April 7 in Punjab’s Bathinda over horrific Tarn Taran incident. Harsimrat Kaur Badal hit out at Punjab CM’s Bhagwant Mann and alleged that such a Chief Minister should drown himself in water as even after 15 days the culprits are not being arrested. She also made pointing remarks on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said that even after going to jail, he doesn’t want to leave the CM seat and this has exposed AAP. While addressing to media, Harsimrat Kaur Badal said, aise Chief Minister ko Chullu bhar paani me doob jaana chahiye, even after 15 days, culprits of Tarn Taran incident are not being arrested. Even after going to jail, He doesn’t want to leave the CM seat and this has exposed AAP.”

  • Lok Sabha Polls: In 8th Candidate List, BJP Bets On Turncoats In Odisha, Punjab; Fields Ex-Ambassador From Amritsar |

    The Bharatiya Janata Party has so far announced the names of 118 candidates for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. The party released its eighth list of 11 candidates yesterday which had names of several turncoats and even a surprising name of a foreign ambassador. The list had names from three states – Punjab, Odisha and West Bengal. The list puts BJP way ahead of the Congress as the grand old party is yet to announce names on the majority of seats. The Congress has so far released names of 218 candidates. 

    BJP’s Odisha List

    The BJP nominated Bhartruhari Mahtab from the Cuttack Lok Sabha seat. A sitting MP from the seat on the BJD ticket, Mahtab recently joined the BJP. Mahtab, a six-time MP, had on March 22 resigned from the BJD. Other names in the list include Rabindra Narayan Behera, a former director of the National Informatics Centre, from Jajpur and Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi from Kandhamal. The BJP had earlier announced candidates for 18 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha.

    BJP’s Punjab List

    The saffron party surprised everyone by fielding former Indian ambassador to the United States Taranjit Singh Sandhu from the Amritsar seat in Punjab. Hans Raj Hans, who lost their party ticket from North West Delhi, has now been fielded from the Amritsar seat. Former AAP MP Sushil Kumar Rinku, who recently joined the BJP, got a ticket from the Jalandhar seat while former Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu got a ticket from Ludhiana. Dinesh Singh Babbu has replaced star Sunny Deol from the Gurdaspur seat. The party also fielded Preneet Kaur, wife of Capain Amarinder Singh, from Patiala.

    Why Sandhu From Amritsar?

    The BJP has been actively working to expand its support base among Sikhs, who constitute a majority in Punjab, with hopes of making significant gains in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The party is particularly focused on reclaiming the Amritsar seat, which it hasn’t held since Navjot Singh Sidhu’s victory in 2009. However, Sidhu, now with the Congress party, currently holds the seat, represented by Gurjeet Singh Aujla. Both Arun Jaitley and Hardeep Singh Puri, BJP candidates and current Union ministers, faced defeat in the 2014 and 2019 elections respectively.

    BJP, Congress Candidate List So Far

    On March 2, released a list of 195 candidates. On March 13, it announced the names of 72 candidates. On March 21, the BJP released a list of 9 candidates for Tamil Nadu. On March 22, the party released another name of 15 candidates. On March 24, the party announced the names of 111 candidates and on March 26, the party announced three more candidates – two from Rajasthan and one from Manipur. The party released its seventh list on March 27 which had two names. On March 30, the party released the eighth list of 11 candidates. With this, the party has so far announced the names of 118 candidates. 

    Congress released its first list of 39 candidates on March 8. This was followed by 43 candidates in the second list on March 12, 57 candidates on March 21, 3 candidates on March 24, 46 candidates on March 46, 5 candidates on March 25, 5 candidates on March 26, 14 candidates on March 27 and 5 candidates on March 29. The party additionally announced the name of KV Gowtham from Karnataka’s Kolar on March 30. With this, the party has announced names of a total of  218 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls.

  • Farmer Leader’s Big Allegation, Says Paramilitary Forces Abducted Six People By Crossing Into Punjab |

    After the farmer unions halted their ‘Dilli Chalo’ march yesterday for two days after violent clashes at the Khanauri border, they held a media briefing today at the Shambhu Border making serious allegations against the paramilitary forces and Haryana police. The farmer leader claimed that the security forces crossed the border and attacked tents set up inside Punjab. They also claimed that their six people had been taken away by the forces.

    “We condemn the move of paramilitary forces crossing into Punjab and attacking the tents of the farmers. Punjab government should answer this how it allowed Haryana police and paramilitary forces to cross the border,” he said.

    The leader added that six people were missing in action. “Our six people whom the security forces took away are missing in action. Even during a war, paramedics and doctors are not attacked as per humanity. But in Khannauri, they attacked medical camps and doctors treating the injured and looted the people. This government has crossed the limits of barbarism,” the farmer leader alleged.

    VIDEO | “Paramilitary forces and Haryana Police forces crossed the (state) border and attacked the farmers’ camp in Punjab. Our six people are missing after the action. Punjab government should give the answers,” says a farmer leader while addressing a press conference at Shambhu… pic.twitter.com/DF6f5HohLX


    — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 22, 2024

    Farmers and security forces clashed at the Shambhu and Khannauri border of Haryana and Punjab as the agitators were not allowed to enter Delhi. After rejecting the governenment proposal for purchasing certain crops on MSP for five years, the farmers resumed their ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest call yesterday but due to clashes, they had to halt the march for 48 hours. 

    On the other hand, the government has invited farmers for further talks. The farm leaders and the Union minister held four round of talks which remained unsuccessful. General Secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor, Sarwan Singh Pandher, reiterated the demand for a legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) and assured a ‘peaceful’ approach going ahead. The protesting farmers have been camping at the Shambhu border near Ambala since the start of the march on Tuesday, February 13. 

  • farmers protest: We have objection to farmers’ method: Haryana CM Khattar on farmers protest

    Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Khattar on Thursday criticised the “method” adopted by farmers to press their demands, saying they are trying to march to Delhi like an army on the offensive. He said the farmers are moving with tractor-trolleys, earth-movers and ration for a year — just like an army.

    “We have an objection to their method,” Khattar said on the farmers’ call for going to Delhi. “We do not have any objection to them going to Delhi. There are trains, buses and their own vehicles. But a tractor is not a mode of transport. It is an agricultural equipment.”

    Farmers from Punjab are camping at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points seeking to march towards Delhi to press the Centre to accept their demands. The farmer leaders have said they will not make any fresh attempt to move towards the national capital till the meeting is held, asserting that the next course of action will be decided on the basis of the Centre’s proposals.

    Khattar also referred to the farmers’ previous agitation against the now-repealed farm laws and said how they camped at Tikri and Singhu borders for a year and causes hardships to many people.

    “Even today, there are several videos of people appealing that they (farmers) should be stopped as their businesses will suffer,” said Khattar, responding to a question on the farmers’ call for ‘Dilli Chalo’. We have an objection to their (farmers) method,” said Khattar on farmers’ call for going to Delhi. Khattar said everybody has democratic right to visit the national capital. “But how to proceed, what is the motive? These things must be kept in mind.”

    To a question on Thursday’s meeting between the three union ministers and farmer leaders in Chandigarh, Khattar said he is hopeful that some way out will emerge.

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  • How Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana Is Empowering Rural Youth | Internet & Social Media News

    The Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU-GKY) is designed to empower economically disadvantaged rural youth by imparting skills that enable them to secure regular monthly-wage jobs or positions paying above the minimum wage. This initiative is a key component of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, aimed at enhancing rural livelihoods. Aligned with the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), also known as Aajeevika, this scheme endeavours to alleviate poverty by providing sustainable employment opportunities. The program is poised to positively impact over 55 million impoverished rural youth, ready to acquire skills and contribute meaningfully to the workforce.

    The Central government has been promoting the scheme, especially in the wake of the Make In India initiative that requires a skilled workforce. Now, recently, the Ministry of Rural Development has signed an agreement with CETPA Infotech for wider implementation of the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDUGKY). The aim is to transform the opportunities of rural youth by providing skill development training and lucrative employment. This will help minimize the gap between rural talent and prospective employment opportunities. 
     
    Under this agreement, CETPA will work as a Principal Implementing Agency (PIA) of the DDUGKY scheme. It will provide the rural youth with 6-Months Training free of cost besides providing accommodations, meals, uniforms, and even tablets to students, all aided by the government. This holistic strategy guarantees that aspiring individuals from rural backgrounds gain a transformative experience that expands beyond just skill acquisition. 
     
    CETPA will provide skill training through its Noida (UP), Fatehgarh Sahib (Punjab), and Rishikesh (Uttarakhand) centres. In Uttar Pradesh, participants of the scheme are immersed in courses focused on Voice Processes and Front Desk Executives, while in Punjab the focus transitions to Warehouse Packers and Plumbers. This geographically diverse initiative will help the new workforce meet regional requirements. CETPA will also offer students with the 3-Month Placement Assistance program. This forward-thinking strategy guarantees that the newly acquired skills seamlessly transition into meaningful and financially rewarding employment opportunities, paving the path for a revolutionary journey for the rural youth involved. 
     
    DDUGKY, in its collaboration, shows a strong dedication to promoting equitable growth, as demonstrated by a thoughtfully planned reservation policy. Dedicating 45% reservation for SC candidates, 1% for ST, 33% for women, and 17% for minorities, this initiative aims to craft a level playing field for diverse sections of society. The deliberate distribution guarantees that the benefits gathered from skill development are expanded comprehensively, promoting a more equitable and empowered future. 
     
    Further, by addressing historical disparities and embracing the richness of diversity, DDUGKY contributes vitally to social harmony and economic equality. This commitment goes beyond individual skill advancement, becoming a revolutionary force in community development.

  • AAP: AAP vs Centre over Delhi, Punjab tableaux for Republic Day 2024 parade – The Economic Times Video

    Delhi Art, Culture and Languages Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj on Friday said the BJP-led central government rejected the tableaux of Delhi and Punjab for the Republic Day parade to “exact revenge on the AAP”, which governs the national capital and the border state. Addressing a press conference, Bharadwaj said the Centre has rejected Delhi’s tableaux for three consecutive years now.

  • ‘Won’t break away’: Kejriwal reaffirms AAP’s commitment to ‘INDIA’ amid Sukhpal row in Punjab

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Aam Aadmi Party is committed to the opposition INDIA alliance and will not break away from it.

    His comments assume significance against the backdrop of the Congress’ Punjab unit accusing the AAP government in the state of indulging in political vendetta following the arrest of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in connection with a 2015 drug trafficking case.

    The AAP has, however, rejected the allegation saying the action against the Bholath legislator was taken according to the law.

    At a press conference here on Friday, Kejriwal, who is the national convener of the AAP, was asked about the future of the INDIA alliance following the arrest of the Congress legislator in Punjab.

    “The AAP is committed towards the INDIA alliance. We will not break away from the alliance. We are committed to fulfilling the dharma of the alliance,” he said.

    About the case, Kejriwal said, “I have heard about it but I don’t have details. You will have to talk to the Punjab Police.”

    “The Bhagwant Mann government is committed to ending the drug menace in the state since it has destroyed the youth. Be it an influential person or a small-time person, no one will be spared. I am not commenting on any particular incident since the details are not with me,” he said.

    Asked about the opposition INDIA alliance not projecting a prime ministerial candidate yet, Kejriwal said, “We have to prepare a system so that the 140 crore people of India feel they are prime minister. We have to empower people and not one person,” he said.

    The Punjab Congress has already opposed any alliance with the ruling AAP in the state for the 2024 general elections.

    NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said the Aam Aadmi Party is committed to the opposition INDIA alliance and will not break away from it.

    His comments assume significance against the backdrop of the Congress’ Punjab unit accusing the AAP government in the state of indulging in political vendetta following the arrest of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in connection with a 2015 drug trafficking case.

    The AAP has, however, rejected the allegation saying the action against the Bholath legislator was taken according to the law.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    At a press conference here on Friday, Kejriwal, who is the national convener of the AAP, was asked about the future of the INDIA alliance following the arrest of the Congress legislator in Punjab.

    “The AAP is committed towards the INDIA alliance. We will not break away from the alliance. We are committed to fulfilling the dharma of the alliance,” he said.

    About the case, Kejriwal said, “I have heard about it but I don’t have details. You will have to talk to the Punjab Police.”

    “The Bhagwant Mann government is committed to ending the drug menace in the state since it has destroyed the youth. Be it an influential person or a small-time person, no one will be spared. I am not commenting on any particular incident since the details are not with me,” he said.

    Asked about the opposition INDIA alliance not projecting a prime ministerial candidate yet, Kejriwal said, “We have to prepare a system so that the 140 crore people of India feel they are prime minister. We have to empower people and not one person,” he said.

    The Punjab Congress has already opposed any alliance with the ruling AAP in the state for the 2024 general elections.