
Historic Punjab's Chappar Chiri road crumbles, SAD leader warns govt of protest
He requested the Punjab government for immediate repair of the Chappar Chiri -Mohali road as this road leads to a site of immense historical and religious significance, yet its current state exposes the hollow claims of the government's development model, said Sohana.
The SAD leader highlighted that crores of rupees were spent by the previous Badal government to build Fateh Minar, a national symbol of Sikh valour, but the present regime has failed to maintain basic infrastructure around it.
With the annual Sirhan Fateh Divas celebration of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on May 12, Sohana cautioned that thousands of devotees will face difficulty unless urgent repairs are made.
'Despite repeated requests to the MLA over the last three years, no action has been taken. If repairs are not initiated immediately, we will be forced to protest,' he added.
Sohana was joined by local leaders, including Sarpanch Sohan Singh Chappar Chiri, Shamsher Purkhalvi, Navjot Singh Jyoti, Sarpanch Gurpreet Singh Tangori, and others, who jointly appealed for immediate action.
They urged the Punjab government to respect the religious and historical value of the site and act without delay to fix the road before the mass congregation.

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Indian Express
29 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Flood-hit Fazilka, Ferozepur still battling ‘yearly nightmare', farmers seek permanent solution
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Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Sukhbir vows to uphold panthic ideals, flays rebel SAD, AAP govt
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The Akali leader asserted that he needed the people who had come to the conference and not the leaders who left the party for their selfish interests. Targeting the rebel faction of the SAD, Sukhbir said: "A nawan chulha dal has been established in the state which is getting cooking gas free of cost from the Centre to divide the Punjabis". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Your Finger Shape Says a Lot About Your Personality, Read Now Tips and Tricks Undo Pointing to jailed MP Amritpal Singh, Sukhbir, without taking his name, said similarly a self-proclaimed leader who had come from Dubai and donned the 'bana' of a Sikh and whose own family members were drug addicts deceived Punjabis into voting for him in the last parliamentary elections. Sukhbir also led a blistering attack on Bhagwant Mann, saying that he had not only failed as a CM but also as a leader from Sangrur district. 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Assuring people that the SAD would address their concerns and safeguard their future, Sukhbir said: "Once our party forms a govt in the state it will change the requisite laws and ensure govt jobs are given to the Punjabis only." "The AAP govt twisted laws to hand over 50% of all new govt jobs in the state to the outsiders from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan. Outsiders will be banned from purchasing land in the state and all new industries will have to employ 80% Punjabi employees," he added. Senior party leader Daljit Singh Cheema spoke on how repeated central govts had gone back on commitments made to Sant Longowal under the Rajiv-Longowal accord, including denying Punjab its capital of Chandigarh. He also condemned a proposed legislation under which any chief minister or minister facing charges with a minimum five-year jail term would lose their chair if they were arrested or detained for 30 consecutive days. He said the legislation hit at the foundations of democracy as now central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate would make or break the CMs and ministers. MSID:: 123412789 413 | Status: Not Approved HEAD: 20_Pat_BK_Sukhbir vows to uphold panthic ideals and mark 40th death anniv of HS Longowal Byline: Bharat Khanna Sukhbir Badal vows to uphold Panthic ideals and criticizes rebel group leaders and AAP government Times News Network Sangrur: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday said Panthic ideals and principles were paramount for him and that he would never compromise on the prestige of the Panth for power. He added that Punjab had always been most important for him. While addressing the gathering at the party conference to mark the 40th death anniversary of HS Longowal at the latter's native village in Longowal, Sukhbir Badal also said he had made this clear to leaders like Prem Singh Chandumjra, Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Surjit Singh Rakhra. "These leaders wanted to force me into compromises so that they could become MPs and ministers but I told them that resolving the issues of the 'quom' and Punjab were most important for me and unless these matters were addressed I would never agree to their requests." The SAD President made it clear that he would lead the fight to secure the rights of Punjab from the front and would never bow down to the centre. He asserted that he needed the people who had come to this conference and not the leaders who had left the party for their own self-interests. Targeting the SAD rebel group, Badal said, "A Nawan Chulha Dal" has been established in the State which is getting cooking gas free of cost from the centre to divide Punjabis". While pointing to MP Amritpal Singh, Sukhbir Badal, without taking his name, said similarly a self-proclaimed leader who had come from Dubai and donned the 'bana' of a Sikh and whose own family members were drug addicts had deceived Punjabis into voting for him in the last parliamentary elections. Badal also led a blistering attack on Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann, asserting he had not only failed as a chief minister but also as a leader from this district Sangrur. He said the chief minister had not found the time to even visit this district and address the grievances of its people. "Tell me if Bhagwant Mann has established even one road, school or irrigation canal in this district", he asserted, adding even promises like establishing a medical college at Mastuana Sahib had remained a pipe dream. He also highlighted how Mann has become a mere figurehead with Arvind Kejriwal assuming all powers in Punjab and even taking up residence in the New Sheesh Mahal at Mohali. He said similarly Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain, who had also shifted to Chandigarh, had taken control of all the ministries. He also slammed the AAP govt for going back on all promises made to the people besides reminding them that the SAD had always kept its promises and made power surplus, instituted old age pension and Shagun scheme besides creating expressways crisscrossing the entire State. Assuring people that the SAD would address their concerns and safeguard their future, Sukhbir Badal said, "Once our party formed a government in the State it would change the requisite laws and ensure govt jobs were given to Punjabis only. AAP govt had twisted laws to hand over fifty percent of all new govt jobs in the State to outsiders from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan. Similarly outsiders would be banned from purchasing land in the State and all new industries would have to employ 80 per cent Punjabi employees." Senior leader Daljit Singh Cheema spoke on how repeated central govts had gone back on commitments made to Sant Longowal under the Rajiv-Longowal accord, including denying Punjab its capital of Chandigarh. He also condemned a proposed legislation under which any chief minister or minister facing charges with a minimum five-year jail term would lose their chair if they were arrested or detained for 30 consecutive days. He said the legislation hit at the foundations of democracy in the country as now central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate would make or break chief ministers and ministers. MSID:: 123412789 413 | Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.


Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Panthic ideals paramount for me; will never compromise prestige of 'panth' for power: Badal
Sangrur, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday said 'panthic' ideals and principles were paramount for him and he would never compromise on the prestige of the 'panth' for power. Panthic ideals paramount for me; will never compromise prestige of 'panth' for power: Badal The SAD president was addressing a party conference to mark the 40th death anniversary of former SAD chief Harchand Singh Longowal at the latter's native village in Longowal. On August 20, 1985, Harchand Singh Longowal, who was called "sant" by his followers, was assassinated by two assailants in Sherpur village in Sangrur. Paying rich tributes to Longowal, Badal said the prestige of the 'panth' and Punjab had always been most important for him. He said he had made this clear to leaders like Prem Singh Chandumjra, Parminder Singh Dhindsa and Surjit Singh Rakhra. "These leaders wanted to force me into compromises so that they could become MPs and ministers but I told them that resolving the issues of the 'quom' and Punjab were most important for me and unless these matters were addressed I would never agree to their requests," he said. Dissident Akali leaders Chandumajra, Dhindsa and Rakhra are now part of the breakaway faction of the SAD. Badal said he would lead the fight to secure the rights of Punjab from the front and would never bow down to the Centre. Asserting that he needed the people and not the leaders who left the party for their own "self interests", Badal said, "I will take up all the pending issues of the 'panth' and Punjab before the people in the next one-and-a-half years. I appeal to you to support me in this endeavour to ensure a better future for our coming generations." Referring to SAD's breakaway faction, Badal said, "A 'Nawan Chulha Dal' has been established in the state which is getting cooking gas free of cost from the Centre to divide Punjabis." Badal said, "I request you with folded hands to save Punjab by uniting under the leadership of the SAD which has a track record of not only safeguarding the interests of the state but also ensuring speedy development on all fronts during its stints in governance." On August 11, former Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh was unanimously elected as the president of the breakaway faction of the SAD. Badal also led a blistering attack on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, asserting he had not only "failed" as a chief minister but also as a leader from this district. He said the chief minister had not found the time to even visit this district and address the grievances of its people. "Tell me if Bhagwant Mann has established even one road, school or irrigation canal in this district," he asserted, adding even promises like establishing a medical college at Mastuana Sahib had remained a pipe dream. He alleged that Mann has become a "mere figurehead" with Arvind Kejriwal "assuming" all powers in Punjab. He said A leaders Manish Sisodia and Satyendra Jain, who also shifted to Chandigarh, had similarly taken "control" of all the ministries. He also slammed the A government for going back on all promises made to the people, besides reminding them that the SAD had always kept its promises and made power surplus, instituted old age pension and 'Shagun' scheme. Assuring people that the SAD would address their concerns and safeguard their future, Badal said if his party forms a government in the state, it would change the requisite laws and ensure that government jobs were given to Punjabis only. He said the A government had twisted laws to hand over 50 per cent of all new government jobs in the state to outsiders from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan. He said similarly, outsiders would be banned from purchasing land in the state and all new industries would have to employ 80 per cent Punjabi employees. On this occasion, senior leaders including Baldev Singh Mann, Paramjit Singh Sarna, Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Hira Singh Gabria were present. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.