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The Print
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Mann govt under fire for ‘smothering protest'—teacher under police watch, ‘detention' for dissenters
'I was not even planning to go to Ludhiana,' Sidhana told mediapersons Monday. 'The police reached my house at 6 am and detained me. Later, they accompanied me to the school where they sat next to me till 2 pm when the CM's function at Ludhiana had ended.' As pictures and videos of the teacher, Veerpal Kaur Sidhana, sitting in her classroom attending to her students with the police next to her went viral Tuesday, the opposition put the state's ruling AAP on the mat for 'smothering growing voices' of protest against the government. Chandigarh: On Monday, a pre-primary teachers' union leader in Punjab's Bathinda carried out her school duties with a police team keeping a watch on her lest she organise a protest at a government function in Ludhiana where Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was the chief guest. 'I went to sit in the classroom with only a few students so that they don't get traumatised with the police presence. There is a legal bar on police entering schools. For over two decades, I have never seen such a move undertaken by any government,' said Sidhana. She leads the Shaheed Kiranjit Kaur Pre-Primary Associate Adhyapak Union, Punjab, an organisation that is demanding regularisation of services in government schools. Leader of the opposition, senior Congressman Partap Singh Bajwa, slammed the Punjab government, saying police in classrooms was the Delhi model of school education, bringing in a revolution that terrified teachers and kids alike, referring to AAP's stint in power in the Capital. 'All this because the teacher might protest for job regularisation? And guess what—she wasn't even going!' he wrote on X. 🏫 @AAPPunjab Shiksha Kranti in Action: Welcome to the Delhi Model – now with police in classrooms! So THIS is what @ArvindKejriwal and @BhagwantMann meant by Education Revolution? 👮♀️ 3 uniformed cops sat inside a pre-primary classroom in Bathinda for 6 hours — not to protect… — Partap Singh Bajwa (@Partap_Sbajwa) August 5, 2025 Another Congress leader, Pargat Singh, said on X that the tendency of the government to detain protesters was a 'dangerous, dictatorial trend'. Akali leader Parambans Singh Romana termed the action a 'shame' on the Mann government. The true face of #Badlav and #SikhyaKranti ….police enters a pre-primary classroom in a govt school in Bathinda to prevent a teacher from joining a protest against the govt ‼️@ArvindKejriwal and @BhagwantMann do you realise the effect on such young impressionable minds when… — Parambans Singh Romana (@ParambansRomana) August 5, 2025 The Punjab government has so far offered no explanation for the incident. ThePrint reached AAP spokesperson Neel Garg via message for a comment, but he did not respond. However, at the Ludhiana function where Mann launched ward and village defence committees to curb drug abuse, he criticised the earlier governments in Punjab for silencing voices of protest. 'During Akali rule, people would sit with folded hands in villages when their leaders spoke. Then in 2014, when I became MP, I told the people to question their leaders. Some MPs from Punjab even complained to me that I had made it difficult for them to get out of their cars in villages as people were asking questions,' he said. 'This is the change… I am accountable and anything can be asked from me… In Sunam, once someone dared question Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa during a public programme and he was immediately taken away and locked up.' The Bathinda school incident comes less than a week after a protester was removed by the police from the venue of a function in Sunam where Mann and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal were speaking to mark the death anniversary of martyr Udham Singh on 31 July. At the event, the man sitting among the audience had stood up and held up a banner that said '646 ETT', referring to the union of trained teachers who are demanding jobs from the government, but was immediately surrounded by the police. Also Read: 2 states, 2 dams & a political slugfest: The Nangal water sharing dispute between Punjab, Haryana Crackdown Earlier in the day on 31 July, leaders of the '646 ETT' union had claimed that many of them were put under house arrest to stop them from protesting against the government. Even some members of the extended family of martyr Udham Singh who were invited to the 31 July programme alleged that they were removed from the stage and detained for hours in a room after they informed the administration that they will demand a government job from Mann and Kejriwal. 'I was sent an invitation card for the programme to be honoured as a family member of Shaheed Udham Singh. I was made to sit on the stage initially, but when I told the SDM on duty that I will be giving a memorandum regarding the pending issue of a government job to my son, I was asked by the police to step down from the stage and taken to a room where I was made to sit for hours,' Jeet Singh, grandson of Udham Singh's sister Aas Kaur, told ThePrint Monday. 'The SDM could have just taken the memorandum himself instead of treating me like this. I was a teenager when I along with my grandmother lit Udham Singh's pyre in 1974 after his body was exhumed and brought to India from London. And this is how the government of Punjab honours us today,' he added. Jagga Singh, Jeet Singh's son who too was detained in a room after he went looking for his father, said: 'We were told that Kejriwal and Mann would meet us in the room to talk about my job. But no one came to meet us. Instead of humiliating us like this, it would have been better had the government shot us dead.' He added that he had been promised a government job by Captain Amarinder Singh when he was CM of Punjab in 2006 but no government since then has bothered to fulfil that promise. 'I work in a cloth shop and my elder brother works as a painter,' he said. When contacted, Sangrur deputy commissioner Viraj Shyamkarn Tidke told ThePrint that he had received a complaint in the matter and was inquiring into it. Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira put up a post on X detailing the ordeal of Udham Singh's relatives. 'The truth about fake revolutionaries like @BhagwantMann who exploit the name of Shaheed Udham Singhji for political purposes but disrespect his living family members,' he wrote. Khaira was also among the first to highlight the Bathinda incident. On Sunday, protesting computer teachers who tried to meet the CM in Sangrur were allegedly roughed up by the police and stopped from meeting him. On 1 August, at Arniwala village in Fazilka tehsil, almost 50 unemployed teachers were rounded up by the police from outside the venue of an event attended by Mann and Kejriwal, where they were raising slogans against the CM. The duo was on a visit to a school of eminence in Arniwala. (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: Punjab is new Kingdom of Kejriwal as CM Mann plays host but Delhi AAP takes over power corridors
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
AAP's plan to stagger the acquisition process signals a retreat: Bajwa
Chandigarh: The leader of opposition (LoP) in Punjab assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, on Saturday said the recent decision of the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab govt to stagger the acquisition process under its land pooling policy clearly signalled a retreat from its original stance. Bajwa claimed that at least for now, the AAP govt was planning to stagger the acquisition process under its land pooling policy, confining it to areas surrounding major cities, such as Ludhiana, Patiala, and Mohali. This shift clearly demonstrates a significant reversal in the govt's approach to the policy, he said. "The govt has faced fierce opposition from farmers and the opposition parties, including the Punjab Congress, since Day 1. The entry of the AAP leaders was banned in some villages. The farmers recently took out a successful tractor march against the policy. The AAP leaders, legislators, and MPs like Dinesh Chadha and Malvinder Singh Kang actively stood up for the farmers," said the Congress leader. Bajwa announced that the protests against the AAP govt were set to intensify significantly in the days ahead. "We are determined to force the govt to withdraw the notification regarding the controversial land pooling policy. This decision affects countless farmers, and we believe they may soon receive some positive news," the Qadian MLA said while emphasising the urgency of the issue. The senior leader further expressed concerns over the AAP govt's alleged hidden agendas aimed at settling non-Punjabis in the state. He said the Punjab Congress would not allow this. MSID:: 123063518 413 | Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong leader Bajwa says Mann govt to shift farmers' existing debt to plots allotted under land policy
1 2 3 Chandigarh: Punjab leader of opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa on Wednesday said the state govt was planning to transfer a landowning farmer's existing debt onto the new plot allotted to him under its controversial land pooling policy. Referring to statements made by Punjab minister for revenue, rehabilitation, and disaster management Hardeep Singh Mundian, Bajwa said transferring the debt onto the allotted plot was "outright unjust". "This means the plot will only be issued after existing loans on the pooled land are settled. Additionally, the interest on these debts will only exacerbate the situation," he said. He declared that farmers would gain nothing from the policy, labelling it as a potential scam and demanding the immediate withdrawal of the notification. Bajwa accused Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann of spreading falsehoods in media about farmers being able to secure bank loans based on a letter of intent (LOI) to be issued by the state govt if a farmer agrees to pool his land. "Let me be clear: an LOI does not confer ownership, possession, or a defined property with a revenue number. Banks demand identifiable property with a legal title to create a mortgage. No bank will ever sanction a loan based solely on a plain LOI. The CM must stop deceiving the farmers of Punjab," Bajwa said. Bajwa called the policy a "deliberate intention" of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and CM Mann to alter the demographics of Punjab. "Is AAP planning to settle non-Punjabis in our state? This cannot be ignored," he added.
Time of India
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bajwa meets Australia MPs, urges for consulate in Chandigarh
Chandigarh: Senior Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, held a series of meetings with prominent Australian members of Parliament at the Parliament in Canberra during his visit to Australia. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Among those he met were Julian Hill MP, Australia's assistant minister for citizenship, customs and multicultural affairs, and assistant minister for international education, as well as MP Jason Wood and MP Mary Doyle. During the discussions, Bajwa advocated for the establishment of an Australian consulate in Chandigarh, stating that such a move would significantly benefit the thousands of Punjabis who travel to Australia each year for education, employment, and family reunification. He emphasised that a consulate would not only ease consular access for Punjabis but also deepen diplomatic and people-to-people ties between Punjab and Australia. The meetings focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in key sectors, including agro-processing. Bajwa highlighted potential opportunities for collaboration in dairy farming, water management, and sustainable agriculture, and urged Australian investors to explore Punjab's agro-processing sector. On the education front, Bajwa raised concerns over the challenges faced by Punjabi students in Australia, such as delays in visa processing, limited awareness of legal pathways, and exploitation by unregulated migration agents. He proposed the formation of a bilateral education task force to address these issues and promote closer cooperation between educational institutions in both countries. Bajwa also underscored the importance of cultural diplomacy, suggesting the launch of an annual Punjabi Cultural Festival in Australia to celebrate shared heritage and further strengthen bonds between Punjabi and Australian communities. He praised the contributions of Punjabi-Australians in sports, business, and media, calling them a vital bridge between the two societies. MSID:: 122952841 413 |
Mint
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Life term, ₹10 lakh fine, no parole: AAP govt's across-faith anti-sacrilege Bill in Punjab explained
The Aam Aadmi Party government on July 14 introduced in the Punjab Assembly an anti-sacrilege bill, proposing punishment up to life imprisonment for sacrilegious acts against religious scriptures. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann tabled the 'Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill 2025' in the House for discussion. The Speaker deferred the discussion on the bill for Tuesday after Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa said the party leaders need time to prepare to effectively express their viewpoints on the proposed law. Before the start of the third day of the special session of the state Assembly, the Punjab Prevention of Offences Against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025, was cleared by the cabinet in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mann. The proposed law mandates strict punishment, extending up to life imprisonment, for the desecration of holy scriptures, including the Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, Bible and Quran, an official spokesperson told news agency PTI after the cabinet meeting. The bill proposes that any person found guilty of sacrilege may face imprisonment ranging from 10 years to life. The guilty shall also be liable to pay a fine of ₹ 5 lakh, which may extend up to ₹ 10 lakh. Those attempting to commit the offence may be sentenced to three to five years and shall also be liable to pay a fine which may extend up to ₹ 3 lakh, as per the Bill. The bill proposes that if such an offence leads to communal riots, causes loss of human life, or damages public or private property, the punishment may range from 20 years to life imprisonment, with a fine of ₹ 10-20 lakh. There is no provision for parole or furlough for those who receive the maximum sentence or fail to pay the fine. Individuals found abetting the crime will be punished in accordance with the offence committed. The proposed law also covers religious figures such as granthis, pathi singhs, sevadars, ragis, dadhis, prabandhaks, pandits, purohits, maulvis and pastors appointed to perform religious duties related to their holy scriptures. The bill proposes that if someone is found guilty of sacrilege, they will be punished under the highest category of the offence. Under the Bill, offence means any sacrilege, damage, destruction, defacing, disfiguring, de-colouring, de-filling, decomposing, burning, breaking or tearing of any holy scripture or part thereof. The offences punishable under this Act shall be cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable and will be tried by a session court. The investigation of the offence under this Act shall be conducted by a police officer not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police, as per the Bill. Once passed, this legislation will be implemented in the entire state of Punjab. The provisions of this Act shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of any other law for the time being in force, it said. It is not the first time a bill has been introduced to impose stricter punishments on perpetrators of sacrilegious acts. In 2016, the then SAD-BJP government introduced the IPC (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016, and CrPC (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2016, recommending a life sentence for sacrilegious acts against the Guru Granth Sahib. The Centre later returned the bill, saying that, given the Constitution's secular nature, all religions should be treated equally. In 2018, Captain Amarinder Singh's Congress government passed two bills - the Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill, 2018', and 'the Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2018', which stipulated a punishment of up to life imprisonment for injury, damage or sacrilege to Guru Granth Sahib, Bhagavad Gita, Quran and the Bible. However, the two Bills did not get the President's assent and were returned. Following the discussion on Tuesday in the House, the Bill is expected to be sent to a select committee for taking the opinion of stakeholders. Mann had earlier said that the state government would seek the opinion of all stakeholders and religious bodies for the proposed legislation, indicating that it would not be enacted immediately. The bill deals with an emotive issue in Punjab, as there has been a demand from various quarters for stringent punishment for acts of sacrilege against religious texts after the incidents of desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in 2015 in Faridkot. A government spokesperson told the news agency PTI that with the enactment of the law, the State seeks to further strengthen the ethos of communal harmony, brotherhood, peace, and amity. The spokesperson said it would also act as a strong deterrent against antisocial and antinational activities by ensuring severe punishment for perpetrators of this heinous crime. There have been numerous incidents in the past involving the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and other revered granths, deeply wounding public sentiments and causing unrest in society, the spokesperson said. Over 100 incidents of sacrilege have been reported in the past five years alone, according to the state Intelligence Department. In 2016, desecration of the Quran was reported in Malerkotla and later in Sangrur; torn pages of Guru Granth Sahib were found in a park in Amritsar in 2018, leading to protests; and a gurdwara was vandalised in Tarn Taran and Guru Granth Sahib was desecrated in 2018. While sections 298, 299 and 300 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, address such issues, they do not prescribe sufficiently stringent penalties to serve as an effective deterrent. However, until now, no specific legislation existed that directly addressed offences against 'holy granths', often resulting in leniency or evasion of serious action by culprits, said the spokesperson. The enactment of the law seeks to further strengthen the ethos of communal harmony, brotherhood, peace, and amity.
