Latest news with #PunjabCongress
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress revokes suspension of Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary who opposed Charanjit Singh Channi in Lok Sabha polls
Jalandhar: Congress revoked the suspension of Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary on Monday — a move that appears to be a sign of growing bitterness between Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, former CM Charanjit Singh and others. Immediately after the revocation of his suspension, Vikramjit participated in a party function at Ludhiana's Dakha, presided over by Warring. The MLA was placed under suspension for opposing Charanjit Singh Channi during his parliamentary election from Jalandhar. In the past few days, Channi and a few other leaders had re-inducted two Ludhiana-based leaders into the party against Warring's wishes. On Monday, the latter appeared to be paying back in the same coin by getting a known Channi-baiter back into the party fold. Vikramjit's father, Santokh Singh Chaudhary, was the Jalandhar MP when he died during Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2023. A byelection followed and Vikramjit's mother, Karamjit Kaur, was given the party ticket, but she lost to Sushil Rinku, who was then in AAP. In 2024, Channi was given the Congress ticket, and Karamjit Kaur joined BJP, while Vikramjit continued opposing Channi. He was later placed under suspension. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Esse novo alarme com câmera é quase gratuito em Rio De Janeiro (consulte o preço) Alarmes Saiba Mais Undo During campaigning for the Ludhiana West byelection, where Bharat Bhushan Ashu is the party candidate, Channi, Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh, who is also in-charge of Ashu's campaign, and a few other senior Congress leaders re-inducted Dakha-based Karan Warring on May 29. Differences between Ashu and Warring are an open secret in the Congress. On Sunday, the same leaders re-inducted Kamaljit Singh Karwal, a friend-turned-foe of Ludhiana-based Bains brothers Simarjit Singh and Balwinder Singh. The Bains brothers had joined the Congress during Warring's Lok Sabha election campaign from Ludhiana and are considered to be his loyalists. Soon after Karwal's joining, Simarjit issued statements on Sunday evening, questioning his re-induction into the party and making it amply clear that Warring was not taken in the loop. This brought out the bitterness within Punjab Congress. Announcing the revocation of Vikramjit Singh's suspension on Monday morning, Warring wrote on his X account: "We in the @INCPunjab are glad that our colleague and the Phillaur MLA @VikramjitMLA is back with us. He is a dyed-in-wool third-generation Congressman. His homecoming will definitely strengthen the party." In the same post, Warring attached a photo which had him with and other Congress leaders — Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Punjab Congress general secretary Capt Sandeep Sandhu, and former MLA Gurkirat Kotli. Vikramjit said Warring and leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa revoked his suspension. A different model appears to be at work during the factional fight of Punjab Congress leaders this time. Unlike the earlier modus operandi of targeting each other's loyalists, they are inducting each other's baiters into the party fold now.
The Print
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
End of 3-month anti-drug push, Punjab DGP says battle won but war continues; Oppn calls it ‘ceasefire'
Addressing a press conference here, Yadav said the police had been 'largely victorious' in restricting the spread of drugs in Punjab but the war on drugs will continue. The police will press on with measures it took over the past three months, he said, adding that it will also now focus on making jails drug-free, start e-tagging of repeat offenders and set up anti-drone systems to curtail entry of drugs via the International Border. Chandigarh: With the three-month deadline announced by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to make Punjab a 'drug free state' ending Saturday, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav declared that the 'battle against drugs had been won, but the war continues'. 'It's a ceasefire, not a victory,' Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said in a press statement issued here. 'Had it been a victory the announcement would have come from the chief minister,' he added. Other opposition leaders mocked the government's claim that Punjab is now a 'drug-free state,' sharing what they alleged were recently shot videos of youngsters taking drugs in the open. Mann had on 1 March announced a special campaign 'Yudh Nashea Virudh' with an aim to make Punjab a drug free state in three months. In a meeting of police commissioners, deputy commissioners, and senior superintendents of police that day, a three-month strategy was laid out. A five-member cabinet sub-committee was also constituted under the leadership of Aman Arora, president of Punjab unit of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), to monitor efforts of various arms of the State towards the objective. Giving a detailed report card of the campaign Saturday, DGP Yadav said state police registered as many as 8,344 FIRs and arrested 14,734 drug smugglers during this period. He added that 586 kg heroin, 247 kg opium, 14 tonnes of poppy husk, 9 kg charas, 253 kg ganja, 2.5 kg ICE, 1.6 kg cocaine, 25.70 lakh intoxicant pills/tablets and Rs 10.76 crore in drug money was recovered during this period. 'During the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign, illegally acquired properties of 144 drug smugglers worth Rs 74.27 crore have been frozen, while 104 illegally constructed properties of drug smugglers were demolished by the local authorities,' said Yadav. He also said that in the next phase of the campaign, Rs 500 crore have been set aside to modernize jails. 'Also we are going to set up drug de-addiction centres in all the jails.' He added that the state police plan to e-tag repeat offenders in NDPS cases and also put in place a system to get their bails reviewed. Punjab police, he said, offered to start a program 'each one adopt one' encouraging volunteers in the police to take responsibility for at least one drug addict each in their vicinity. 'It is a completely voluntary exercise which can also be undertaken by people other than the police. In fact we want a larger role to be played by civil society to help us curb this menace.' He emphasised a three pronged strategy: enforcement, de-addiction and prevention. 'Consumers of drugs are being treated like victims. More than 13,000 addicts have been transferred to drug de-addiction centres by the police in the past three months,' said Yadav. Also Read: Punjab's booming de-addiction industry has spawned far greater threats—illegal centres, monopolies War on drugs won or ceasefire? Challenging the claim that the objectives of the first phase of the anti-drug campaign have been met, state Congress chief Warring wrote to CM Mann on X: 'Please tell us, whether the 'War' has really been won? Or, there is a CEASEFIRE?' CEASEFIRE!!!!! 'Yudh Nashya Virudh'? Respected @BhagwantMann Sahab, Sat Sri Akaal. Today is May 31, 2025, the DEADLINE you set for Defeating Drugs in Punjab. Will you please tell us about the status of the 'War on Drugs'? Please tell us, whether the 'War' has really been won?… — Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (@RajaBrar_INC) May 31, 2025 Congress MLA Sukhpal Khaira issued a video message saying the government failed to eradicate drugs from the state despite making tall promises. He said the police were using the war on drugs to treat people in an inhuman manner that even led to the death of one person. LIVE-today is 31st May deadline to make Punjab a drug free state by Cm @BhagwantMann & @DGPPunjabPolice ! Have they lived up to their word? Is it justified to kill youth in the name of War Against Drugs? #PoliceState — Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) May 31, 2025 Khaira also claimed a resident of Jaito in Faridkot district died of drug overdose Saturday. While @BhagwantMann and @DGPPunjabPolice were claiming to make Punjab drugs free by 31st May Manpreet of V. Rorikapura (Jaito) has died today due to drug overdose ! Will they apologise for making false claims?-Khaira @INCIndia @INCPunjab — Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) May 31, 2025 Mohit Mohindra, state youth Congress president reminded Mann of his promise. 'Well, today is 31st May — and the reality on the ground tells a very different, heartbreaking story,' he wrote on X. Remember your promise, @BhagwantMann ji? You said Punjab would be '#NashaMukt' by 31st May. Well, today is 31st May — and the reality on the ground tells a very different, heartbreaking story. Our youth are still suffering. Our streets still witness the pain. False promises. No… — Mohit Mohindra (@mohit_mohindra) May 31, 2025 Replying to Warring's comment, AAP spokesperson Neel Garg said in a video message that there was no ceasefire at all as far as the war on drugs is concerned. He instead accused Warring of promoting cultivation of opium in the state. 'How can one drug be used to replace another? In Punjab we have a zero tolerance policy for every possible drug.' He asked why Warring never questioned former chief minister Amarinder Singh, who was then in the Congress, when he took a vow on the Gutka Sahib to end drug abuse in the state in a month. – @RajaWaring ji, Congress' track record on tackling drugs in Punjab is questionable. 🚫 CM @BhagwantMann's @AAPPunjab govt is working tirelessly to make Punjab drug-free. Let's support the efforts instead of spreading negativity! 🙌 #PunjabAgainstDrugs #AAP — Neel Garg (@GargNeel) May 31, 2025 (Edited by Amrtansh Arora) Also Read: Punjab's war on drugs is an asymmetric fight. Poor infra, not enough doctors or data
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong leaders rally behind Ashu as he files nomination papers
Ludhiana: Congress candidate for Ludhiana West bypoll, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, filed his nomination on Thursday in the presence of party's Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, Punjab Congress president, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Amethi MP Kishori Lal Sharma, and other senior leaders. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now They gathered at the party's election office on Ferozepur Road, from where Ashu walked to the mini-secretariat with a large crowd of supporters and workers. Addressing the gathering before reaching the DC office, Bhupesh Baghel expressed confidence of a definitive victory fuelled by the "overwhelming response" from thousands of party workers. Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said that the bypoll was not just Ashu's fight but that of the entire Congress. He exhorted each party worker to work wholeheartedly, as if they were contesting personally. Warring also said that this election would lay the foundation for the 2027 assembly election. Bharat Bhushan Ashu expressed his gratitude to the party leadership, both in the centre and state, for supporting him. "In these two months of campaigning, opponents harassed our workers and tried to make them join their party, but they failed miserably as our workers remained united and strong," he claimed. He added, "Wait for some time and see how I make their people join Congress now." The Congress leaders also held prayers before leaving for the DC office. Baghel, Warring, Rana Gurjeet Singh and Charanjit Singh Channi accompanied Ashu for filing of nomination. Ashu's wife, Mamta Ashu, filed papers as covering candidate. A united front Eye on 2027, says Warring: Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said that the bypoll was not just Ashu's fight but that of the entire Congress. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He exhorted each party worker to work wholeheartedly, as if they were contesting personally. Warring also said that this election would lay the foundation for the 2027 assembly election. Poaching bids failed: Bharat Bhushan Ashu expressed his gratitude to the party leadership, both in the centre and state, for supporting him. "In these two months of campaigning, opponents harassed our workers and tried to make them join their party, but they failed miserably as our workers remained united and strong," he claimed. He added, "Wait for some time and see how I make their people join Congress now." Box: Ashu warms up to Warring Warring's presence laid to rest speculations of a rift between him and Ashu. Sharing the stage with Warring, Ashu held his hand and said, "Our president is standing with us, now let the AAP and the BJP tell us where their state presidents are." Box: Kejriwal targeting Hindu leaders: Channi In an area which has a sizeable number of Hindu votes, former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi accused AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal of "targeting" Hindu leaders in Punjab. Channi said, "Hindu leaders are being targeted by these people. They sent Ashu to jail, targeted Sunder Sham Arora, O P Soni of our party. They are targeting Hindu leaders of their own party too, such as Vijay Singla, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, and now Raman Arora. " Referring to the AAP government's controversial move of acquiring over 24,000 acres of land for development of urban estates, Channi said, "People from outside Punjab will be accommodated on the 24,000 acres of land which is now being acquired." On Arora's appeal to make him MLA, he said, "People must keep an AAP candidate as Rajya Sabha MP. He can get work done as an MP also and Ashu should be made MLA. That way, both the MP and MLA seats will be occupied by Punjabis. " A few leaders sported stickers saying, "Punjabi aa gaye oye" on their shirts and kurtas. MSID:: 121491374 413 |
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Key Congress leaders missing from campaign and posters in Ludhiana West bypoll.
Ludhiana: As the Ludhiana West byelection campaign heats up, Congress bigwigs remain absent conspicuously — not only from the ground, but also from posters, billboards and digital media, fuelling speculation of divisions within the party. Despite public claims of unity, Punjab Congress president and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Ludhiana district Congress chief Sanjay Talwar, and state's leader of opposition Pratap Bajwa have yet to appear in the campaign for party candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu. Their absence is noticeable even on Ashu's social media graphics and physical hoardings, which feature Delhi-based leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge largely. Only a handful of Punjab Congress bigwigs — including former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Rana Gurjeet Singh, and Sunder Sham Arora — are backing Ashu visibly through public presence or digital promotion. The silence of Sanjay Talwar, once considered a close ally of Ashu, is striking particularly. While Talwar continues to promote Warring on his social media handles, he has not posted a single message in support of the Ludhiana West candidate. The rift appears to date back to April 6, when Warring visited Ashu's residence but reportedly left after Ashu failed to meet him. Warring's team claimed the visit was pre-scheduled, while Ashu maintained he had not been informed. Ashu's camp has since alleged that Warring attempted to embarrass him publicly by inviting media to the visit. Further signs of friction emerged when Warring skipped Ashu's welcome following his release from jail after being acquitted in a vigilance case, while Ashu was also absent notably from a key mayoral selection meeting that Warring had convened. When contacted, Ashu downplayed any talk of infighting. "There is no rift between us," he said. "I am not even aware whose photographs are on the posters, as a separate team handles that. All Congress leaders are united. Some have joined the campaign already, while others will follow soon." Still, as the party positions the Ludhiana West byelection as a bellwether for Punjab's 2027 assembly elections, the absence of its top state leaders on the campaign trail raises questions it may not be able to answer with posters alone. MSID:: 121440228 413 |
New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Waqf Act aimed at grabbing Muslim properties, Sikhs could be next target: Punjab Congress chief Warring
CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress president and Member of Parliament from Ludhiana, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, on Saturday alleged that the BJP government at the Centre had hatched a major conspiracy to seize 44 lakh acres of Muslim land by bringing in the Waqf Act. He further claimed that after targeting Muslims, the saffron party's next focus could be the Sikh community, and similar actions could be taken against the properties of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Addressing the 'Samvidhan Bachao Sabha' at Malerkotla, Warring alleged that the BJP had created an atmosphere of fear among Muslims across the country. Asserting that the BJP was against Muslims, he pointed out that of the 240 MPs the BJP had in the Lok Sabha, not one of them was a Muslim. He expressed confidence that the BJP and the RSS would not be allowed to succeed in Punjab, a state where people live in harmony. 'There are places in Punjab where the Sikh community has provided land for mosques and graveyards for the Muslim brethren,' he said. He further alleged that the BJP government at the Centre and the AAP government in the state were undermining the Constitution by muzzling the voice of the opposition. He pointed out how the BJP was using central investigating agencies like the ED, the CBI and the Income Tax Department against political opponents.
