Latest news with #SukhpalSinghKhaira
Hindustan Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Tarn Taran youth dies of suspected drug overdose
A 25-year-old man of a village in Tarn Taran district died reportedly of drug overdose on Sunday. The deceased hailed from Varana village in Khadoor Sahib subdivision of the district. He was found dead in nearby Naurangabad village, local residents said. A video has gone viral on social media in which his parents are seen crying after finding his body. The local police said the matter was being looked into. After the video went viral, political quarters cornered the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in the state. Sharing the video on X, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira wrote, 'While @ArvindKejriwal & @BhagwantMann are holding rallies and claiming Punjab a drug-free state bcoz of their so called War Against Drugs, people are dying daily of overdoses of drugs (sic).' Meanwhile, Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said, 'The chief minister reached out to those who died of spurious liquor. Will he also approach the grieving mother of that youth. Will she also get something from the government?'
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
In rare display of bipartisan unity, Punjab MLAs cutting across party lines unite in slamming Centre, seeking repeal of Act
Chandigarh: In a rare display of bipartisan unity , members of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha across political parties voiced strong support for a resolution to safeguard the state's water resources , while sharply criticising the Centre for alleged historical injustices. BJP MLA Ashwani Sharma extended full backing from the Punjab unit of his party to the resolution, questioning why Haryana had received water in excess of its due share over the past three years. "We may call it the magnanimity of Punjabis or whatever, but we should have held a discussion on that as well," he said. "This is not a fight against Haryana. We are fighting to safeguard our rights." Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira escalated the tone of criticism, blaming what he termed a "deep state" for systemic discrimination against Punjab. He linked recent national events — including unrest in Manipur, issues in Jammu & Kashmir UT, and political developments in southern states — to covert central interference. He also accused the "deep state" of orchestrating the premature end of the farmers' agitation. Khaira condemned the removal of Punjab's permanent power representative from the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and urged the state govt to move the high court or Supreme Court. He, along with Congress colleague Pargat Singh, called the Dam Safety Act an "erroneous" piece of legislation designed to centralise control, at the cost of Punjab's autonomy. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Scarlett Johansson, 40, Shows Off Her Real Size In A New Vacation Photos 33 Bridges Undo Shiromani Akali Dal MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali laid blame at the feet of past Congress-led govts, both at the state and Centre, for allowing "excesses" and enabling "discrimination against Punjab." He too called for the repeal of the Dam Safety Act. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema of the Aam Aadmi Party demanded accountability from the opposition — Congress particularly — for what he described as "historical blunders" in managing Punjab's water interests. He urged opposition leaders to apologise to the people and called on the Punjab and Haryana high court to take cognisance of the crisis. Echoing the sense of urgency, education minister Harjot Singh Bains highlighted the water crisis in his Anandpur Sahib constituency, where dozens of villages have inadequate access to both drinking and irrigation water — despite being close to the Bhakra Main Line and Nangal Dam. "With no coal, gold, or oil, groundwater is Punjab's only natural resource. And it's vanishing," he said, citing data that 90% of the state's groundwater blocks are over-exploited and now classified as dark zones. Bains warned against releasing excess water from the Bhakra Dam, asserting that the region's agrarian economy was already at risk due to groundwater depletion.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong MLA Sukhpal Khaira calls BBMB decision 'broad daylight robbery of Punjab's resources'
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira JALANDHAR: Strongly condemning the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB)'s "unilateral" decision to release 8,500 cusecs of water from the Bhakra Dam to Haryana, despite vehement objections from the Punjab govt and its people, Congress MLA and All India Kisan Congress chairman Sukhpal Singh Khaira has said that this move is a direct assault on Punjab's water rights and threatens the state's agricultural lifeline , especially with the upcoming paddy sowing season. "Punjab is facing a critical water shortage , with water levels in the Bhakra, Pong, and Ranjit Sagar dams significantly lower than last year. Haryana, having already utilized 104% of its allocated water share for the current accounting season, is now being favored by the BBMB's decision, which was made on so-called humanitarian grounds. This is nothing short of a robbery of Punjab's rightful share, orchestrated under political pressure from the BJP-led Central government and Haryana," Khaira said. "Adding to the controversy, the transfer of Punjab cadre officer Akashdeep Singh, Director of Water Regulation, and his replacement with Haryana cadre officer Sanjeev Kumar, raises serious questions about the impartiality of the BBMB. Reports that Singh's transfer was falsely attributed to his own request, which he has publicly denied, further expose the manipulative tactics at play. Punjab's concerns are compounded by the fact that Sanjeev Kumar lacks experience in water regulation, as highlighted by Punjab's Chief Engineer," he said. 'This decision by the BBMB is not just a bureaucratic overreach but a deliberate attempt to undermine Punjab's interests. We will not allow our state to be deprived of its rightful share, especially when our fields are parched and our farmers are struggling,' said the Congress MLA. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trend: This unbreakable health-tracking watch is delighting seniors Indestructible Smartwatch Undo Khaira also called for immediate action to reverse the BBMB's decision and demanded a transparent investigation into the transfer of Akashdeep Singh and the appointment of "an unqualified" officer in his place. He also urged the Punjab government to pursue all legal avenues to protect the state's water rights and ensure that Punjab's voice is heard in all future BBMB decisions. 'The BJP and Haryana cannot be allowed to arm-twist Punjab into submission. Our water is our lifeblood, and we will fight tooth and nail to protect it,' Khaira said, adding, 'I appeal to all Punjabis to unite against this injustice and join the statewide protests led by our farmers and leaders to safeguard our rights.' The people of Punjab deserve fairness, transparency, and justice, he added.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira says unelected AAP functionaries inaugurating projects in Punjab
1 2 Chandigarh: Congress MLA from Bholath seat Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Thursday accused the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP govt of "blatant infringement" on the rights and duties of elected opposition representatives. He said the govt was encouraging unelected "halka in-charges" of AAP to lay foundation stones for govt school projects under its 'Sikhya Kranti' scheme. Khaira called it a gross violation of rules governing official functions. Terming it an unconstitutional practice, he said it undermined the democratic process and disrespected the mandate of MLAs, who are the legitimate representatives of people. "We, the opposition MLAs, have formally written to the chief secretary of Punjab, K A P Sinha, urging him to intervene and halt these unconstitutional measures," said Khaira. He added these actions violated protocol and set a dangerous precedent for governance. Khaira said if the chief secretary failed to take prompt action to rectify this issue, opposition MLAs will be compelled to approach the Punjab and Haryana high court for justice. "We will not allow the Bhagwant Mann govt to trample upon the rights of elected representatives and the democratic fabric of Punjab. The people of Punjab deserve transparent and accountable governance, and we will fight to ensure their voices are heard," Khaira added.
