Latest news with #anti-Punjab
Hindustan Times
12-08-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Punjab: Jolt to Sukhbir as Giani Harpreet's elevation formalises split in SAD
The elevation of Giani Harpreet Singh as head of the breakaway faction has come as a jolt to Sukhbir Singh Badal and has formalised the vertical split in the Akali Dal. The development has also compounded the problems and challenges for Sukhbir, who is trying to revive the party's political fortunes in the wake of a series of poll debacles in the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. After being elected as president of the breakaway faction of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), former Takht Damdama Sahib jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh at the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar on Monday. (Sameer Sehgal/HT) The formation of rebel factions is not a new phenomenon in Akali politics, but the present scenario is different from the past. With the party facing an existential crisis, having been reduced to three MLAs in Vidhan Sabha and lone MP in Lok Sabha, the party leadership despite having atoned for past mistakes after undergoing tankhah, has not been able to come clear from the blame of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib that took place in 2015 when SAD was leading the government. The biggest challenge for Sukhbir would be to negate the criticism from the newly elected president of the breakaway faction led by ex-jathedar, Giani Harpreet Singh. Giani Harpreet has been a vocal critic of SAD leadership and, in most of his public addresses, blames Sukhbir for the downfall of the party and the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, Akal Takht. 'Now, as the head of a faction, he has got the legitimate right to speak against the Badals,' said a political observer, who didn't wish to be named. Many in the Akali circles say the breakaway faction has emerged out of the panthic ethos and traditions as mandated by Akal Takht. The faction has taken shape after a genuine process of enrolling members, thus it will make it difficult for the Sukhbir faction to brush away the challenge. Sukhbir was quick to fire the first salvo during a rally against the Punjab government's (now withdrawn) land pooling policy in Patiala. Claiming that Giani Harpreet had conspired to throw him and his family out of the party, Sukhbir said: 'Harpreet Singh has entered into a conspiracy with anti-Sikh and anti-Punjab central agencies to divide and weaken the Khalsa Panth, Punjab and Akali Dal in league with disgruntled elements.' Sukhbir went on to add that a tailor-made complaint was made as part of this plot to throw him out of the panth, and Giani Harpreet has defied the December 2 edict of Akal Takht, which called for unity between the SAD factions. 'It is a known fact that Giani Harpreet unleashed the conspiracy against me even after I had bowed my head before Sri Akal Takhat Sahib and owned full responsibility for any wrong done by anyone during the Akali government. My total surrender before Akal Takhat Sahib had no meaning for him. These elements colluded with the state police to eliminate me physically, and that too when I was performing sewa in the holiest of holy shrines of the Sikh religion, Harmandar Sahib,' Sukhbir said. While SAD leader Mahesh Inder Singh Grewal claimed that Giani Harpeet was always aspiring to become party president since he was Akal Takht jathedar. The other front that the faction has opened up is the formation of the panthic council. While Giani Harpreet will be the political face of the faction, Bibi Satwant Kaur, who was part of the five-member committee, has been made head of the panthic council, a rare experiment in Akali politics. The council mandate is to work with different factions and religious bodies on a common platform and challenge SAD's hegemony in SGPC. Faction eyes showdown during SGPC polls The breakaway faction has roots in incidents of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib in 2015, for which the Badal-led SAD, which was in power, was blamed. The faction is eying the impending SGPC elections as the first challenge to the Badal-led majority in the gurdwara body. Soon after becoming the head, Giani Harpreet Singh announced that the faction would target the upcoming SGPC elections. 'If the faction is victorious, it will mean the end road for Sukhbir-led SAD in Akali politics,' he said. Giani Harpreet also raised apprehensions over the conduct of gurdwara body polls and said, 'If elections are not held, it would mean that the BJP government is colluding with Badal-led SAD.' Giani Harpreet faces leadership test Up until now, Giani Harpreet Singh, while criticising Sukhbir, was just a lone religious figure with no strings attached, but now faces the task of running the party. 'Now, he is supposed to run a party, give vision and manage day-to-day programmes, which is not an easy task,' said a political commentator. According to Amanpreet Singh Gill, a professor of political science in Khalsa College, New Delhi, the question is, how will the new Akali faction under Giani Harpreet Singh win the confidence of Punjabi Hindus and other sections outside the Panthik fold? 'In the absence of such confidence, the party will not be able to emerge as a major player in electoral politics. It will remain as a party with ideology, but without a significant vote share,' he said, adding that it will be interesting to see how the new faction will solve the puzzle of Panth and Punjabiat. (With inputs from Karam Prakash, Patiala)
News18
18-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
No mercy for people who spread the curse of drugs in Punjab: Bhagwant Mann
Agency: Malerkotla (PB), Jul 18 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that no mercy will be shown to people who had spread the curse of drugs in the state. Speaking after inaugurating new tehsil complexes at Ahmedgarh and Amargarh, he said that the 'Drug Jarnails who were once considered invincible have now been put behind the bars." The resounding success of the ongoing Yudh Nashian Virudh is a testimony that the people stand with the state government in its war against drugs, an official statement quoted Mann as saying. The chief minister claimed that the Congress and Akalis were divided houses as their leaders squabble for power. 'These power hungry politicians can't survive without it. They are getting restless as people have ousted them to opt the Aam Aadmi Party," he said. Mann said the state government will take several pro-people decisions in the coming days and ensure that youth become job-givers instead of job-seekers. He said Punjab is the sacred land of great Gurus, saints and seers who preached love, harmony and tolerance. However, some 'anti-Punjab forces" have been trying to destroy this fabric of unity by orchestrating sacrilegious acts against holy scriptures since 2016, Mann said, reiterating his government's resolve to ensure exemplary punishment for such culprits. He also highlighted the key public welfare initiatives of the state government, including the recent Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana under which cashless medical treatment worth up to Rs 10 lakh will be extended to every family in Punjab. Mann said that Punjab has set a benchmark by providing government jobs to more than 55,000 youths in the last three years. 'The transparent recruitment has increased their faith in the state government. So the youths are shunning the idea of moving abroad and instead prepare for government jobs," he said. PTI SUN RUK RUK view comments First Published: July 18, 2025, 23:30 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Indian Express
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Punjab Congress' Bajwa questions intent: ‘Sacrilege Bill handed minutes before debate; CM wants to bulldoze it through House'
Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa Monday slammed the Aam Aadmi Party government for its 'careless and undemocratic approach to the deeply emotive and sensitive issue of sacrilege' by handing over the draft copy of the Bill on sacrilege to Opposition just minutes before its scheduled discussion in the Assembly. Bjawa questioned the government's intent, saying, 'This is not how serious legislative business is conducted, especially on issues that strike at the very heart of Punjab's socio-religious fabric.' Highlighting parliamentary conventions, Bajwa pointed out that opposition parties are normally given at least 48 hours to study and understand a Bill before it is brought to the House for discussion. He accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of riding roughshod over democratic procedures and showing complete disregard for legislative norms. 'It appears that Bhagwant Mann wants to bulldoze his decisions without any meaningful debate or scrutiny. This only proves that he has little regard for democratic conventions and is more interested in pleasing his political master, Arvind Kejriwal, than serving the people of Punjab,' said Bajwa. The Congress leader called it deeply unfortunate that such a grave and emotional issue as sacrilege is being reduced to a political stunt by the AAP government. He warned that such behaviour not only erodes the dignity of the Assembly but also diminishes public trust in the government's commitment to justice. Consulted leading legal experts to draft the Bill: Mann Chief Minister Mann said that sacrilege was an emotive and critical issue that concerned every Punjabi. He emphasized that the matter has grave repercussions not only in the present but also for future generations. He said that stringent punishment for this unpardonable offence is the need of the hour to serve as a deterrent to criminals. The Chief Minister reiterated that Punjab is a sacred land of great Gurus, saints, and seers who have shown the path of mutual love and tolerance. However, he lamented that certain anti-Punjab forces have been attempting to destroy the state's social fabric by orchestrating sacrilegious acts of holy granths since 2016. He reaffirmed the state government's firm commitment to ensuring exemplary punishment for the perpetrators of such incidents. Mann added that the government had consulted leading legal experts to draft robust legislation that prevents offenders from evading severe consequences—including sternest punishment for such heinous crimes. Reaffirming his government's dedication to justice, he asserted that every individual involved in these sacrilegious acts, whether directly or indirectly, would face exemplary punishment. He said it is the solemn duty of the state government to ensure that these dreaded criminals are held accountable for their actions.
Time of India
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP sending Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini to divide society in Punjab, says LoP Partap Singh Bajwa
Chandigarh: Punjab leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa on Sunday accused BJP of "attempting to create divisions within Punjab's society by sending Nayab Singh Saini to campaign in Ludhiana". Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Bajwa said Saini's very presence in Punjab was "a cruel reminder of BJP's anti-Punjab policies and its continued efforts to weaken the state's unity". Condemning Saini for his "repeated attacks on Punjab and its people ever since assuming power in Haryana", Bajwa, in a written statement, said, "The people of Punjab have not forgotten the tragedy in which Haryana Police fired upon peaceful farmers protesting for their legitimate rights. " The Congress leader also highlighted "the killing of 22-year-old farmer Shubhkaran Singh, who was shot by Haryana police while protesting at Khanauri (Punjab-Haryana border) in February 2024." He said BJP, through leaders like Saini, made several attempts to snatch Punjab's waters, ignoring the legal, historical, and moral rights of Punjabis. "Such moves directly attack the livelihood of our farmers and the very backbone of Punjab's economy," he said. Accusing Saini of "politicising" the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) water-sharing issue, Bajwa stated, "Saini brazenly accused Punjab of denying Haryana even drinking water. "
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Shiromani Akali Dal protests Punjab govt land acquisition and alleged scam in Ludhiana.
Ludhiana: Shiromani Akali Dal's Ludhiana West assembly byelection candidate, advocate Parupkar Singh Ghumman, has accused Punjab's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) govt of orchestrating a massive land scam that could devastate Punjab's farmers and economy. Ghumman said the state govt's plan to acquire 24,311 acres of fertile farmland across 32 villages to develop an urban estate was a betrayal of the people. He alleged that the Bhagwant Mann administration was using the pretext of development to misappropriate an estimated ₹125 lakh crore and funnel Punjab's resources to Delhi. "This is not just about farmers — it's an attack on Punjab's economy, identity and the livelihood of common citizens," Ghumman told reporters on Tuesday. He announced that his party will hold a large-scale protest outside the Ferozepur Road office of Glada (Greater Ludhiana Area Development Authority) on Wednesday, where it will also submit a memorandum of demands to the authorities concerned. Ghumman criticised the govt's messaging, claiming it was misleading the public by portraying the land acquisition as beneficial to farmers. He pointed to Punjab's economic decline, noting that the state, which once ranked second in the country in 2017, had now fallen to 26th position. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo He also accused the Mann govt of destabilising Punjab's agrarian foundations deliberately. "Agriculture is the backbone of our economy. Any move against farmers is a move against the state," he said. Ghumman alleged that more than 15,000 new voter entries had been added post-publication of the final electoral roll, on the ruling party's instructions purportedly. He has warned the govt that if these entries are allowed in the election, the SAD will take the matter to court. "The govt is using every tactic to ruin Punjab," Ghumman alleged. "But we will not tolerate it. Our protest will expose and dismantle the anti-Punjab agenda. " box 'Hoarding row highlights campaign bias' Ghumman further alleged that municipal officials were targeting his campaign hoardings in a "pick and choose" manner, while ignoring violations by rival parties. "AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora's hoardings are visible even outside the constituency, yet no action is taken. Where is this funding coming from?" he asked, citing concerns over election expenditure limits. box '150+ complaints, but no action' The SAD leader claimed his party had submitted more than 150 complaints to the Election Commission regarding violations of the model code of conduct for the Ludhiana West bypoll, but the authority had taken no action. He claimed to have also raised objections against a joint press conference held by the deputy commissioner and AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora. MSID:: 121438649 413 |
