Political activity in Punjab has intensified as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 state Assembly elections. In this context, the Bharatiya Janata Party has taken another step to strengthen its organisational base in the state. On Friday, former Congress Member of Parliament Jagmeet Brar formally joined the BJP in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini. He was joined by Omkar Sidhu, former officer on special duty to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Charanjit Brar, and Jagmeet Brar’s brother Ripjeet Singh Brar. BJP leaders

Amid reports of a threat to the life of senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, his wife Ganieve Kaur Majithia visited him at Nabha jail on Wednesday and urged the Punjab government to treat the matter with seriousness. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, she said concerns over her husband’s safety could not be ignored. Ganieve Kaur Majithia said that if any harm comes to Bikram Majithia inside the jail, responsibility would lie with the Punjab Director General of Police, the Additional Director General of Police, and the jail superintendent. She alleged that she has no

A Bathinda court on Thursday granted actor and MP Kangana Ranaut exemption from personal appearance in a defamation case linked to her controversial remarks during the farmers’ protest, allowing her to attend future hearings through video conferencing. The case was filed by Mahinder Kaur, an elderly woman from Punjab, who alleges she was defamed after Ranaut made public comments identifying her during the 2020–21 farmers’ agitation. The matter has been under hearing in a Bathinda court, drawing attention due to its political and social context. During arguments, Ranaut’s legal counsel

The Punjab government says Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has not received approval from India’s Ministry of External Affairs to proceed with a planned overseas visit aimed at attracting foreign investment to the state. According to officials, Mann was scheduled to travel to England and Israel along with cabinet minister Sanjeev Arora as part of outreach efforts to promote Punjab as an investment destination. The proposed visit was intended to highlight opportunities in manufacturing, agriculture technology, and innovation-led industries. The Centre has not provided a public explanation for wi

The Punjab government will roll out its Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme on January 22, a week later than originally planned, state Health Minister Balbir Singh said on Monday. The scheme was initially scheduled to be launched on January 15, but the date was deferred after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s Jathedar summoned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on that day. As a result, the government decided to postpone the formal launch by one week. Balbir Singh said a trial phase will be conducted before the full rollout to ensure the system is functioning smoothly. He added

A key meeting of farm leaders from across India was held Friday at Kisan Bhawan in Chandigarh, bringing together representatives from several states to discuss a common strategy on farmers’ demands. Leaders from Punjab attended the meeting along with farmer representatives from Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal said a consensus was reached to launch a nationwide farmers’ march in the first week of February 2026. According to him, the march will travel from Kanyak

Security agencies were put on high alert Thursday after bomb threats were issued to at least 10 court complexes across several Indian states, including Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Authorities evacuated the affected court premises as a precaution while police teams launched extensive searches. In Punjab, district courts in Ferozepur, Moga and Rupnagar received threat messages, according to police sources. Similar threats were also reported at the Himachal Pradesh High Court, triggering concern among court staff, lawyers and litigants. No injuries o

A special court in Punjab’s Bathinda district has rejected a request by BJP MP and actor Kangana Ranaut to be exempted from personal appearance in a defamation case filed against her, directing her to be present in court on January 15. The court warned that failure to appear on the scheduled date could result in the cancellation of her bail and the issuance of arrest warrants. The matter is being heard by a special court dealing with cases related to public representatives. The defamation case dates back to 2021 and was filed by Mahinder Kaur, a 70-year-old resident of Bahadurgarh Jandian vi

The Punjab government has once again extended winter holidays for schools across the state, citing intense cold weather and persistent fog conditions. Under the revised order, all government and private schools in Punjab will now remain closed until January 13 and reopen on January 14, following the Lohri festival. Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said the decision was taken in response to the ongoing cold wave, which has led to a sharp drop in temperatures and reduced visibility in many districts. He said student safety remains the government’s top priority during the peak winter perio