The Government of India has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel despite rising crude oil prices in international markets, according to a statement from the petroleum ministry. Excise duty on petrol has been cut from ₹13 per litre to ₹3 per litre, while the duty on diesel has been reduced from ₹10 per litre to zero, the ministry said. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the decision was taken to help stabilize fuel prices for consumers. According to the minister, the move is aimed at maintaining affordability and ensuring continued supply across the country. Puri said several

Senior leaders of the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party met Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Wednesday, submitting a memorandum seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the death of a state warehousing official. According to a party statement, Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar and working president Ashwani Sharma led the delegation. The memorandum calls for a CBI investigation into the alleged suicide of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, identified as a district manager with the Punjab Warehousing Corporation. BJP leaders alleged that the state government, led by the Aam Aadmi Party

Harmit Singh Pathanmajra, a sitting MLA from the Sanour constituency representing the Aam Aadmi Party, has been arrested by Patiala police in connection with a sexual assault case, according to police. Authorities said Pathanmajra had been evading arrest for approximately six months. A court had earlier declared him a proclaimed offender and police had issued a lookout notice against him. The case includes allegations of sexual assault, fraud, and criminal intimidation, though the charges have not been proven in court. Following his arrest, a local court remanded Pathanmajra to five days of po

Former Punjab minister Laljit Singh Bhullar was produced in court on Tuesday and remanded to five days of police custody in connection with the death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa. According to police, Bhullar was arrested a day earlier from Mandi Gobindgarh. The case relates to the alleged suicide of Randhawa. Authorities have not publicly detailed the specific allegations presented in court. Randhawa’s body was returned to his family after a postmortem examination earlier in the day. His cremation took place later in the evening. The investigation is ongoing. It is not yet clear what evidenc

The Punjab and Haryana High Court was told Tuesday that there is no immediate threat to the parliamentary membership of Amritpal Singh, despite his absence from Parliament for 59 consecutive sitting days. According to submissions made before the court, Singh still has the option to formally apply for leave, which is typically considered by the relevant parliamentary committee. The update was provided during proceedings related to his continued absence. Under parliamentary rules, if a member is absent for 60 consecutive sittings without permission, the House may declare the seat vacant. However

Punjab Police have arrested Laljit Singh Bhullar, an Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Patti, in connection with a suicide case involving a senior warehouse official, according to police. The arrest follows the death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a district manager with the Punjab Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar, who died by suicide after alleging harassment and other accusations against Bhullar. According to police, Bhullar was taken into custody from Mandi Gobindgarh on Monday. A case had earlier been registered at Ranjit Avenue police station in Amritsar based on a complaint filed by the deceased

Thousands of farmers and agricultural workers gathered at Ramlila Maidan on Friday for a “mahapanchayat” organized by Samyukt Kisan Morcha, where speakers called on the central government to address long-pending demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price procurement. Participants raised slogans against the federal government and submitted memorandums addressed to the Prime Minister’s Office, outlining their demands. According to statements made at the event, the gathering drew attendees from multiple states, including Punjab and Haryana, regions heavily dependent on a

Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday called on the central government to introduce legislation guaranteeing minimum support price for farmers, saying a commitment made during the farmers’ protest remains unfulfilled. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Warring said the Centre had assured protesting farmers that a legal framework on MSP would be brought forward, but “several years have passed” without action. According to parliamentary proceedings, he also raised concerns that cases registered against farmers during the agitation have not been withdrawn despite earlie

The signing of a proposed trade agreement between India and the United States has been postponed for now, according to India’s commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal. Agrawal said the agreement will move forward only after the United States fully implements its new tariff policy. He said the timeline for finalizing the deal is tied to the outcome of tariff changes currently under consideration by U.S. authorities. According to Agrawal, previously imposed global tariffs that were struck down by a U.S. court must be replaced with new global tariff measures before the trade agreement can be finalize