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khaira-accuses-aap-government-of-burdening-punjab-with-massive-debt
IndiaMar 27, 2025

Khaira Accuses AAP Government of Burdening Punjab with Massive Debt

Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira from Bholath has accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of burdening Punjab with significant debt in the last three years. Khaira claimed that while Punjab accumulated approximately ₹3 lakh crore in debt over 30 years, the AAP government alone has added ₹1 lakh crore to this figure in just three years. He further alleged that no significant development has taken place during this period, stating that no new infrastructure, hospitals, or roads have been built, and not even a single brick has been laid in the villages of Punjab. Additionally, t
another-associate-of-lok-sabha-mp-amritpal-singh-sent-to-5-day-police-remand
IndiaMar 27, 2025

Another Associate of Lok Sabha MP Amritpal Singh Sent to 5-Day Police Remand

Punjab Police today presented Varinder Singh Fauji, an associate of Lok Sabha member Amritpal Singh from Khadoor Sahib, in the Ajnala local court. Fauji, who was brought from Dibrugarh Jail, has been sent to five-day police remand until April 1. He is implicated in the case related to the attack on the Ajnala police station. On February 23, 2023, associates of Amritpal Singh, led by the head of the Waris Punjab organization, forcibly broke through police barricades and entered the Ajnala police station. Following the incident, the police registered a case. Eight other associates of Amritpal S
punjab-government-plans-to-take-on-rs-49-900-crore-in-new-debt
IndiaMar 27, 2025

Punjab Government Plans to Take on Rs 49,900 Crore in New Debt

The Punjab government is reportedly planning to incur new debt amounting to Rs 49,900 crore, according to recent media reports. Out of the Rs 1.02 lakh crore budget presented by the Bhagwant Mann government for 2025-26, a substantial portion will be allocated to salaries, pensions, electricity subsidies, and loan interest payments. This leaves only Rs 9,067 crore for developmental projects and other expenses. The budget, unveiled yesterday, includes Rs 450 crore for the free bus travel scheme for women, the same allocation as the current financial year. However, the scheme’s actual expendit
sukhbir-singh-badal-criticizes-budget-as-hollow-similar-to-previous-years
IndiaMar 26, 2025

Sukhbir Singh Badal Criticizes Budget as Hollow, Similar to Previous Years

Former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and Shiromani Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal has criticized the budget presented by the Bhagwant Mann government, calling it a betrayal of the people of Punjab. Badal described the budget as hollow and directionless, similar to those presented by the AAP government in its first three years, claiming it will only worsen the state's debt burden. He warned that Punjab’s debt is set to reach Rs 4.17 lakh crore, with an increase of Rs 1.54 lakh crore during the tenure of the Aam Aadmi Party. Additionally, Badal pointed out that the state government ha
mann-govt-ignores-rs-1-100-monthly-guarantee-for-women-in-latest-budget
IndiaMar 26, 2025

Mann Govt Ignores Rs 1,100 Monthly Guarantee for Women in Latest Budget

The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government has once again failed to fulfill its promise of providing Rs 1,100 per month to women in the state, even in this year’s budget. The guarantee was made by AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal during the 2022 assembly elections upon the formation of the government in Punjab. In the budget presentation, themed "My Punjab, Changing Punjab," the state government focused on several initiatives, including a Rs 150 crore drug census to count the number of people using drugs in Punjab. Additionally, the government announced a scheme offering free treatment up to Rs 10
partap-singh-bajwa-criticizes-state-government-over-budget
IndiaMar 26, 2025

Partap Singh Bajwa Criticizes State Government Over Budget

Senior Punjab Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha, Partap Singh Bajwa, criticized the state government for its recently announced budget. He alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government has neglected all sections of society in its financial plan. Bajwa pointed out that while the government has proposed conducting a drug census in the state, it should begin from within the Punjab Vidhan Sabha itself. He suggested that the Chief Minister, cabinet ministers, and other MLAs undergo dope tests, with the results made public before the initiative extends to the general public
seechewal-raises-farmers-issue-in-rajya-sabha
IndiaMar 25, 2025

Seechewal Highlights Farmers' Issues and Punjab's Economic Crisis in Rajya Sabha

Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, raised the issue of the severe economic crisis in Punjab during today’s session. He stated that the state is burdened with a debt of Rs 3.74 lakh crore, and it has become increasingly difficult to pay the interest installments on this debt. Seechewal emphasized that Punjab is facing several serious challenges that require urgent attention, such as the significant decline in the groundwater level. The issues of debt and the water crisis in Punjab were raised at the center just ahead of the state’s budget presentation tomorrow, wh
narayan-singh-chaura-granted-bail-in-sukhbir-badal-shooting-case
IndiaMar 25, 2025

Narayan Singh Chaura Granted Bail in Sukhbir Badal Shooting Case

Narayan Singh Chaura has been granted bail by an Amritsar court in connection with the shooting case involving former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. Chaura had been in judicial custody for nearly four months. Chaura had attempted to shoot Sukhbir Singh Badal while he was performing religious duties at the gate of Sri Harmandir Sahib. While granting bail, the Amritsar court stated that the investigation into the case is nearly complete, and there is no compelling reason to keep the accused in jail any longer. The shooting incident occurred on December 3, and Chaura was arres
amritpal-singh-likely-to-be-transferred-to-punjab-in-april
IndiaMar 25, 2025

Amritpal Singh Likely to Be Transferred to Punjab in April

Amritpal Singh, MP from the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency in Punjab and leader of the ‘Waris Punjab De’ organization, may be transferred to Punjab from Dibrugarh Jail in Assam in April. His National Security Act (NSA) detention is set to end on April 22. In addition, Amritpal Singh's associate, Pappalpreet Singh, could be brought back after April 10. Another associate, Varinder Singh Fauji, is also expected to be brought to Amritsar by the Punjab Police by tonight. He will be presented in the Ajnala court tomorrow, where his remand will be sought. A case has been filed against all

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surrey-man-charged-after-newton-area-shooting
CanadaJan 30, 2026

Surrey Man Charged After Newton-Area Shooting

Police have laid multiple criminal charges following a shooting at a Surrey home on New Year’s Day. Officers from the Surrey Police Service (SPS) responded around 11:45 p.m. on January 1, 2026, to reports of gunfire in the area of 140B Street and 59 Avenue in Newton. At the scene, they found an injured man who was taken to hospital with a gunshot wound. Officials said his condition was stable. A second man was arrested at the location. The SPS Serious Crime Unit took over the investigation. On January 28, the BC Prosecution Service approved charges against 49-year-old Chanchal Badwal. He fac
b-c-based-jim-pattison-developments-cancels-virginia-warehouse-sale-to-ice
BCJan 30, 2026

B.C.-based Jim Pattison Developments cancels Virginia warehouse sale to ICE

Vancouver-based Jim Pattison Developments has announced it will not proceed with the sale of a Virginia warehouse property to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which had planned to use the site as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility. The 43.5-acre property in Hanover County, Virginia, faced public scrutiny after news emerged that it could be converted into a holding and processing centre amid a wider U.S. immigration crackdown. The company, owned by Canadian billionaire Jim Pattison, had previously stated it was unaware of the final purchaser or the intende
israel-to-reopen-gaza-egypt-border-crossing-after-nearly-two-years-of-closure
WorldJan 30, 2026

Israel to reopen Gaza–Egypt border crossing after nearly two years of closure

Israel says it will reopen Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt on Sunday, allowing limited movement of people in and out of the territory for the first time in nearly two years. The Israeli military agency COGAT, which oversees civilian coordination with Gaza, said the reopening will permit “limited movement of people only,” with both Israel and Egypt screening those seeking to cross. European Union border assistance personnel will supervise operations at the crossing, Gaza’s primary link to the outside world. The Rafah crossing has been largely closed since May 2024, following ren
federal-court-of-appeal-set-to-rule-on-ottawas-single-use-plastics-ban
CanadaJan 30, 2026

Federal Court of Appeal upholds Ottawa’s authority to maintain single-use plastic b

Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal has ruled that the federal government acted within its authority when it classified certain plastic products as toxic, clearing the way for Ottawa to maintain its ban on several single-use plastic items. In a unanimous decision released Friday, a three-judge panel overturned a 2023 lower court ruling that had found the federal government overreached by broadly labeling plastic manufactured items as toxic under environmental legislation. That earlier decision had cast uncertainty over the future of the single-use plastics ban. The appeal court concluded the go
cfia-says-threats-against-staff-escalated-during-b-c-ostrich-cull-forcing-family-relocation
BCJan 30, 2026

CFIA says threats against staff escalated during B.C. ostrich cull, forcing family relocation

A senior Canadian Food Inspection Agency official says agency employees faced escalating threats and harassment during preparations for the culling of hundreds of ostriches at a British Columbia farm, including incidents serious enough to force the relocation of a worker and their family. In an interview with The Canadian Press, the official said opposition to the cull intensified both online and in person, culminating in what they described as extreme cases of direct threats involving physical violence and sexual assault. One CFIA employee and their partner were relocated along with their chi