After nearly a week of disruption, paddy procurement in Punjab will resume on Friday following a decisive meeting between Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and representatives of Aarti associations on Thursday. The commission agents, known as Aartis, had been on strike demanding clearance of pending payments and simplification of procurement procedures. Their protest had brought grain market operations to a standstill and raised concerns among farmers as the harvest season peaked. In Thursday’s meeting, the state government assured the Aarti unions that payment delays and procedural bottlenecks w

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, has hinted that party president Sukhbir Singh Badal may contest the upcoming Giddarbaha by-election, calling it an opportunity for voters to continue the legacy of former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. Speaking to reporters, Harsimrat said that the people of Giddarbaha “will once again stand with the successor of Parkash Singh Badal,” expressing confidence that Sukhbir Badal would “transform the constituency like Bathinda and Lambi.” The remarks are being viewed as a strong political signal of the Akali Dal’s atte

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on the residences and offices of former Punjab cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and businessman Hemant Sood, who is believed to be close to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora. The searches were carried out early Friday in Ludhiana and surrounding areas, as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities. Sources said the agency has uncovered foreign transactions linked to the accounts of Ashu and Sood, and further scrutiny of bank records is underway. The ED suspects that certain cross-border transfers

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has vacated his chief ministerial residence after 9 years.He shifted to house number 5 on Ferozshah Road in Delhi on Friday afternoon. This house was given to AAP's Rajya Sabha member from Punjab, Ashok Mittal. Kejriwal had resigned from the post of Chief Minister on September 17. Meanwhile, he had announced to leave the Chief Minister's residence and all government facilities. There is no official CM House in Delhi. All the Chief Ministers before Kejriwal have lived in different houses.

An RTI activist has claimed that Vibhav Kumar, the former personal assistant to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has been quietly appointed as the Chief Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The claim, made by RTI activist Manik Goyal, has triggered sharp political reactions in Punjab. According to reports, several rooms at the Punjab Chief Minister’s official residence have been vacated to accommodate Vibhav Kumar, who is said to be working under Kejriwal’s direct supervision. Kumar was recently granted bail in the case of assaulting AAP MP Swati Maliwal at the Delhi Chief

The final day of nominations for the panchayat elections in Punjab witnessed widespread tension and violent clashes at several locations. In Landheke village of Moga district, two Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidates contesting for the same sarpanch seat allegedly clashed, leading to a scuffle during which one candidate’s nomination papers were torn and thrown away. Panic spread near the nomination centre when shots were fired, triggering a stampede that left several people injured. Witnesses said security arrangements were inadequate to handle the large crowds of supporters gathered outside the

Amid growing speculation within the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), state president Sunil Jakhar is said to have communicated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, urging a change in the party’s approach toward Punjab’s political and emotional concerns. Sources suggest Jakhar has stressed that issues deeply connected to Punjabi identity and sentiment must be addressed on a priority basis, calling for greater sensitivity from both the state and central leadership. According to reports, Jakhar has also expressed his intention to step down as Punjab BJP chief, ci

Farmers across Punjab and Haryana held protests today by sitting on railway tracks, demanding a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) and justice in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. The demonstrations caused disruptions to train services at several locations in both states. The agitation, part of an ongoing nationwide campaign by farmer organizations, saw hundreds of farmers gather at major railway junctions, raising slogans against the central government’s alleged indifference to their long-pending demands. Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Bittu had earlier warned th

Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh of Sri Akal Takht Sahib has been admitted to the Guru Ramdas Institute of Medical Sciences after experiencing severe body pain, his personal assistant confirmed on Thursday. According to Talwinder Singh Buttar, the Jathedar’s personal assistant, Giani Raghbir Singh was taken to the hospital late Wednesday night, where doctors diagnosed him with a viral infection following medical tests. Buttar said that the Jathedar’s health is being closely monitored by a panel of senior doctors, and his condition is currently stable. He added that further updates on his recov