Latest news with #AmarinderSingh
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
In Punjab, fighting the long fight against drug menace
Last month, Punjab saw yet another deadline come and go in its battle against a scourge that has gone on for well over a decade now. In March this year — incidentally, about a month after the party lost its government in Delhi — the ruling Aam Aadmi Party vowed to wipe out the menace by May 31. It wasn't the first such boast, or deadline. In 2017, former Congress Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, now with the BJP, had famously sworn on a holy book to eradicate drugs within four weeks of taking office. That promise, like others, faded quickly. Yet, despite the cynicism that surrounds every new campaign, there may be some glimmers of hope — in villages that have taken ownership of the fight, and which vigilantly guard their borders, and because of mothers who have turned into grassroots activists. For years, law enforcement has focused on end users — the victims of addiction rather than its perpetrators. In the last three months, according to police estimates, over 1,000 individuals caught with small quantities of drugs were sent to de-addiction centres instead of jail. More than 10,000 users have been persuaded to enter residential rehabilitation programmes or register with OOAT (Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment) clinics. Properties of peddlers are being frozen and — in a controversial move — some have been demolished by municipal corporations. It's been clear for a very long time, however, that part of the problem lies in the complicity of the powers-that-be in the drug trade. The complex network of drug mules and suppliers makes it difficult to nab the big fish. Punjab has long been a target of narco-terrorism, orchestrated by a hostile neighbour since the official end of militancy in the 1990s — in recent years, drones have been used to smuggle not just drugs but also weapons into the state. An increasingly resonant narrative points to the urgent need to tackle the demand side of the problem. Sociologists link addiction to a deepening sense of hopelessness, particularly among the youth. Punjab has failed to diversify its economy beyond agriculture, which is offering diminishing returns. The state must pivot towards manufacturing and services, while reforming agriculture to make it sustainable. Successive governments have failed to drive this transformation. Government jobs make little dent in the widespread unemployment. Recent initiatives such as the 12 steps introduced to rev up industrial growth by removing red tape, and amendments to the Punjab Shops and Establishments Act, 1958 that ease the burden on small businesses, are steps in the right direction. But they must be backed by a broader strategy that incentivises startups and prepares the state for the AI age. Punjab's war on drugs is winnable, but only through a multi-pronged approach.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Punjab political leaders against ‘One Nation, One Election' proposal
The 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) proposal promoted by the BJP-led Central government, which seeks to hold simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State/Union Territory Legislative Assemblies, has sparked significant debate in Punjab amid concerns over weakening of federalism, regional autonomy and democratic principles. On June 14, members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on ONOE met leaders of political parties of the State in Chandigarh. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Indian National Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) firmly expressed their reservations to the proposal and opposed the idea of ONOE. The SAD, a century-old party, highlighted several concerns and pointed out that the proposed Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, would weaken the State's autonomy. 'The Bill would cause more harm than improvement. Article 356 was the root cause of the disruption of simultaneous elections in the country. In case Article 356 is not done away with, the election schedule would be disrupted again, so what's the point of this Bill? Also, the insertion of Article 82 A clause 5 empowers the Election Commission of India to defer elections to Legislative Assemblies. This can be misused against opposition parties anytime,' it said. Opposing the idea of ONOE, the Congress's leaders, including State president Amarinder Singh and Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, presented the party's case before the committee. 'One Nation, One Election goes against the basic concept of federalism that has been guaranteed by the Constitution of India,' the State president said, pointing out that parliamentary and Assembly elections were held on entirely different issues. 'The idea of imposing simultaneous elections to Parliament and the State Assemblies will mean imposing dictatorship by default. The regional and local issues that gain prominence during the Assembly elections will be ignored and suppressed. The regional and local aspirations will get muzzled down,' Mr. Singh said. Strong objections The ruling AAP in Punjab raised strong objections to ONOE, terming it 'a direct assault on the fundamental structure and spirit of the Constitution of India'. Pointing out that the proposed Bill would effectively render the tenures of State Assemblies subject to the discretion of the Union government, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the BJP's attempt was an alarming overreach incompatible with the federal framework enshrined in the Constitution. Mr. Cheema said the proposals in the Bill would destabilise the balance of power essential to India's democratic fabric. 'The One Nation, One Election Bill proposed by the BJP is a calculated move to eliminate regional parties that represent diverse cultures, languages, and regions, and serve as the backbone of Indian democracy.' BJP leaders, meanwhile, argue that simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State/Union Territory Legislative Assemblies would reduce election-related expenses and boost governance continuity.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
GMADA orders inquiry into 15 illegal colonies
The chief administrator of the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA), Vishesh Sarangal, has ordered an inquiry into 15 illegal colonies that have come up in areas under GMADA's jurisdiction in Mohali over the past eight months. On May 19, HT had highlighted how, despite the Punjab government's repeated claims of cracking down on unauthorised colonies, nearly 15 illegal colonies have mushroomed in Mohali. The chief administrator has directed additional chief administrator Amarinder Singh to submit a report within two days, following which action will be taken against the officials concerned. These colonies — spread across nearly 50 acres in Sectors 120 to 123, covering villages such as Daun, Raipur, Behlolpur, Barmajra, Tarauli and Jhampur — have been carved out of agricultural land, bypassing the mandatory Change of Land Use (CLU) process, which entails hefty fees and government permissions. Property dealers have purchased fertile agricultural land and subdivided it into plots ranging from 100 to 150 square yards and are selling them to unsuspecting homebuyers. While GMADA is known to enforce regulations strictly in urban sectors, it appears to have turned a blind eye in these rural pockets, allowing homeownership dreams to be built on shaky legal ground. A senior GMADA officer said, that the fault does not lie with GMADA alone, but also with the district administration, questioning why land is being registered without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from GMADA, and why PSPCL is installing power meters in these illegal colonies. In August last year, while scrapping the requirement for an NOC for land and property registration, the Punjab Housing and Urban Development Department had instructed chief administrators of all regional development authorities to ensure that no illegal colonies are allowed to develop. Authorities were also directed to use recent Google satellite imagery to identify illegal constructions and initiate prompt legal action against violators. In a policy shift, the Punjab government had also announced a one-time exemption from the NOC requirement for property owners who could prove the authenticity of their sale deeds executed before July 31, 2024.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Time of India
Harassed by commission agents, Patiala farmer commits suicide
Patiala: In a tragic incident, 30-year-old Amarinder Singh , a farmer from Achal village in Nabha block of Patiala district, died by suicide after allegedly facing relentless harassment from commission agents. The young farmer shot himself in the head with his licensed revolver at home Wednesday evening and succumbed to his injuries two days later during treatment at a private hospital in Patiala. The family members of the deceased have told the police that following his father's death the commission agents claimed that Rs 17 lakh dues were pending against them and kept harassing the family after getting an undertaking from them. Amarinder's relative, Bhupinder Singh, revealed that Amarinder was the only son in his family. "He was married just a year ago, and his wife, who is expecting their child, was at her parental home when the incident occurred. Now, only his grieving mother remains in the household. The village is in deep shock, with family members and locals demanding strict action against the accused agents." Bhupinder further said Amarinder was under constant pressure from the agents. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Based on the statement of Amarinder's mother, Nabha Sadar police registered a case against the accused under charges of abetment to suicide. SHO Gurpreet Samrao confirmed that a manhunt was launched to arrest the accused. Farmer union leader Harmel Singh described Amarinder as a gentleman who was pushed to the brink by the agents. The incident sparked anger among local farmers, who are demanding stringent punishment for the accused. Activists have highlighted the need for systemic reforms to protect farmers from such exploitation. Patiala: In a tragic incident, 30-year-old Amarinder Singh, a farmer from Achal village in Nabha block of Patiala district, died by suicide after allegedly facing relentless harassment from commission agents. The young farmer shot himself in the head with his licensed revolver at home Wednesday evening and succumbed to his injuries two days later during treatment at a private hospital in Patiala. The family members of the deceased have told the police that following his father's death the commission agents claimed that Rs 17 lakh dues were pending against them and kept harassing the family after getting an undertaking from them. Amarinder's relative, Bhupinder Singh, revealed that Amarinder was the only son in his family. "He was married just a year ago, and his wife, who is expecting their child, was at her parental home when the incident occurred. Now, only his grieving mother remains in the household. The village is in deep shock, with family members and locals demanding strict action against the accused agents." Bhupinder further said Amarinder was under constant pressure from the agents. Based on the statement of Amarinder's mother, Nabha Sadar police registered a case against the accused under charges of abetment to suicide. SHO Gurpreet Samrao confirmed that a manhunt was launched to arrest the accused. Farmer union leader Harmel Singh described Amarinder as a gentleman who was pushed to the brink by the agents. The incident sparked anger among local farmers, who are demanding stringent punishment for the accused. Activists have highlighted the need for systemic reforms to protect farmers from such exploitation.
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Action was overdue': Captain Amarinder Singh hails strike on terror camps under Operation Sindoor
Senior BJP leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh Wednesday hailed the Indian defence forces' precision strikes on terror camps inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. Reacting to the strikes, Amarinder said, 'The action was overdue as Pakistan had not been desisting from exporting terror into our country.' A former Army officer himself, Amarinder congratulated the Indian defence forces 'for exercising utmost restraint by specifically targeting the terror camps' and 'not targeting civilian or military installations.' 'India does not want any escalation. The country had made it categorically clear that it will not let those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack go unpunished. They have been punished as admitted by the Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist who, though he escaped himself, lost several members of his family,' Amarinder said. 'Our target was the terrorist training camps, and we have hit them hard and that is it,' he stated. Warning Pakistan against trying to escalate the conflict 'lest it lead to its own doom', he condemned its attack which resulted in the death of several people in the border town of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday. At least 10 civilians were killed and 40 were injured, mostly in Jammu's Poonch sector, as Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling across the Line of Control in response to Operation Sindoor, official sources said earlier. After the shelling, many families in Poonch started fleeing toward Jammu, seeking safety. Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Bhagwant Mann took to X and said that the country is united in the fight against terrorism, 'We are proud of our Indian Army and our brave soldiers. 140 crore countrymen are standing with the Indian Army. The people of Punjab stand with the country's army for the courage and enthusiasm of the soldiers.' Operation Sindoor was executed two weeks after the terror attack in Baisaran meadow in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22.
