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Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Cannot go on like this': Punjab-Rajasthan tussle over Gang Canal water escalates as MLAs continue stir, meet Governor Kataria
The long-standing issue of water-sharing through the Gang Canal has snowballed into a political and inter-state flashpoint as Congress MLAs in Rajasthan launched an indefinite sit-in protest and chain hunger strike on Monday in Sriganganagar district, which borders Punjab's Fazilka district. The protest, backed by local farmers, is being spearheaded by the Kisan Sangharsh Morcha with the active involvement of Karanpur Congress MLA Rupinder Singh Kooner and other Opposition leaders. The protesters have accused both the BJP-led Rajasthan government and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government of negligence. 'The protest is not just against Punjab. It is also against our own BJP government in Rajasthan, which has failed to represent farmers' interests effectively. Punjab is playing 'gimmicks' and denying our rightful share of water,' Kuldeep Indora, Congress MP from Sriganganagar, told The Indian Express. Indora said, 'Rajasthan and Punjab share water from the Gang Canal, sourced from the Harike Barrage on the Sutlej River. As per the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB), both states were allocated 2,500 cusecs each for June 2025. But until June 10, Rajasthan was receiving just 600–700 cusecs. We objected, and the share was later increased to 1,800 cusecs, and finally to 2,000 cusecs from June 18. Still, we are not getting the full 100 per cent share.' He added, 'It cannot go on like this, where Punjab arbitrarily increases or decreases the flow. We demand our rightful share — not a drop more, not a drop less. The Centre must intervene as BBMB is under its control.' The hunger strike began with MLA Rupinder Kooner who was later joined by Raisinghnagar MLA Sohan Lal Nayak. MP Indora is also set to join the chain hunger strike from 6 pm on Friday to 6 pm on Saturday. 'The chain hunger strike is being observed for 24 hours by each person, starting from 6 pm onwards,' said Kooner. Farmers claim the ongoing shortfall has crippled irrigation and delayed sowing of cotton and cottonseed, putting thousands of livelihoods at risk. Protesters have also raised concerns about water theft by Punjab farmers along the route of the canal from Harike to Sriganganagar, a problem allegedly ignored by both governments. In a significant development, Gurveer Singh Brar, the BJP MLA from Sadulshahar, which falls in Sriganganagar district, met Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria at the Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh on Thursday and raised the matter. The legislator also submitted a memorandum requesting immediate release of Rajasthan's allocated share. Brar stated that even though the BBMB has allocated 2,500 cusecs to Rajasthan, 'Punjab is not releasing the full amount. Water levels in the Gang Canal have been continuously falling, putting farmers in distress. While the Rajasthan government has taken up the matter repeatedly, the supply has improved, but still remains insufficient.' Following Brar's intervention, the Punjab Governor reportedly issued directions to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the chief secretary to resolve the issue urgently. 'With the Governor's positive intervention, I am hopeful that this sensitive issue will be resolved soon and farmers will get relief,' the MLA added. Commissioned in 1927 by Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner, the Gang Canal is one of India's oldest irrigation projects. Originally constructed to bring water from the Sutlej River (via the Harike Barrage in Punjab's Ferozepur) to the arid lands of northern Rajasthan, especially Sriganganagar and Hanumangarh, the canal stretches over 450 km, with 215 km being within Rajasthan. The canal irrigates nearly 3.5 to 4 lakh hectares of fields and supports crucial crops such as cotton, wheat, mustard, and sugarcane. The water-sharing is governed by interstate agreements, monitored by BBMB, which is under central jurisdiction. With a designated capacity of 2,500 cusecs, the Gang Canal is a lifeline for farmers in a region which gets scarce rainfall. However, recent disruptions in the water supply have reignited the debate over interstate water rights, political accountability, and the need for intervention from the central government to ensure fair distribution of essential resources.
Indian Express
a day ago
- General
- Indian Express
Chandigarh eclipses all states, UTs to claim top spot in school education index
Outperforming all other states and union territories (UTs), Chandigarh has claimed the numero uno position in the school education index, revealed Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2023-2024 by the Union Ministry of Education. Chandigarh scored 703 points, achieving Prachesta-1 — the highest grade achieved in the latest PGI. Chandigarh scored 703 points, as opposed to 687.8 in 2022-2023, to emerge as the only state or UT in the Prachesta-1 grade that has the score range of 701 to 760. Launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Education, PGI assesses the performance of school education in states and UTs across India, and the assessment is out of 1,000 points. The indicators of evaluation include learning outcomes and quality, infrastructure and facilities, equity, governance processes, teachers' education and training. Reflecting on the top rank, H Brar, Director, School Education, said, 'Chandigarh's impressive performance in the PGI is a proud moment for the city. Brar lauded teachers, saying their 'dedication and hard work' have laid the foundation for this achievement, along with the UT Administrator and Chief Secretary and Departments of Education, Engineering, Finance, Social Welfare and MC. 'This kind of interdepartmental teamwork, a shining example, anchored by a shared commitment to student success, is what transformed plans into results. Chandigarh's PGI success is more than a statistical accomplishment — it is a story of unity, purpose, and the belief that quality education is a shared responsibility. Together, we have set a new benchmark — and together, we will continue striving for even greater heights in education,' he added. Brar highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the Department of School Education, UT Chandigarh, for the improvement of domain-wise scores of PGI over 2021-22, like improvement of adjusted net enrolment ratio at secondary level from 76.41 per cent (2021-22) to 106.8 per cent in 2023-24 and improvement of net enrolment ratio at higher secondary level from 56.87 per cent (2021-22) to 71.2 per cent in 2023-24. He added that Chandigarh schools also maintained a retention rate at 100 per cent at all levels in all the years. ICT labs/smart classrooms established in all government schools, 38 government schools in 2021-22 to 47 in 2023-24, free textbooks provided to all students at the elementary level before the start of the academic year, were some other improvements mentioned by the official.
Mint
a day ago
- Mint
Is OnePlus working on a gaming smartphone with shoulder triggers? Here's what the report suggests
After confirming the launch date for its upcoming Nord 5 and Nord CE 5 smartphones in India, OnePlus may have another device in the works, this time aimed squarely at mobile gamers. According to recent industry chatter, the Chinese tech giant is experimenting with a dedicated gaming smartphone, though it is unlikely to be released outside its domestic market. Tipster Yogesh Brar, known for his reliable insights into the smartphone industry, revealed in a post on social media platform X that OnePlus is developing a 'sub-series' of phones focused on gaming. He added that the project remains in the experimental phase, suggesting it may still be undergoing internal research and development. Early information hints that the rumoured handset could include high-end hardware, such as a flagship-grade processor, a substantial battery, and physical shoulder triggers, features tailored to enhance gaming performance. These triggers are expected to offer improved responsiveness and tactile feedback, features commonly found in dedicated gaming phones. However, Brar noted that a global release for this potential gaming device appears uncertain. 'The possibility of a global launch is dicey,' he said, implying the product might stay exclusive to the Chinese market should it make it to production. If launched, the new gaming-focused device from OnePlus could join a competitive field currently led by brands like Asus and Nubia. Asus's ROG Phone 9 series and Nubia's Red Magic 10 Pro range are among the top choices for gamers seeking performance-oriented smartphones. While the tech giant has not confirmed any plans for such a device, the move would mark its first foray into the gaming phone segment. The company's existing smartphone lineup, including the recently unveiled OnePlus 13s featuring a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, already caters to power users—but a dedicated gaming sub-brand could take that appeal even further.
Calgary Herald
3 days ago
- Health
- Calgary Herald
Two byelections are happening in Edmonton at the end of June — here are the UCP and NDP candidates running for a seat
Article content Article content Bhardwaj said he's hearing concerns from constituents about the overwhelming need for more schools and supports in the area as Edmonton struggles to account for the mass population boom over the last few years. Article content The second big issue being voiced are concerns surrounding health care. Bhardwaj said the current government is focused on Primary Care Networks in conjunction with nurse practitioners to ensure Albertans receive the necessary care. Article content The former teacher said if he were elected he would use his personal experience in the education sector and knowledge as a former politician to bring those concerns to the legislature. Article content 'People know I'm out and about. I haven't been sitting at home twiddling my thumbs for the last 10 years,' Bhardwaj said. Article content 'I absolutely wanted to give back to the community from my decades of experience.' Article content Article content Brar is a rookie politician making his debut in this byelection. He was a radio and TV host for nearly 14 years. In that time he said he's heard from friends, families and constituents about concerns in the community which led him to run as the Alberta NDP Ellerslie candidate. Article content 'I knew sometimes there is a gap between politics and the people's real issues, and when this seat became vacant I decided to (make a change) and bring those issues into the legislature,' Brar said. Article content Article content Key issues from constituents in the riding are education and health care. He pointed to immigrant families settling into Canada with the dream of a 'world class' education system, only to be met with overcrowding in schools and lottery systems. When it comes to the longstanding issue of health care, Brar said wait times are worsening, which is contributing to the issue. Article content Article content He said both issues have worsened under the UCP government who have 'failed to take action' to fix the problems. Article content Brar has lived in southeast Edmonton since 2011. He said the constituency has changed drastically over the past 14 years as the population increased and the demand for services has not been met. Article content 'I'll keep doing whatever (the people) expect from me and I'll make sure this happens in the legislature. This is the right time to send a message to the UCP and Danielle Smith, that their policies are not aligned with the people's needs.' Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content Article content
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Indian Express
New headache for sleuths tracking gangsters: Lawrence Bishnoi & Goldy Brar part ways
For Central intelligence agencies and state police sleuths tracking the syndicate of high-profile gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, who is in Sabarmati jail, and Goldy Brar, who is believed to be operating out of the US, there is a new headache. Bishnoi and Brar have split. This is what Central agencies have concluded after questioning a number of their associates, sources told The Indian Express. 'Both the gangsters have decided to stop working together. Goldy has started working with Azerbaijan-based Rohit Godara while Bishnoi is now associated with Canada-based Noni Rana. This feud and their new syndicates are now a source of increasing tension for state police forces,' an official said. According to sources, this development was discussed with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently by police officers from Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. Sources said the split happened after Bishnoi got upset with Brar and Godara over their handling of his brother Anmol's case in the US. 'Central intelligence agencies received information that Brar and Godara did not help Anmol file the required bail bond. Anmol was later released but with an ankle bracelet tracker,' sources said. Anmol (25) was arrested by US immigration authorities in November 2024 for allegedly travelling with fake documents. He was allegedly involved in Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala's killing in May 2022, and was the 'mastermind' in the murder of NCP leader and former Maharashtra minister Baba Siddique last year. According to sources, state police officers found that over the past few months, Noni Rana (Surya Pratap), the younger brother of Kala Rana (Virender Pratap), who is a known gangster from Haryana's Yamunanagar, has been making calls from the US and collecting money on behalf of Bishnoi. 'Nowadays, gangsters do not make extortion calls directly from the US but use VPN services linked to other countries,' they said. Referring to Brar and Godara, the sources said, 'Last month, they took responsibility in a social media post for the killing of Harjit Singh, a businessman operating a trucking safety and insurance consultancy, outside his office in Canada's Mississauga… they did not mention the name of Lawrence and other gang members, which they usually do in such posts.' Apart from the killings of Moosewala and Siddique, Bishnoi's name has cropped up over the past three years in connection with multiple threats issued to Salman Khan, including the firing outside the actor's house. Meanwhile, Canada has alleged that 'agents' of the Indian government were collaborating with the Bishnoi gang to spread terror on Canadian soil — a charge that India has denied. Brar (Satwinderjit Singh), the alleged mastermind behind the murder of Moosewala, was declared a designated terrorist by the Centre under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in 2024. During his initial days in the world of crime, Lawrence had formed a team with Brar, Kala Rana and others. 'Bishnoi later made a 'business model' involving alliances with gangsters from UP (Dhanajay Singh), Punjab (Jaggu Bhagwanpuria), Haryana (Kala Jatheri), Rajasthan (Rohit Godara) and Delhi (Rohit Moi and Hashim Baba),' sources said. 'Things were working smoothly between them, but then it all started changing. First, there were ego clashes with Bhagwanpuria, who was supplying weapons to them and asking for more money. After some time, Kala Jatheri also separated after he found that Godara and Brar were making extortion calls to several people in Haryana, his stronghold,' sources said.
