Latest news with #ShiromaniAkaliDal
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
AAP hits back at Sukhbir over power tariff claims
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday refuted the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal's claim regarding power tariffs and industrial policies in Punjab, claiming that their government in the state was cleaning the mess it inherited. AAP senior spokesperson Neel Garg, while blaming the SAD-BJP regime's abysmal track record, alleged that they left behind a legacy of corruption, inefficiency and debt. 'We inherited this mess and have worked tirelessly to clean it up. The day tariff, which Sukhbir is lamenting about, was introduced in 2017 during the Congress government, not under the present administration,' he said in a statement. According to Garg, under the SAD-BJP regime, industries were charged ₹8.75 per unit (inclusive of charges), endured frequent unscheduled power cuts, and faced rampant corruption. He said that in stark contrast, the AAP government prioritised affordable power, no power cuts, transparent governance, free electricity to the farmers, schools, hospitals and employment. 'Over 90% of small industries now benefit from subsidized electricity. Power cuts are rare and always announced in advance. Free and uninterrupted electricity for farmers has been ensured, benefitting Punjab's agrarian economy,' he claimed, dismissing Badal's allegations as baseless.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Ration-laden canter's driver booked after alleged vote buying bid
A day after congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu, his wife and former councillor Mamta Ashu along with their supporters caught a canter laden with ration in Sham Nagar, the Ludhiana police have seized the vehicle and registered a case against its driver under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The incident took place on the evening of June 18, when Ashu his wife Mamta Ashu along with their supporters and residents in the Main Bazaar area of Sham Nagar, Ludhiana, intercepted a vehicle (bearing registration number PB 10 HT 6152) carrying a significant quantity of ration bags. They alleged that the ration was being distributed to influence voters in favour of a particular political party. Following a prompt response, the police reached the spot and conducted an inquiry. Based on initial findings, a case has been registered against the driver, Amarjeet Singh alias Vicky, resident of village Ratanheri, Khanna, under Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly attempting to bribe voters. The vehicle along with the ration has been seized by the police, and further investigation is underway. Pregnant woman injured while attempting to stop ration bribery Tensions flared in Rishi Nagar late Wednesday night after a couple was allegedly attacked for trying to stop the distribution of ration meant to influence voters. The incident took place around 11pm in Z Block, and left a seven-month pregnant woman seriously injured, according to police. The victims, Pawan Kumar Arora and his pregnant wife Rupani, were standing outside their residence when they reportedly noticed two individuals—identified as Rahul and Shareena, also residents of Z Block—distributing ration sacks, allegedly to bribe voters ahead of polling. When the couple confronted the accused and asked them to stop, the situation escalated. The duo allegedly launched a violent attack on Arora and his wife. Rupani, who is in the third trimester of her pregnancy, sustained serious injuries after allegedly being kicked in the stomach. ASI Lakhwinder Singh, the investigating officer from PAU police station, confirmed that while Pawan Kumar Arora suffered minor injuries, his wife experienced intense pain and complications as a result of the assault. A case has been registered against the accused under Sections 173 (bribery), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 109 (attempt to murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The accused have since been arrested. Liquor distribution allegations surface in BRS nagar In a separate incident linked to alleged electoral malpractices, Sarabha Nagar police registered a case against unidentified individuals for distributing liquor in E Block of BRS Nagar. The complaint was filed by Jashanpreet Singh, a resident of Sunet village, who told police that he spotted a Mahindra Scorpio parked near the cremation ground. The vehicle was reportedly carrying liquor bottles and had the flag of the Shiromani Akali Dal mounted on it. ASI Sukhjinder Singh confirmed that the excise department was alerted and 22 bottles of liquor were recovered from the vehicle. A case under the Excise Act has been registered against unknown persons. Investigations are underway to identify those involved.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Minister Dr Ravjot files complaint against Majithia over ‘edited pictures'
Jalandhar: Punjab local government minister Dr Ravjot Singh has filed a police complaint against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia for allegedly sharing 'edited photographs' of him with his ex-wife on social condemned the alleged act as a deliberate attempt to malign his personal and political reputation. The minister claimed that the pictures were edited with some AI tool, as he described the act as a 'new low in Punjab politics,' to tarnish women and the Scheduled Caste (SC) community. The alleged leak, which surfaced on Tuesday, involved intimate images that quickly went viral. A visibly distressed Dr Ravjot addressed a press conference at the Jalandhar Circuit House on Wednesday, calling the act a 'malicious attempt' to damage his personal and political reputation. 'A formal complaint has been lodged, and an investigation is underway. This is not just about me — it's about setting an example that such malicious campaigns will not be tolerated in Punjab politics,' said the minister, who represents the Sham Chaurasi constituency. Dr Ravjot, 48, is also a cardiologist and runs a hospital in Hoshiarpur. The minister said the woman in the photos is his legally divorced ex-wife and that the images were taken 8–10 years ago. Police officials have confirmed the receipt of the complaint and said the matter is under investigation.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Police complaint lodged against Majithia, says minister Ravjot
Jalandhar: Punjab local bodies minister Ravjot Singh announced on Wednesday that a formal police complaint has been lodged against senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia for posting his "edited" personal photographs on social media accounts seeking to "scandalise and defame him". Calling Majithia "an irrelevant leader from an irrelevant party raising an irrelevant issue," the minister, addressing a press conference, sought to give the issue a casteist angle, saying that Majithia was targeting Scheduled Caste (SC) leaders of the AAP. He mentioned minister Lal Chand Kataruchak and former minister Balkar Singh, whose "sleazy videos" were earlier released by Majithia. All three hail from the SC community. He claimed that Majithia had a history of oppressing SCs and Dalits during his tenure in power, while the AAP govt was a supporter of the two communities. He said that Majithia circulated these photographs when AAP was set to win the Ludhiana West byelection. "The photograph shared on social media is a disgraceful and unethical attempt to mislead the public and defame me. This woman is someone's daughter, mother, or sister. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo This act is not just an attack on me but an insult to all women. Such tactics reflect the low level of politics practised by such leaders," said Ravjot, flanked by AAP state general secretary Deepak Bali and local AAP leader Tarandeep Sunny. He said that the photographs in question were eight to 10 years old and feature his ex-wife. He reiterated claims that the pictures were "edited". He said that releasing such photographs amounted to insulting women and his former wife was suffering ignominy without any fault of hers. He said he was leaving the matter in the court of God and the people. Wrong to bring casteism angle: Channi Jalandhar MP and former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi has sought to debunk attempts by local bodies minister Ravjot Singh and AAP to introduce a caste angle into the recent controversy surrounding alleged "sleazy photographs". In a statement posted on his X handle, Channi said, "One after the other obscene videos of Aam Aadmi Party ministers coming out are a grave disrespect to women. It is wrong to link this issue with casteism in any way. It would be better if the entire AAP party apologises and resigns." 'Pics morphed': Another minister slams Majithia Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief and minister for minister for good governance and information technology Aman Arora on Wednesday slammed Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia for putting out "private" and "morphed" pictures of his cabinet colleague Ravjot Singh in the public domain. "I never anticipated that someone could take politics to such a low level. This is not right," Arora said while responding to a question on the issue during a press conference here. When asked if the row had dented the party's image, Arora said: "Dr Ravjot Singh has already clarified that these were his private photos with his ex-wife, which were being posted on social media after AI morphing. How will this dent the party's image?" Rather, Arora added: "This raises a question mark on the character of the person who is posting these photos. Will they resort to such a low level of politics?" "Why does Majithia get such photos or news just two days ahead of the elections," he asked. "I mean, it is a very sorry state of affairs. Only a handful, two or four leaders of Punjab, one can count on fingers, resort to such a low level of politics." Arora further asked: "Will they even enter the bedrooms of people? It is ridiculous. What these people are doing is total nonsense." MSID:: 121934096 413 |
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Akal Takht-appointed committee to end SAD membership drive on June 18
The Akal Takht-appointed committee on Sunday said that it will wind up the membership drive for Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on June 18. The committee said it has so far circulated 26 lakh slips to make members in Punjab and other states and for now, 6 lakh slips have been received back and a verification process is underway. The committee constituted on December 2 to supervise the membership drive started the process from Amritsar on March 18 after performing ardaas at Akal Takht. While pronouncing the penalty on Sukhbir Badal, the Akal Takht constituted a 'seven-member' committee led by SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami. 'In about two months, we have received tremendous response from Punjab and other states. In foreign countries, we have started the drive and people have been welcoming and are becoming members in large numbers,' said Manpreet Singh Ayali, who is playing an active role in the drive. Other members of the committee are Gurpartap Singh Wadala, Iqbal Singh Jhoondan, Bibi Satwant Kaur and Santa Singh Umaidpur. Two members of the committee, including Dhami, who was made head of the committee, and former SGPC president Kirpal Singh Badungar, have since resigned from the committee, after which five members took charge. 'We will draw an analysis on June 19, as to how many slips (membership forms) were circulated and how many have been received back. If the need arises, we may extend the drive, and we will take a decision a day after analysis,' Ayali added. He said that the five-member committee is making a panthic platform for the sake of Punjab, and anyone can join. 'We are working for unity in the panth and will also make sure that the people of the religions are safe and prosper,' said Ayali on being asked that appeals are being issued from different quarters as that also from SAD led by Sukhbir Singh Badal for panthic unity. Not joining SAD: Dhindsa refutes reports Chandigarh Former finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa on Sunday refuted the reports that he is joining Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). He emphasised that the reports are completely unfounded and defamatory. Parminder Dhindsa said that his father, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who passed away a fortnight back, had one dream of making the SAD a strong political entity. 'However, the party could never be strong under Sukhbir Badal's leadership,' he said, affirming his commitment to strengthening the SAD to fulfil his father's vision.
