Kohli said the office has been opened in line with the directions of AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. “The party has entrusted me with the responsibility of Central constituency. To ensure people can reach out easily, I have opened this office,” he said.
He urged residents to visit the office or call the helpline number 0181-5018181 to share their concerns. “Every issue of yours is now my mission. My spirit of service is not a formality, but a resolution,” said Kohli, adding that he is available to the public at all times.

Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that the operations were part of the Punjab Government’s intensified crackdown on narcotics networks, ensuring that criminals not only face arrest but also lose their unlawfully acquired assets. With demolition of these two properties, as many as 126 properties, constructed by drug smugglers using ill-gotten money, have demolished since March 1, 2025, he said.

In the first operation, a bulldozer was used to raze the house of a notorious drug smuggler identified as Gurpal located at Street no. 2 at Amarpura in Ludhiana. The operation was carried out under the heavy police deployment led by Commissioner of Police (CP) Ludhiana Swapan Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Investigation Harpal Singh, Additional DCP Zone-1 Sameer Verma and Assistant Town Planner (ATP) Zone-B Kuljeet Singh Mangat.

Sharing details, CP Swapan Sharma said that accused Gurpal, whose house was demolished, has a criminal background with as many as nine criminal cases under the NDPS act have been registered against him at different Police Stations in Ludhiana. The accused, who is notorious and infamous in the area for drug sale, has been involved into the drug smuggling since 2014, he said, while adding that the accused has managed to flee to Himachal Pradesh following the decisive war against drugs waged by the Punjab Police.

In the second operation, a house of woman drug smuggler identified as Rajinder Kaur alias Rozy, located at Street no.9 at Hero Suman Nagar at Lohara village in Ludhiana, was demolished using the bulldozer. The operation was carried out under the heavy police deployment led CP Ludhiana Swapan Sharma, DCP Investigation Harpal Singh, ADCP Zone-2 Karanvir Singh, Naib Tehsildar Sahnewal Harkirat Singh and Assistant Town Planner (ATP) Zone-C Navneet Singh.

Sharing details, CP Swapan Sharma said that accused Rajinder Kaur alias Rozy, who has shifted into the locality few years ago and gradually constructed a house, has been facing two criminal cases under the NDPS act. The accused woman is currently in the jail.

The CP said that both the operations have been carried out following all the rules and regulations. Both the operations were carried out smoothly amidst the support from the residents of the both the areas, he said.

During the meeting, discussions were held on various legal and administrative matters concerning the State of Punjab. The Hon’ble Governor appreciated the role of the Advocate General in upholding the rule of law and providing legal guidance to the State Government.

The visit was marked by cordial interactions and mutual goodwill.

Chandigarh, 14 June 2025:

 pa quality and quantity, organised a two-day workshop on 12-13th June, 2025 to discuss a comprehensive micro-level study covering carbon dating, isotope study of sub-soil water, and seepage study in Punjab, chaired by Prof. Dr. Sukhpal Singh, Chairman Punjab State Farmers’ and Farm Workers Commission (PSFC). Dr. Gurkanwal Singh, former Director of Horticulture, Punjab co-chaired the meeting.

 The meeting was organized by Dr. R.S. Bains, Administrative Officer-cum-Secretary, PSFC.

First day, a long deliberation focused on Punjab’s pressing hydrogeological challenges, with experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, and Punjab University, Chandigarh, presenting critical research findings and sustainable solutions for groundwater management.

Dr. J.P. Singh, Professor and Head of Soil and Water Engineering, and Dr. Samanpreet Kaur, Principal Scientist, PAU Ludhiana, made a detailed presentation on hydrological concerns and potential solutions. Dr. Kaur emphasised the urgent need to develop a smart submersible pump specifically for Punjab, enabling farmers to access real-time data for the judicious use of groundwater, to make them sensitive about the grim position of ground water. The discussions spanned issues such as water-logging, rapid depletion of sub-soil water, groundwater recharge efficiency, recharge techniques, salinity/ sodicity, seepage and studies required.

Further, she informed that PAU has developed several modules for rainwater harvesting, which need to be finalised and disseminated at a large scale. The issue of contamination in both drinking and irrigation water also generated serious concern. The scientists proposed various studies, including a historical analysis of Punjab’s water systems, the use of abandoned wells and village ponds for groundwater recharge, identification of agro-ecological resource zones, and comparative studies on recharge levels under puddling and direct-seeded rice (DSR) cultivation.

Dr. J.S. Sehrawat, professor & head, Department of Anthropology, Dr. Mahesh Thakur, Assistant professor, Department of Geology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, along with research fellow Sh. Prakash Tiwari and Sh. Jugraj Singh presented on Hydrogeological Challenges, Research Outcomes, and Proposed R&D Solutions for Sustainable Water Management in Punjab. Their presentation focused on emerging and hazardous water contaminants such as uranium and arsenic in various regions of Punjab. The team shared findings from a study conducted in five districts, mapping contamination in both water and soil, with particularly alarming results in south-west Punjab. The discussion also covered contamination in soils linked to agricultural and industrial activities. The team underlined the urgent need for further research, including district-wise spatial mapping of contamination, groundwater vulnerability assessments, water quality index mapping, and irrigation suitability studies. It was also discussed that excessive draft can lead to subsistence of soil.

Dr. Arun Kumar, JDA (HG), Dr. Sandeep Singh Waliya, Mr. Deepak Sethi, and Mrs. Reetika, Assistant Geologists officers from the Hydro-geological Wing of the Directorate of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Punjab, presented their work on the state of groundwater in Punjab, On the second day. Their presentation highlighted a dire situation, out of 153 blocks, 115 are over-exploited due to excessive groundwater extraction. The average groundwater extraction rate in the state stands at a staggering 153.86%, meaning Punjab is drawing 1.5 times more water than is being recharged.

The groundwater deficit has reached alarming levels, with an annual shortfall of nearly 10 million acre-feet (MAF) between extraction and natural recharge. This unsustainable imbalance poses a severe threat to Punjab’s agricultural sustainability and long-term water security. The primary driver of this crisis is excessive water usage for paddy cultivation, underscoring the urgent need for all stakeholders collaboration in finding viable alternatives and sustainable solutions.

Prof. (Dr.) Sukhpal Singh, Chairman, PSFC, stressed the urgency of scientific interventions to prevent an impending water crisis. He further appraised that a Data Centre is being established at PSFC for delivering authenticated exclusive agri-related processed data by collaborating research works of all leading research organisations to the policy makers, students and other stakeholders. Dr. Gurkanwal Singh called for interdisciplinary collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and farmers. Dr. R.S. Bains assured that PSFC would facilitate further studies and policy advocacy. The meeting marked a significant step toward sustainable water management in Punjab, with a commitment to evidence-based solutions for long-term agricultural and environmental resilience.

— AS PART OF ‘DE-ADDICTION’, PUNJAB POLICE CONVINCE 65 PERSONS TO UNDERGO DE-ADDICTION TREATMENT

CHANDIGARH, June 14:

          With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state completed 105 days, Punjab Police on Thursday arrested 158 drug smugglers and recovered 1.9 kg heroin, 1 kg opium, 2.8 kg ganja and Rs 36340 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 17,484 in just 105 days.

          The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

          Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 250 Police teams, comprising over 1700 police personnel, under the supervision of 112 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 531 locations across the state leading to the registration of 116 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 582 suspicious persons during the day-long operation, he added.

          The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 65 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

• Aman Arora extends best wishes to lady officers for a bright future in Air Force

Chandigarh, June 14:

Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) for Girls, SAS Nagar (Mohali) added another feather in its cap, as three of its alumni, Harnoor Singh, Kritee S  Bisht and Alisha, have been commissioned as Flying Officers in the Indian Air Force, after successfully passing out from the Air Force Academy, Dundigal (Hyderabad) on Saturday. The passing out parade was reviewed by Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, PVSM, AVSM.

Flying Officers Harnoor Singh and Alisha have been commissioned in the Education Branch, while Flying Officer Kritee S Bisht has been commissioned as a Flight Controller in the Administration Branch of the Air Force.

Flying Officer Harnoor Singh is the daughter of S. Vikram Singh Bains, who is Principal in a Government School and hails from Pathankot.Flying Officer Kritee S Bisht is the daughter of Sh. Shakti Sharan Singh, who is a Senior Engineer at PACL, Nangal. Flying Officer Alisha is the daughter of Sh. Sunil Dutt, who is a teacher in a Private School and hails from Jalandhar.

Congratulating the three lady cadets on their remarkable feat, Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Mr. Aman Arora said their success will undoubtedly inspire more daughters of Punjab to pursue careers in the defence services. He highlighted the state government’s commitment, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s leadership, to supporting the aspirations of young women who aim to join the defence forces as commissioned officers. Notably, the Punjab Government established an NDA Preparatory Wing for Girls at Mai Bhago AFPI in July 2023, with the second batch currently undergoing training.

Director of Mai Bhago AFPI, Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu, AVSM (Retd.), expressed delight over the commissioning of three alumni as Flying Officers, stating that this achievement will further energise the state government’s efforts to encourage more girls to join the armed forces. He extended his warm wishes to the newly commissioned lady officers for a bright future in the Indian Air Force.

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Calls move a direct assault on fundamental structure and spirit of Constitution of India as framed by Babasaheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar

Cites Amendments defining BJP led Union Government’s agenda to conduct state elections at its convenience a year or two after general elections

Chandigarh, June 14:

Registering strong objections of the Punjab Government and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the ‘One Nation One Election’ proposal tabled by the BJP-led central government, the Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Saturday described it as a direct assault on the fundamental structure and spirit of the Constitution of India as framed by Babasaheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar.

Addressing a press conference at Punjab Bhawan after attending a meeting convened by the Joint Parliamentary Committee under the chairmanship of P.P. Choudhary, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that he, along with AAP State President Aman Arora, completely rejected the move. “This proposal by the BJP-led Union Government is a hidden agenda designed to destroy the federal structure of the nation as enshrined in the Constitution of India, meticulously architected by Baba Saheb Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar,” said Finance Minister Cheema.

Referring to the amendments in the proposed Bill, Finance Minister Cheema said that the suggested amendments would effectively render the tenures of state assemblies subject to the discretion of the Union Government, an alarming overreach incompatible with the federal framework enshrined in the Constitution. He said that this bill will further encourage the misuse of Article 356 and 360 by the Union government.

As per section 5 of part 2, If the Election Commission is of the opinion that the elections to any Legislative Assembly cannot be conducted along with the general election to the House of the People, it may make a recommendation to the President, to declare by an order, that the election to that Legislative Assembly may be conducted at a later date. Citing this amendment, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that the BJP’s One Nation One Election concept would ultimately backfire, as it would enable the Union Government to conduct state elections at its convenience a year or two after general elections, rather than fulfilling the purpose of the proposal as being publicized.

Calling for a united stand to preserve the federal ethos and institutional autonomy of the states, Cheema emphasized that such unilateral proposals risk destabilizing the balance of power essential to India’s democratic fabric. He said that 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.

Reaffirming the unwavering commitment of the Punjab Government and Aam Admi Party to upholding the Constitution, the Finance Minister said that the state government and AAP will also oppose this bill in writing to protect the rights of the states against centralized overreach.

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“This is not a new avatar. I have done this before and now I am doing it again to support my household,” Sidhu said. “I have always earned through haq halal. Politics gave me nothing — I only suffered losses. I didn’t set up a shop or acquire mines.”

Opening up about his personal life, Sidhu revealed that his wife, Dr. Navjot Kaur Sidhu, has been battling cancer. Due to financial constraints, he said he could not afford to take her abroad for treatment. This compelled him to resume work through television shows, cricket commentary, and public speaking.

Sidhu expressed deep disillusionment with politics, saying that while he entered the field with a mission — driven by his love for Punjab — his efforts to reform the system bore no fruit. “Politics was my mission. I wanted to serve Punjab through it. But when you join a party, there is always a boss above you,” he said.

He added that he was still willing to work for anyone genuinely committed to Punjab’s welfare. Criticising the current state of affairs in the state, he said, “For the past 30 years, the mafia has been patronised. If no politician has changed any policy, how will people’s lives change? Everyone just comes, takes their share, and leaves. Governments are being run on loans.”

Despite his disappointment, Sidhu said he found peace in the fact that he had never compromised his conscience or character during his political career.