This is my personal view as a person brought up in Punjab, not as a journalist. Today in Ludhiana, I attended the bhog ceremony of my late father’s very dear friend Mr Gopal Lal Aggarwal. It was held in a temple.
I was sitting at the front so I had the view of each person coming
Punjab’s new CM
@BhagwantMann
with his children Seerat (21) and Dilshan (17) who came from the US to attend his swearing-in ceremony. Photo: Sourced |
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
My only question to those raising demand for separate Sikh homeland Khalistan is, that maybe you can achieve your motive of geographical division and getting land using force and violence, but how will you destroy and eliminate this deep cultural bond that Hindus and Sikhs share?
To my surprise, the number of Sikh men and their families outnumbered Hindu ones.
On the back wall, ‘Ram’ was written and they were bowing their heads and folding their hands in obeisance as the priest said some enlightening quotes from Geeta about circle of and death.
How will you separate two cultures which are so deeply embedded into each other and how will you stop this mutual exchange of love and affection? To be precise, how will you create another Punjab which is only one
#khalistan
#amritpalwarispunjabde
#Punjab
#peace
#harmony
#Punjab
: Keeping up annual ritual,
#Ludhiana
based chocolatier Harjinder S Kukreja with 106-kg Ganpati ‘Choco Bappa’ crafted using Belgian chocolates. Visarjan will be done in milk with chocolate milkshake langar for underprivileged kids
@IndianExpress
@lifestyle_ie
“A meeting was held with Taliban representatives. They have assured safety of Sikh & Hindu community. They said we need not fear and we can live here peacefully,” said Gurnam Singh, president, Karte Parwan Gurdwara, speaking to
@IndianExpress
from Kabul
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
Watch: Local Sikh community evacuates saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from Gurdwara Karte Parwan which is under attack by terrorists in
#Kabul
of
#Afghanistan
. “We have safely taken out Sri Guru Granth Sahib,” local Sikhs told
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
If govt employee can get pension, then why farmers, who toil day and night, can’t get assured income? Great that my father has been given Bharat Ratna but his report on MSP yet to be implemented,
@MadhuraFAS
, daughter of Dr MS Swaminathan tells me
Exclusive: The data accessed by
@IndianExpress
shows how Punjab farmers who tried to adopt diversification, reeled under heavy losses, year after year. Maize to pulses, bajra to moong, they sold their produce to private traders below MSP.
#FarmerProtest2024
#farmers
During the Bharat Bandh call, a faceoff occurred between farmers and commuters. When farmers blocked the road, the girl traveling in a car responded by showing them the middle finger. Alert ‼️ Abusive Language
The posters with photos of CM Bhagwant Mann were prepared by school principals and given to teachers who were on duty, and they had to put it on bus carrying AAP workers. This was as per official orders of DEO (Photo courtesy: A teacher on duty)
#RealityCheck
Teachers as bus-incharges for Kejriwal’s rally: “I travelled with 18 other teachers from my district and we were asked to ensure that party workers who were in the bus faced no issues. We had to ensure that they got refreshments/breakfast in time.”
Visarjan of Ludhiana’s chocolate ganpati done by immersing idol in milk, preparing choco milkshake and distributing it among underprivileged in slum areas. 65-kg choco Ganpati was made at Sikh restaurateur Harjinder S Kukreja’s
@SinghLions
bakery
@IndianExpress
#chocolateganpati
#Punjab
: Nasima Begum, mother of lance naik Salim Khan (23), being handed over national flag during soldier’s last rites at their village in Patiala.He died during an Army operation in Ladakh Friday at India-China border. Family told his boat capsized
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
🇮🇳
Amid this online push, I still feel that the best that can happen to a journalist is seeing your work in print. It is soul satisfying.
In today’s Sunday Express, I write about 12 brave women from Sikh history who were the force behind valour of ten Sikh Gurus
@IndianExpress
🚨Fake News Alert🚨
No such orders have been issued
No teacher has been appointed as a bus in charge
Rather, teachers have been invited to attend the GRAND INAUGURATION CEREMONY of our 1st
#SchoolOfEminence
It is the first time in Punjab that a party is committed to fulfilling
Teachers as bus-incharges for Kejriwal’s rally: “I travelled with 18 other teachers from my district and we were asked to ensure that party workers who were in the bus faced no issues. We had to ensure that they got refreshments/breakfast in time.”
AAP’s Rajya Sabha pick Vikramjit Sahney, a businessman & a philanthropist, and chairman of the NGO Sun Foundation, is known for rehabilitation of Afghan Sikhs and Hindus. His organization financially supports Afghan Sikh and Hindu families living in India
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
Reality Check on the ground:
@IndianExpress
speaks to teachers who went on duty to ferry AAP workers to Amritsar for “Sikhya Kranti Rally” addressed by
@ArvindKejriwal
. Here’s what they have to say:
“It’s a bigger disrespect to first send us on duty and then deny…”
@iepunjab
Krantikari kisan union women activists from Punjab stopped at Haryana border while moving to Delhi to participate in wrestlers’ protest |
@iepunjab
@IndianExpress
Punjabi singer
@iSidhuMooseWala
to be honored with “Waris Shah International Award” in Pakistan tomorrow. Earlier, Indian poetess Amrita Pritam was given this award. Padma Shri poet Dr Surjit Patar will also get the honor tomorrow
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
@ieEntertainment
Slapping has nothing do to with terrorism. Kangana’s statement on women protesters being hired for Rs 100 was deeply hurting. Constable’s act of slapping her highly condemnable and so is Kangana’s attitude towards Punjab. But then wearing a uniform, you can’t cross your line.
This is how sculptor Manjit Singh Gill immortalised Flying Sikh Milkha Singh forever— with his 18-feet tall statues at Desh Bhagat Park in Ghal Kalan of Moga. “After seeing them, Milkha ji had said ‘Tussi meri sadeevi yadaan bana dittian”
@iepunjab
@IExpressSports
@IndianExpress
Teachers reached as early as 7 am in morning and even clicked photos with the buses and AAP workers and sent to their higher-ups. (I am not posting those photos here to avoid any trouble for teachers)
#RealityCheck
as some insisted for yesterday 😊
#AAP
#Punjab
Reality Check on the ground:
@IndianExpress
speaks to teachers who went on duty to ferry AAP workers to Amritsar for “Sikhya Kranti Rally” addressed by
@ArvindKejriwal
. Here’s what they have to say:
“It’s a bigger disrespect to first send us on duty and then deny…”
@iepunjab
Eco-friendly Ganesha: For 6th year in a row, Ludhiana-based Sikh chocolatier
@SinghLions
prepares Ganesha made in Belgian chocolate. It weighs 200-kg. It will be immersed in milk for visarjan & choco milk will be served to underprivileged kids
@IndianExpress
@lifestyle_ie
Punjab is in awe of Noor. However he is not ‘he’ but ‘she’. Noorpreet Kaur (5) is daughter of a daily wager from village Bhinder Kalan of Moga. Her story first in
@IndianExpress
..
👇👇
@iepunjab
#TikTok
#Punjab
Centre Vs AAP again is going to cost Punjab Rs 515 crore. Despite letters from union education minister
@dpradhanbjp
to CM
@BhagwantMann
, AAP govt has refused to upgrade 241 schools as PM SHRI schools. As a result, grant under Samagra Shiksha has been stopped
@harjotbains
Breaking: A group of 72 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus, including 2 minority MPs
@DrAnarkaliH
& Narinder Singh Khalsa, have been stopped by Taliban from boarding IAF plane to India. They have been sent back from Kabul airport.
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
#Punjab
: A ten-minute ‘relaxation activity’ held for police force on duty at main chowk in Baghapurana as they danced on Punjabi numbers in presence of Moga SP(HQ) Rattan S Brar. “It was done to de-stress the force. They are working on 12-hr shifts,” said SP
@IndianExpress
Punjab debate: Acc to Ludhiana admin PRO, even journalists won’t be allowed inside PAU and only “selected TV channels” will be in. Others will be given a “live link”. Probably first time when journalists won’t be allowed inside CM event. What kind of debate is this
@BhagwantMann
AAP MLA from Sardulgarh (Mansa) Gurpreet Singh Banawali met two injured friends of
@iSidhuMooseWala
at DMCH Ludhiana and said that Punjab government will bear all expense of their treatment. He also attended Sehaj path held at deceased singer’s home today
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
#Afghanistan
: Sikhs in Kabul visit home of Mahram Ali Shagasi, the only Muslim killed in attack. He was guard cum help at gurdwara. Sikhs provide some relief amount to family living hand to mouth. He was shot dead while trying to stop gunman from entering gurdwara.
@IndianExpress
In flooded Patiala, moving from ‘royal ritual nath Chura’ to some real work.
IAS officer Sakshi Sawhney, trying to make a difference. A first-time DC, she leaves her 3 yr old daughter home to be in field till late. If not perfect, at least an effort ! ☔️
#Punjab
: Naib subedar Mandip Singh’s last rites held with full honors as his 12-yr old son paid last respects to his father and lit the pyre at village Seel in Patiala. His mother,wife & daughter are still inconsolable and in shock
@iepunjab
@IndianExpress
#IndiaChinaBorderClash
A batch of at least 170 Afghan Sikhs and Hindus— the largest till now, has reached outside Kabul airport with two Swaroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib, for evacuation to Delhi. Flight timing not confirmed yet
@iepunjab
@IndianExpress
Contrary to claims of CM
@BhagwantMann
, Punjab govt has put at least 300 teachers on duty today as “bus-incharges” who will ferry AAP workers to Amritsar for
@ArvindKejriwal
event and also “serve refreshments” to them. Teachers will also put “publicity banner” on bus
@iepunjab
🚨Fake News Alert🚨
No such orders have been issued
No teacher has been appointed as a bus in charge
Rather, teachers have been invited to attend the GRAND INAUGURATION CEREMONY of our 1st
#SchoolOfEminence
It is the first time in Punjab that a party is committed to fulfilling
I was trolled & personally attacked for writing what actually happened on ground. But I will take it as badge of honor because no one can change the truth that almost 300 teachers, each in bus filled with AAP supporters, traveled to Amritsar that day to the rally. 👇👇
@divya5521
I being a teacher and spokesperson of DTF PUNJAB, thank you for your courage that you helped to brought truth on to the surface, otherwise Bhagwant Singh Mann was just announcing that no teacher is put on non educational work, but now it has proved that he was telling lies.
WATCH: How a road in Deep Nagar of Ludhiana caved-in within seconds and a two-wheeler with two school children slipped into the crater. So deep was the crater that children had to be taken out using a ladder. Three MC officials issued show cause notice
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
“No question of retracting my statement on
@bsmajithia
. He is a drug smuggler and I stand by my statement. No question of apologizing. We will fight case till end,” says AAP leader
@SanjayAzadSln
to
@IndianExpress
on defamation case filed against him in Ludhiana court
WATCH: Kareena (12) and Kirna (13) ride a boat everyday, from their village on Zero Line of Indo-Pak border in Punjab, to reach a high school. Instead of dropping out after class 5 like other girls in village, these two opted this
@iepunjab
@IndianExpress
Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh calls for immediate evacuation of nearly 200 Sikhs from Afghanistan in wake of Taliban take over. Says Punjab Govt ready to coordinate with MEA
@DrSJaishankar
for it
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
Not sure how ‘Delhi Model’ of edu will benefit Punjab but here’s a Punjab model that must be followed.
This unique college in Gurdaspur has a practical lab “Character shala” where students can read scriptures of diff religions to learn communal tolerance
Three saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and 46 Afghan Sikhs/Hindus land in Delhi. Union minister
@HardeepSPuri
received them amid chants of Satnam Waheguru. For Sikhs, the holy scripture is ‘Living Guru’ with teachings of Gurus (Gurbani) in them
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
A 100-feet tricolor installed and hoisted at Ludhiana railway station today. Gyan Chand, who retired as a housekeeper on Feb 28, inaugurated it. Station director Abhinav Singla said tricolor is 100-feet tall and flag measures 30 x 20 feet. It has cost Rs 10 lakh.
@IndianExpress
I really wanted this “disguised AAP worker” to have some saving grace but they don’t want it. Let’s have some more reality check, if you insist. Take help of a translator since you can’t read Punjabi.
Breaking: First batch of 23 Afghan Sikhs including two minority MPs
@DrAnarkaliH
& Narinder Singh Khalsa, have been allowed to board IAF plane by the Taliban and are now on way to Delhi. Both MPs released statements thanking Govt of India &
@IAF_MCC
@iepunjab
@IndianExpress
I speak to Harinder Singh, an Afghani Sikh whose wife, 3-yr old daughter Tanya, father, father-in-law and nephew were massacred in front of his eyes. April 6 would have been Tanya’s 4th birthday. Look at her eyes.
My report.
#AfghanistanAttack
Punjab CM
@BhagwantMann
says state govt will propose to name upcoming Halwara airport in Ludhiana after Ghadar revolutionary Kartar Singh Sarabha. He was just 19 when hanged by the British in 1915. His ancestral village Sarabha is in Ludhiana district
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
Khanna Police recovered several videos from phone of Tejinder Singh Gill alias Gorakh, the gunman of Amritpal Singh, arrested yesterday. In videos, men wearing AKF jackets are carrying weapons. In another clip, Gill is firing with a weapon with AKF written on it
@IndianExpress
Meet Rakesh Sharma, a govt school principal from Punjab, who fulfils one wish of his underprivileged meritorious students— travelling in a plane ✈️✈️ He refused promotion as education officer, as he only wants to be a teacher.
Over 40 hours now and students are not being allowed to cross Ukraine- Poland border. “Many spent freezing night in open— sleeping in parks or on roads . No one from Indian Embassy is responding to calls.We reached here walking at least 40 kms,” said a student to
@IndianExpress
“People of Punjab changed govt and gave chance to AAP as drugs is a big issue. Youths are still dying of drugs and those raise voice against smugglers, are arrested or murdered. CM invited everyone to ask questions. We had come to ask what they have done against drugs.”
#debate
24-yr old man found dead, allegedly after being given drugs forcefully, but
@PunjabPoliceInd
forced family to say that he died of “heart attack”. They refused to record statement, FIR registered after much delay. Here’s how family was forced to call it a “heart attack” 👇
Punjab Police forced us to say that my young son died of a heart attack. Why should we lie?,” says father of man found dead in Moga
@divya5521
writes...
Teachers as bus-incharges for Kejriwal’s rally: “I travelled with 18 other teachers from my district and we were asked to ensure that party workers who were in the bus faced no issues. We had to ensure that they got refreshments/breakfast in time.”
Punjab receives first batch of 1 lakh doses of Covishield from
@SerumInstIndia
against its order of 30 lakh doses for 18-44 age group. Free of cost Vaccination for 18-44 to begin from Monday in government hospitals
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
Punjab CM
@CHARANJITCHANNI
at a rally in Samrala: “You people are not even fearing corona and standing so close to each other. There’s not a single empty chair here. This is your love for us. What is my fault if no one turned up to listen to PM Modi yesterday?”
@IndianExpress
History in making: There were a total of 13 saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Afghanistan of which 7 were shifted to India earlier after Kabul Gurdwara attack 2020. Three shifted today after Taliban takeover and now just 3 more left behind in Kabul
@iepunjab
@IndianExpress
The whole point behind doing this story was not that why teachers were put on such duty. Previous governments have been doing so forever. Nothing new. The point was, it was done in the govt which promised it WON’T. For those who read, thanks a lot!
Contrary to claims of CM
@BhagwantMann
, Punjab govt has put at least 300 teachers on duty today as “bus-incharges” who will ferry AAP workers to Amritsar for
@ArvindKejriwal
event and also “serve refreshments” to them. Teachers will also put “publicity banner” on bus
@iepunjab
10 inmates booked after a video of a b’day party inside Ludhiana central jail was shot on phone and uploaded on social media. This came days after another inmate had landed in a marriage and was captured dancing in a video. Punjab CM
@BhagwantMann
is jails minister
@IndianExpress
PRTC and Punjab roadways buses, ferrying AAP workers with publicity banners, left for Amritsar from several districts today morning. Picture credit: Government school teachers who were posted as “bus incharges” to accompany them
#RealityCheck
#Punjab
: Family and the villagers bid goodbye to Naik Rajwinder Singh (30) with a salute, as his last rites were done with full military honors at village Dodra of Patiala today. He died in a gunfight with militants in Pulwama of Kashmir yesterday 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
I have no idea which 'Recovery Rate' is being bragged about by States, UTs and
@MoHFW_INDIA
. Discharging patients who are still 'positive', without testing them again till they aren't 'negative' cannot be called 'Recovery'.
#coronavirus
#India
A woman passenger who started having labor pains in train, delivered a baby girl at Ludhiana railway station platform today with help of
@NRRPF
women constables (special team SAKHI). Ambulance did not come despite repeated calls
@drmfzr
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
#Ludhiana
: Door to door supply of essentials such as milk, veggies, medicines etc to start tomorrow. Admn taking help from companies such as Zomato, Swiggy etc to deliver grocery. Vendors can apply for permission on curfewpermission
@gmail
.com,says DC
@LudhianaDpro
@IndianExpress
In Taliban ruled Afghanistan, minority Hindu community organized Navratri prayers at Asamai Temple in Kabul. Members of Sikh and Christian community also participated. Otherwise also, Sikhs in Afghanistan visit temple every Tuesday & Hindus visit gurdwara
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
The whole state machinery has been reduced to servers of
@AAPPunjab
- Teachers are on duty as bus conductors to ferry
#AAPWorkers
and Patwaris are distributing refreshments.
And the social media warriors aka troll army of
@AamAadmiParty
is on duty to suppress the news and
In village of Mangat of Ludhiana, people are being forced to use this pitch black, stinking water coming out from their tube wells and hand pumps. They blame a local dyeing unit for this situation but
@PPCBofficial
is yet to act. Read here:
@iepunjab
#Punjab
: Naik Rajwinder Singh (30), from village Dodra of Patiala in Punjab, died in a gunbattle with militants, in Pulwama of Kashmir today. 🇮🇳🇮🇳
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
In poll season, what’s happening on the ground: An interfaith langar was organized in Ludhiana where Sikh, Hindu & Muslim communities came with their traditional delicacies and ate together at Rose Garden
@IndianExpress
@iepunjab
#PunjabElection2022
My big thanks and salute to those brave teachers who helped me without thinking of repercussions they might have to face. I am so proud of such teachers who have the spine to at least call spade a spade and tell the truth 🫡🙏
Teachers reached as early as 7 am in morning and even clicked photos with the buses and AAP workers and sent to their higher-ups. (I am not posting those photos here to avoid any trouble for teachers)
#RealityCheck
as some insisted for yesterday 😊
#AAP
#Punjab
Students stuck on Ukraine-Poland border for over 50 hours now: “We are sitting here amid filth, trying to burn whatever we get to keep warm. It’s freezing and no one is helping us.”
#UkraineCrisis
#PolandBorder
@IndianExpress
Now, AAP govt in Punjab is all set to spend lakhs for CM Bhagwant Mann’s few hours meeting with school heads. A private resort hired in Ludhiana. State transport dept to provide 57 AC buses
@BhagwantMann
@meet_hayer
@RitikaChopra__
Lahore witnessed history last evening. The waters from five rivers of undivided Panjab— Ravi, Sutlej, Beas, Chenab and Jhelum— were collected and offered to Ravi as a symbolic reunion, with a prayer to keep rivers in both countries clean and lively
@iepunjab
@IndianExpress
BREAK: Ahead of AAP supremo
@ArvindKejriwal
’s rally in Bathinda, teachers ordered to vacate 6 schools & arrange “bijli, paani, saaf safai” for stay of CM
@BhagwantMann
’s security personnel. “Order withdrawn, both officers given showcause notice,” says DC
@Parraysa
@IndianExpress
Slapping anyone, anywhere, be it Kangana or anyone, is nothing to be supported or appreciated. Whatever disagreements maybe. Highly condemnable.
#KanganaRanaut
IE exclusive: The documents show that in 2015, Pb govt rejected Ludhiana DC’s proposal to allot a govt house to Bittu as there was no provision to allot houses to MPs. But even after he moved into the house, admin failed to recover rent from him even as 3 govts changed
#Bitturow
Amritsar Tragedy update till 6 am: Of 39 bodies at Civil Hospital, 24 identified and 15 handed over to families after autopsy. Of 19 bodies at Guru Nanak Hospital, 8 identified. Identification of rest getting tough as they are dismembered
@IndianExpress
#AmritsarTrainAccident
The ground impact of mass migration from Punjab to Canada, Australia etc: Colleges, universities back home are emptying. The latest AISHE report reveals Punjab lost 1 lakh students in five years, Enrollment down from 9.59 lakh to 8.58 lakh. Read more:
Since most of AAP troll army is from Delhi, they will need some help in understanding this message in Punjabi from a teacher who took a bus of AAP workers to Kejriwal’s rally that day. This
#RealityCheck
can continue forever but truth won’t change. Hope there’s some introspection
Teachers reached as early as 7 am in morning and even clicked photos with the buses and AAP workers and sent to their higher-ups. (I am not posting those photos here to avoid any trouble for teachers)
#RealityCheck
as some insisted for yesterday 😊
#AAP
#Punjab