Connect with us
Tuesday,04-November-2025
Breaking News

Politics

Akal Takht Jathedar declines government security, SGPC deploys men

Published

on

After the Punjab government withdrew half of his security cover, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh on Saturday said he asked his office to send the remaining security personnel to the government as he “does not need” them.

At the same time, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) deployed its armed men in the security of the jathedar, who this week asked Sikhs to keep a licensed weapon in view of the “uncertain times”.

In an order, the government withdrew or curtailed the security of 424 VIPs in the state. They largely include former legislators, heads of various “deras” and police officers.

The head of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, is among them.

Looking at the sensitivity of the case, the government later restored his security but he declined.

Giani Harpreet Singh had a security cover of six police personnel. Three were withdrawn after the order.

Responding to the withdrawal of security, the jathedar said: “I don’t need the security. “Khalsa Panth and the Sikh youths are there for our security.”

“After the controversy, the Punjab government restored the security of the Akal Takht jathedar. However, the jathedar is adamant on his decision and refused to take the government security,” an official with the SGPC said.

He said on the direction of SGPC chief Harjinder Singh Dhami, four SGPC employees were deployed to guard Giani Harpreet Singh.

The security of Giani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib; Sant Niranjan Dass, chief of Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar; Satguru Udhay Singh Namdhari, Bhaini Sahib, Ludhiana; Giani Jagtar Singh, head granthi at Golden Temple in Amritsar; Baba Lakha Singh, Gurdwara Nanaksar Kaleran Wale, Jagraon; and Sant Tarminder Singh, dera chief of Kahna Dhesian in Goraya in Jalandhar, has also been withdrawn.

The security of those that have been curtailed include heads of Dera Radha Soami Satsang in Beas; Dera Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan in Noormahal, and Shahi Imam Punjab, Mohammad Usman Ludhianvi.

In a video message to the Sikh community on May 23, the Akal Takht jathedar had said: “Every Sikh should try to keep licensed weapons, because the time that is coming, and the circumstances which are going to prevail, demand it. The Sikh youth should be skilful in gatka (Sikh martial art) and shooting.”

Maharashtra

No one’s father has India, MLA Abu Asim Azmi takes a dig at Nitesh Rane

Published

on

Mumbai: Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi has expressed his anger over Nitesh Rane statement and has given a befitting reply and said that no one’s father has India. He said that Nitesh Rane constantly shows provocations and no action is taken against him. Many cases have been registered but no action is taken. Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid are in jail but they are free. They did not show any provocation. The Supreme Court has directed strict action against hate speech but why does the government not take action against such elements who spread hatred.

Continue Reading

National News

Maharashtra Govt Asks Ladki Bahin Beneficiaries To Complete E-KYC By November 18

Published

on

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has asked beneficiaries of the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin’ scheme to complete the mandatory e-KYC by November 18.

State Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare said that the honorarium for October will be disbursed from Wednesday, and the amount will be credited directly into the Aadhaar-linked bank accounts of all eligible women beneficiaries.

The state government’s flagship scheme, launched in July last year, provides monthly assistance of Rs 1,500 to women in the 21-65 age group, whose annual family income is less than Rs 2.5 lakh.

The government made e-KYC mandatory for the scheme in September, giving beneficiaries two months to complete the process and issued a government resolution regarding this.

Tatkare, in a post on X, said that the scheme, launched as a social and economic empowerment initiative for women across Maharashtra, continues to gain widespread support and trust from women in the state.

She said that to ensure smooth continuation of the scheme, an e-KYC facility was available on the official portal, ladakibahin.maharashtra.gov.in, since last month, and all beneficiaries have been asked to complete the e-KYC process by November 18.

Talking to PTI, the minister said, “The government has stopped monthly disbursal of Rs 1,500 to 12,000 bank accounts held by men, while the amount disbursed to ineligible women beneficiaries, who were government employees and those covered by other government schemes, over the last year has been recovered.” At present, more than 2.3 crore beneficiaries are registered under the scheme, and the monthly instalment for October will be disbursed from Wednesday, she said.

Continue Reading

Crime

Punjab bypoll: Drugs, liquor, freebies valued at Rs 57.47 crore seized

Published

on

Chandigarh, Nov 4: After the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct for the by-election to the Tarn Taran Assembly constituency, Punjab Police, following the directions of the Election Commission, has made seizures of drugs, liquor, cash and freebies valued at over Rs 57.47 crore.

According to details, from October 7, the day the Model Code of Conduct came into effect, till November 3, the police in the Tarn Taran constituency seized 51,429.50 litres of liquor valued at Rs 32,89,160, narcotic substances of Rs 56,67,10,500 (21,811.10 grams), cash amounting to Rs 9,73,480, and other items valued at Rs 37,85,700.

Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C said the police have been directed to maintain round-the-clock surveillance through CCTV cameras at all checkpoints in the constituency to curb illegal smuggling activities.

He added that strict action is being ensured against those attempting to influence voters by distributing cash or any other kind of freebies during the elections.

The Chief Electoral Officer said there are a total of 192,838 voters in the constituency, which includes 100,933 men, 91,897 women and eight third-gender voters. There are 1,357 service voters, 1,657 voters aged above 85 years, 306 NRI voters, and 1,488 voters with disabilities. The number of young voters aged between 18 and 19 years stands at 3,333.

He said there are 222 polling stations set up at 114 polling station locations, of which 60 are urban and 162 are rural.

The Tarn Taran bypoll on November 11 was necessitated by the death of AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal, who had won the seat with 52,935 votes, defeating Shiromani Akali Dal’s Harmeet Singh Sandhu.

Fifteen candidates are in the fray. They include Sukhwinder Kaur of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Harjit Singh Sandhu of the BJP, Harmeet Singh Sandhu of the Aam Aadmi Party, and Karanbir Singh of the Congress.

Continue Reading

Trending