Ludhiana, May 18, 2025 Navtej Singh Kaoni, a Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) member expelled from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) last year for alleged anti-party activities, has rejoined the party’s campaign efforts. Kaoni, a resident of Kaoni village in Muktsar district’s Gidderbaha Assembly segment, is now actively supporting SAD’s Ludhiana West bypoll candidate, Parupkar Singh Ghumman. Previously, Kaoni briefly campaigned for BJP candidates, including Hans Raj Hans in the Faridkot Lok Sabha election and Manpreet Singh Badal in the Gidderbaha bypoll. Despite his expulsion from SAD in March 2024 by then Muktsar district president Kanwarjit Singh Rozy Barkandi, Kaoni has reconciled with the party. He is now working alongside Rozy, with photos circulating on social media showing them together at Ghumman’s election office in Ludhiana. Clarifying his stance, Kaoni said, “I was expelled but never wavered in my support for Sukhbir Badal. I’m campaigning for SAD in Ludhia...
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has blamed previous administrations for the state's ongoing drug crisis, calling it a "legacy issue" during a public event in Jalalpur village, Tanda. Mann urged citizens to support the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's efforts to eliminate the drug menace, which has severely impacted Punjab's youth. The gathering was also addressed by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, who accused former regimes of colluding with drug traffickers. Kejriwal highlighted the "long-standing neglect" of the crisis, claiming past leaders not only protected smugglers but also facilitated the illegal trade using state resources. Mann revealed that his government spent over two years developing a robust strategy to combat the issue, launching a "war against drugs" on March 1. He noted significant progress, stating that the drug supply chain has been disrupted, leading to the arrest of major traffickers. Punjab Director General ...