Not 40 Candidates, But 40 Architects of Punjab’s Destruction: Kewal Singh Dhillon
Chandigarh, October 31:Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Punjab President Kewal Singh Dhillon launched a scathing attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) following the announcement of its first list of 40 candidates. He said the list is not a list of 40 candidates, but of 40 people responsible for Punjab’s destruction. He added that instead of featuring individuals known for their integrity and commitment to public service, the list included leaders embroiled in serious allegations and controversies.
He said that the AAP government was misleading people by putting up hoardings across Punjab proclaiming an 'Honest Chief Minister'. Given the prevailing situation in the state, he remarked, these hoardings should instead read 'Dishonest Chief Minister'. Several candidates on the list, he alleged, were facing accusations of corruption, fraud, money laundering and other serious offences.
Kewal Singh Dhillon said that whether AAP announces its candidates now or later, the people of Punjab would not accept them again. Punjab has already fallen victim to the party’s false promises once and will not be misled a second time.
The BJP State President said that AAP’s promise of change had come at a heavy cost to Punjab, with the government failing on every front. He alleged that the party’s leaders and MLAs, who came to Punjab after facing defeat in Delhi, had exploited the state for the past five years and were now preparing to do so again. He asserted that the people of Punjab would never tolerate another attempt to plunder the state.
Dhillon said that AAP had devastated Punjab over the past five years. The leaders whom the party has fielded again have been in power for nearly five years and are equally responsible for the state's decline.
Taking the government to task over law and order, he said that the situation in Punjab had deteriorated to such an extent that there was virtually no fear of the law. Murders, extortion and incidents of gunfire had become commonplace. He further alleged that the government had failed miserably to curb the drug menace, with young people continuing to fall victim to drug abuse every day.
Dhillon said that the people of Punjab were deeply dissatisfied with the government's performance and were unwilling to allow AAP MLAs to enter their villages. He warned that once the Model Code of Conduct comes into force, AAP leaders would face strong resistance from villagers and would find it difficult to enter their villages.
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‘Zakhm 84 De’ Conclave to Be Held in Chandigarh on November 4
Six sessions to explore different aspects of the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre, the fight for justice, and the rehabilitation of victims
Ludhiana / Chandigarh, October 31:The wounds inflicted by the 1984 anti-Sikh massacre have not faded with time. More than four decades later, the tragedy remains a painful chapter in India’s history. With the aim of helping younger generations understand the suffering of the victims and raising awareness about the various aspects of the massacre, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will organise a conclave titled ‘Zakhm 84 De’ in Chandigarh on November 4.
Addressing a press conference in Ludhiana, Kewal Singh Dhillon said the conclave aimed not only to revisit a tragic chapter in history but also to bring the truth surrounding the massacre, the victims’ struggles, their decades-long fight for justice, and efforts towards their rehabilitation to the attention of younger generations.
He said such events provide an opportunity for society to learn from history, understand the suffering of the victims, and recognise the importance of accountability within a democratic system and the justice delivery process. Sharing details of the event, Dhillon said the conclave would begin with a special exhibition showcasing photographs and documenting incidents related to the 1984 massacre, helping younger generations gain a deeper understanding of the tragedy.
He said the conclave would feature an inaugural session followed by four thematic sessions. Former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, who represented victims of the 1984 massacre in proceedings related to the Sajjan Kumar case before the High Court and the Supreme Court, will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural session.
The first session will focus on the theme ‘When and How Did the Genocide Take Place?’ During the session, survivors of the 1984 massacre will share their personal accounts and experiences. The second session, titled ‘Was the Genocide a Conspiracy?’, will examine the perspective that the anti-Sikh genocide was part of a larger conspiracy. The discussion will feature senior Supreme Court advocate H.S. Phoolka, who fought a decades-long legal battle to secure justice for the victims; Tarlochan Singh, former Chairman of the National Commission for Minorities; and R.P. Singh, BJP national spokesperson.
According to Dhillon, the third session will focus on ‘Murder of Justice’ and examine the alleged denial of justice to victims, the destruction of evidence, and the political patronage allegedly extended to the accused. The fourth session, titled ‘Punishing the Guilty: BJP’s Efforts’, will highlight the efforts to protect victims during the 1984 massacre, the subsequent struggle to secure justice for them, and the initiatives undertaken to bring those responsible to justice. Dhillon said the concluding session would focus on the rehabilitation of families affected by the 1984 massacre and the efforts made to help them rebuild their lives.
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will attend the session and share details of the initiatives undertaken by BJP-led governments to rehabilitate the victims and their families.
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Modi government’s policies lift nearly 50 crore people out of poverty: Ashwani Sharma
From free foodgrains and financial assistance to housing, sanitation, electricity and healthcare, BJP shows its value of ‘Antyodaya’: Ashwani Sharma
Congress spent decades exploiting the issue of poverty for political gains: Ashwani Sharma
Pathankot, October 31-BJP leader Ashwani Sharma has said that the latest World Bank report on India's poverty reduction is a strong testament to the transformative leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government's commitment to the welfare of the poor. “BJP's believes in ‘Antyodaya’ (upliftment of the last person) and we make sure that development reaches even the person standing at the last rung of the social ladder. From free foodgrains and financial assistance to housing, sanitation, electricity and healthcare, the Modi government has focused on delivering welfare benefits directly to the grassroots”, Sharma said.
Reacting to the report, Sharma said that nearly 49.6 crore people have moved above the lower-middle-income poverty line between 2011 and 2023, with India's poverty rate declining sharply from 57.7 per cent to 16.1 per cent. Even more remarkable is the reduction in extreme poverty from 27.1 per cent to just 2.6 per cent during the same period.
Taking a dig at the Congress, He said, "These figures are not merely statistics; they represent the improved lives, dignity and opportunities of crores of Indian families. Congress spent decades raising the slogan of Gareebi Hatao, but the BJP government, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has proved how poverty can actually be addressed through strong policies and effective implementation.”
Taking a further dig at the opposition, Sharma said Congress leaders are obsessed with targeting the Modi government and spreading allegations, while conveniently ignoring facts and achievements recognised by international institutions. “The report is a slap in the face of those who have spent decades exploiting the issue of poverty for political gains but failed to bring meaningful change in the lives of the poor”, he said.
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Before Questioning Amit Shah, Warring Must Explain His Own Record on Drugs During His Ministerial Tenure: Vijay Sampla
Hoshiarpur, October 31, 2026:Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Vijay Sampla hit back at former Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring over his recent remarks, saying that before questioning Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Warring must first explain what action he took against the drug menace during his own tenure as a minister.
Sampla said that pharmaceutical drugs are manufactured in factories in Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh and are also being sold openly. He asked Warring to explain what steps the Congress government in Himachal Pradesh has taken to tackle the drug menace in the state. He further said that the Congress has repeatedly been rejected by the people, yet its leaders continue to question Amit Shah's commitment. Warring, Sampla said, should put his own party's record under scrutiny before pointing fingers at others.
Highlighting Amit Shah's track record, Sampla said that it was under his leadership that Article 370 was abrogated in Jammu and Kashmir, Naxalism was effectively tackled, and one of the country's biggest crackdowns on narco-terror networks was carried out. Sampla further said that Amit Shah understands the pain and concerns of the people of Punjab. This is why he has made a firm commitment to eradicate drugs not just from Punjab but from the entire country by December 31, 2029. For the BJP, he emphasised, the fight against drugs is not a political issue but a mission to protect Punjab's youth and secure the state's future.