CM Mann Reshuffles Cabinet Amid Protests & Haryana Election Campaign

On 23 Sep, Panjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann reshuffled his cabinet. Five new ministers have been inducted, while four ministers have been removed. The dropped ministers are Balkaur Singh, Chetan Singh Jouramajra, Brahm Shankar Jimpa, and Anmol Gagan Maan. The new faces joining the cabinet are Hardeep Singh Mundian, Tarunpreet Singh Sondh, Ravjot Singh, Barinder Goyal, and Mohinder Bhagat. The oath-taking ceremony took place at Raj Bhavan on 24 Sep. This reshuffle follows AAP’s landslide victory in the 2022 Panjab Assembly elections, where the party secured 92 seats. This marks the second major change in Panjab’s administration this month, after a significant reshuffling of 38 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers on 12 Sep. Meanwhile, the AAP in Panjab faces mounting unrest from several employee unions even as CM Mann, ministers, and MLAs are focused on campaigning for the upcoming Haryana elections on 5 Oct. While CM Mann and his team canvassed in Haryana, multiple protests erupted back home. Over 2,500 government doctors were on strike 9-14 Sep, suspending outpatient department (OPD) services in demand for assured career progression and other benefits. AAP is facing criticism from the Sanjha Mulazam and Pensioners’ Front, a collective of Panjab govt. employees and pensioners, who plan to hold a protest march, termed Ambala Cooch (March to Ambala), on 2 Oct. The collective aims to expose AAP’s unfulfilled promises in Panjab and urge the people of Haryana to vote wisely. In earlier elections AAP has misused Panjab funds for campaigning in other states such as Gujarat.

As Haryana gears up for elections on 5 Oct, farmer unions Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and Sanyukt Kisan Morcha Non-Political (SKM NP) decided to conduct a mahapanchayat (large gathering) in Uchana, district Jind on 15 Sep. Before the gathering, Haryana police sealed the Haryana-Panjab border to prevent Panjab farmers from attending the mahapanchayat. Despite the barricades, the mahapanchayat went ahead as planned, attracting a large number of farmers from Haryana, Panjab, and other states. Sarvan Singh Pandher, Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Abhimanyu Kohad addressed the crowd, emphasizing that their movement will remain neutral in the upcoming elections, with no support or opposition to any political party. However, by the 22 Sep mahapanchayat at Pipli, district Kurukshetra, the mood had changed. In June 2023 protests demanding sunflower seed procurement at Minimum Support Price had started in Pipli. At the Pipli mahapanchayat, the farmers decided to peacefully raise questions to BJP and INC leaders. They said, if the leaders do not answer the questions, their videos will be made viral on social media. The farmers have also given a nationwide call to block railway tracks for two hours from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm on 3 Oct. According to the 2011 census, Sikhs – many of them farmers – constitute 4.91% of Haryana’s population, with 1.8M voters out of a total Sikh population of 2.5M. The Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee’s (HSGMC) support is considered crucial for political parties on at least 30 seats. HSGMC is leaning towards BJP as the Haryana BJP govt. has nominated the committee in the absence of Gurdwara elections for over a decade, highlighting a gap between Sikh farmers and Gurdwara management.

In Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Balvinder Singh, president of the Sikh Progressive Front (SPF) and renowned Right To Information activist, voiced his frustration with the BJP for neglecting the Sikh community in its Sankalp Patra (manifesto) that outlines 25 commitments. Addressing a press conference in Jammu alongside SPF general secretary Manjit Singh and joint secretary Rajinder Singh Sudan, Balvinder criticized the BJP, which came to power with PM Modi’s Sabka Sath Sabka Vishwas Sabka Vikas (Everyone’s Support, Everyone’s Trust, Everyone’s Development) slogan, for not even mentioning Sikhs in the manifesto. While the Manifesto Committee included members from various communities — four Muslims and seven Hindus — no Sikh representative was involved, despite the significant presence of Sikhs in the BJP. Long-standing demands of the Sikh community, include political reservations under the migrant or Pakistan Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) quota, employment opportunities for Sikh youth in the Valley, the introduction of Panjabi as a compulsory subject in the Jammu Kashmir Union Territory Official Language Bill, the creation of a Minority Commission in J&K, and ex-gratia compensation for families of the 14 Sikhs killed in the 1989 genocide, at par with compensation provided to other victims across India. Meanwhile, the All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) has also accused the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of nepotism and failing to address the needs of the people in J&K. Speaking at a rally in Jammu’s Nanak Nagar, APSCC chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina criticized the mainstream political parties, claiming they prioritize the interests of their own families over the public’s needs. Sikhs have fielded their own candidates in several constituencies in the Valley for the current J&K Assembly elections to ensure ‘representation of the community’. Maintaining that they have been ‘ignored by successive governments.’ Five Sikh candidates are contesting in three of the Valley’s 47 Assembly constituencies. The BJP has also fielded 6 Sikh candidates.

In Austria, while Sikhi is officially recognized by the govt., Sikhs still face significant challenges in obtaining full legal protection within the judicial system. The key issue is that Sikhs need to make up at least 2% of Austria’s population for their faith to be fully protected under the law, including addressing sacrilege through legal channels. This became a problem after an incident involving a violation of Sikh religious protocol during the parkash (installation) of Guru Granth Sahib, where local Sikh authorities had no legal recourse due to the lack of judicial recognition. Meanwhile, Charnamat Singh, an Australian citizen since 1986, reflects on the challenges many migrants from culturally diverse communities face in gaining social recognition. Despite spending most of his life in Australia, Singh often encounters individuals who question his place in society, as his turbaned appearance does not align with typical perceptions of an ‘Aussie.’ A University of Victoria report, found that racism is prevalent among culturally and racially marginalized communities in Australia, with 81% of respondents from South Asian backgrounds reporting such experiences. Meanwhile, Tarlochan Singh, former chairman of India’s National Commission for Minorities, has urged Sikh MPs in Canada and the Akal Takht (Eternal Throne, Sikh Seat of Justice and Authority; AT) Jathedar (leader) to take action against Quebec’s Bill 21, which bans public servants from wearing religious symbols, including turbans. Singh urged Canadian Sikh MP’s and the AT Jathedar to address the bill, citing its significant discrimination.

Indian PM Narendra Modi was in the US for the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, commonly known as the Quad meet. Before Modi’s arrival, US officials met with Sikh activists on 19 Sep, to discuss threats faced by Sikhs in the US, including a foiled murder plot against activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun in 2023. The meeting – initiated by the White House and attended by Sikh advocates, including members of the American Sikh Caucus Committee, the Sikh Coalition, and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) – marked the first official engagement with such Sikh groups. US officials assured the Sikh community of their commitment to protecting Americans from acts of transnational repression, which refers to govt.’s harassing or harming individuals abroad. The meeting occurred amid India’s concerns that Canada and the US were offering shelter to Khalistani separatists. SALDEF also expressed support for a newly introduced bill, the Transnational Repression Reporting Act of 2024, by Democrat Congressman Adam Schiff, which aims to hold foreign govt.’s accountable for acts of transnational repression. The bill calls for the US Attorney General to report on cases of transnational repression against Americans, bringing transparency and punitive measures. The Biden administration has pressed India to investigate the murder plot against Pannun, who holds dual US-Canadian citizenship. India denies any involvement in the case. 

The Punjab and Haryana High Court (PHHC) has raised concerns about the misuse of the NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act by police, highlighting how such actions damage public trust in law enforcement. During a hearing for Lovepreet Singh, who was arrested under the NDPS Act in Kapurthala district, the court found that the case against him was based on false charges. The First Information Report (FIR) claimed Singh fled from police and was later caught with narcotic capsules. However, a forensic report found the capsules contained only paracetamol. Justice Kirti Singh demanded a report from the Director General of Police, Panjab, seeking details on actions to be taken against the police officers involved. The court said that the misuse of the NDPS Act not only harasses innocent people but also shifts focus away from genuine drug-related crimes. In another case hearing a reference plea in an NDPS case, where one of the questions was whether a prolonged delay in the concluding trial could be a grounds for granting bail, the division bench of Justice Sureshwar Thakur and Justice Sudeepti Sharma said special courts trying the NDPS offenses should be created in Panjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. According to Panjab Police, during the tenure of the AAP govt. from 16 Mar 2022 and 31 Aug 2024, they have filed 29,152 FIRs and made 39,840 arrests. In September 2023, the Panjab govt. had decided to not penalize those found with small quantities of drugs. Arrest numbers remain similar across govt.’s: 65,489 during SAD-BJP 2012-2017 and 68,575 during INC 2017-2022.

The Punjab Agriculture Policy 2023 proposes bold measures to address the state’s agrarian crisis, including promoting crop diversification, offering a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price, introducing one-time debt settlements, providing pension plans for small farmers and farm workers, need for agro-processing of crops, crops according to Natural Growth Areas and natural farming. However, concerns remain about implementation and funding. While the policy suggests special debt waivers, registering money lenders, and instituting crop insurance, the challenge lies in execution, as similar proposals from past committees have failed to materialize. The policy records farmer suicide data up to 2018, addresses institutional debt of $8.8B, and suggests reform of the arthiya (commission agent) structure. Arthiyas are the biggest non-institutional loan givers. Experts point out the lack of immediate measures to address the heavy burden of free power subsidies, estimated at $970M to $1.09B annually. Meanwhile, the Union govt. has discontinued private sector participation in grain procurement under the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) scheme after the Union Cabinet approved restructuring of the program. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced that the Private Procurement and Stockist Scheme has been scrapped due to low private sector interest, with companies finding the 15% cap on remuneration insufficient. At the same time, the govt. of India is promoting nano DAP, a liquid form of DiAmmonium Phosphate, as a cost-effective alternative to conventional granular DAP, especially for Panjab’s Rabi (winter) season. Panjab requires roughly 550K tonnes of DAP annually, with 480K tonnes needed during the Rabi season for crops like wheat and potatoes (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 31, Story 2).

Sukhdev Singh, a farmer from Bhullar Bet village, Panjab, has turned what was once barren land into a highly profitable farm, earning approximately $8,400 annually from diverse crop cultivation and dairy farming. His journey began in 1996 when he faced challenges with saline soil and water shortages that made farming extremely difficult. However, with the help of the govt.’s Land Reclamation Programme, which provided a 75% subsidy for the use of gypsum, he managed to restore fertility to his land over three years. Not only is Singh a successful farmer, but he also serves as a mentor to others in his community, encouraging fellow farmers to adopt sustainable practices, use high-quality seeds from reliable sources like Krishi Vigyan Kendra Kapurthala. In other news, the shift from traditional paddy cultivation to soybean farming in Hoshiarpur, Panjab, is gaining momentum, with 500 acres now dedicated to the crop. Farmers like Manpreet Singh and Jujhar Singh have replaced water-intensive paddy with soybean due to its lower input costs, minimal water needs, and economic viability. Experts and govt. officials, including Panjab’s Director of Agriculture, Jaswant Singh, view soybean as a promising solution for crop diversification and groundwater conservation. Meanwhile, Phuman Singh Kaurra, a farmer from Allupur, Panjab, expanded his 4-acre farm to 36 acres through carrot cultivation and seed multiplication, earning $120K annually. These examples show how farmers' efforts in crop diversification benefit both them and the environment.

India has formally issued a notice to Pakistan seeking modifications to the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), one of the longest standing water treaties in the world. India cites fundamental changes in circumstances that require a review of the 1960 agreement. This marks the second notice, with the first sent in January 2023, due to Pakistan’s lack of cooperation in the treaty’s implementation. IWT allocates water from the eastern rivers — Satluj, Beas, and Ravi, about 33  million acre feet (MAF) annually — exclusively to India, while Pakistan receives the majority of the water from the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum, and Chenab, totaling approximately 135 MAF. Under the treaty, India is allowed to develop irrigation over 1.34M acres of land in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh but has utilized only 642K acres so far. India can also store 3.60 MAF of water from the Jhelum, Chenab, and Indus rivers, though no significant storage capacity has been developed. The treaty further permits India to construct run-of-river dams, giving it the temporary ability to restrict the flow of water in rivers allocated to Pakistan. Meanwhile, on 11 Sep, the Panjab govt. initiated the demarcation process of the Satluj River floodplains in Ferozepur and Tarn Taran districts after the Central Water Commission refused assistance due to the state’s inability to meet necessary requirements. This involves two $120K workstations and advanced drone surveys to create a digital elevation model, with the Panjab govt. acquiring its own software and collecting data independently. The Chief Engineer (Mining Operations) assured the National Green Tribunal on 11 Sep that demarcation would be done by 31 Dec, with reports submitted by early January 2025.

In Panjab, high scores in International English Language Testing System (IELTS) have become an unexpected form of social capital for young women, driving marriage proposals and offering a pathway for families seeking to emigrate abroad. Harman, a 19-year-old from Jalandhar, experienced a surge in marriage proposals after scoring 7.5 on her IELTS, with families even overlooking caste and class barriers in favor of her English proficiency. This growing trend reflects Panjab’s intense aspiration to migrate, where marriage has become a strategic tool to secure visas. Many families promise to sponsor a woman’s education abroad, hoping that once she obtains a spouse visa, her husband can join her. With marriage adverts in Panjabi media specifically requesting IELTS-clear brides, marriages driven by IELTS success, are largely transactional in nature, focused on economic mobility. Professor Manvinder Kaur of Panjab University notes that these marriages can help women escape subordination but also reflect societal pressures in a state with limited opportunities. Many IELTS coaching centers have become quasi-marriage bureaus, with families seeking eligible girls who excel in the exam. However, on 29 Mar, changes to Canada’s visa rules significantly impacted the practice of so-called IELTS Brides. The new policy prohibits spouses of international students on undergraduate courses from obtaining work rights, jeopardizing this practice.