Flood Situation Grim in Panjab, Red Alert Sounded

On 26 Aug, predicting heavy rainfall, the India Meteorological Department issued red alerts for various districts in Panjab, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. In addition, in Panjab, the floods are due to delayed early release of water from Bhakra and Pong dams which collect water from rivers in the lower Himalayas. On 25 Aug, both dams released 38K cusecs of water in river Satluj and Beas. On 22 Aug the official estimate of flood inundated areas was 90K, unofficial at 150K acres. The next three days Panjab experienced a huge increase in rainfall. In Ferozepur and Fazilka, over 45 villages are waterlogged. Sukhjinder Singh, a farmer from Retewali Bhaini village says, 'We are reminded of the 2023 floods. This is not just nature’s fury, but a manmade situation.' The Patiala administration also sounded a flood alert, asking residents of over a dozen villages situated along the Ghaggar to stay vigilant. Both Tarn Taran and Ferozepur administrations are reeling under an acute workforce crunch. Jaskirat Singh from the Public Action Committee said the District Social Security Officer is vacant. Of the nine posts of Block Development Officers, only five are occupied. He added, Khadoor Sahib and Tarn Taran towns are also operating without a Sub-Divisional Magistrate. The Border Security Force has stepped up vigil along the India-Pakistan international border following inundation caused by Satluj floodwaters. On 24 Aug, the bridge on Jammu-Pathankot highway broke due to heavy rains in Jammu & Kashmir. The fury of river Beas has washed away parts of the Chandigarh-Manali highway. Social media is flooded with reels of ordinary people trying to build mud embankments. In Kot Buddha village, Tarn Taran, people built an embankment but the next day it was washed away. The Panjab government has declared schools’ closure and set up a Flood Control Centre in Jalandhar to monitor and coordinate relief. However, Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is in Tamil Nadu on invitation by his counterpart Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin to inaugurate a school Breakfast Scheme (earlier coverage).

After the setback to Panjab government on the Land Pooling Policy (LPP), another scheme— Unified Building Rules (UBR), 2025—has caught people's attention, especially because the last date to make suggestions was 23 Aug. On 24 Jul, Panjab Housing and Urban Development minister Hardeep Singh Mundian introduced the draft UBR saying the bylaws were being standardized across all development authorities and corporations in Panjab and being made user-friendly, easily comprehensible, and implementable. He added the move would fulfil a pending demand of city residents and other stakeholders. On 21 Aug, the Public Action Committee (PAC) opposed the draft UBR, terming them a recipe for 'overcrowded, unsafe and unliveable cities.' PAC has submitted a detailed set of objections to the Director, Town and Country Planning, Panjab, alleging that the proposed changes favor builders and developers at the cost of the public and the environment. PAC said the new provisions allowing unlimited Floor Area Ratio and the removal of height restrictions could 'overwhelm infrastructure, worsen traffic, and create unmanageable fire risks.' Despite mandatory provisions under the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, 2006, the draft has been prepared without any environmental or social impact study. 'The UBR is a new form of land pooling policy. The previous policy proposed to cover horizontal landscape and these rules will lead to vertical extensions, choking towns and cities,' said Jaskirat Singh from PAC. He also added that neither was a Panjabi translation of the UBR available for people to respond, nor an email ID was provided. Meanwhile, the Panjab govt is now going to encash its own properties to raise money. This is through the Optimum Utilisation of Vacant Government Lands (OUVGL) scheme, which was first introduced in 1997. Under the OUVGL Scheme 2.0, all prime, unutilised state govt properties are proposed to be transferred to the Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority, which will develop them and then auction them. Concurrently, on 24 Aug, Samyukt Kisan Morcha and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) held a huge rally in Samrala to celebrate LPP withdrawal and signal a newfound unity among farmer unions (earlier coverage).

After the 12 Aug accident in which 28-year-old Harjinder Singh, an illegal immigrant to the US, made an illegal U-turn on Florida’s Turnpike that claimed three lives, on 21 Aug, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the US is stopping work visas for commercial truck drivers. Though the decision affects all nationalities, the Sikhs who make up around 20% of US truck drivers are particularly affected. There are around 150K Sikh truck drivers in the US and according to the American Trucking Association, the industry still faces a shortage of more than 60K truck drivers. Harjinder's brother Tejinder from Tarn Taran said, 'We are sorry for the three deaths in the accident. He made a mistake, but it wasn’t an intentional crime. He can be punished for the mistake, but it shouldn’t be treated as if he intended to kill.' The Sikh community worldwide has started a petition to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Board of Executive Clemency to consider the deaths were from an accident and not a deliberate act. As of now the petition has 2.8M signatories. Another worry is Harjinder's wrong turn could result in no more US work visas for Panjab's truckers whose income is a major line of remittances for Panjab. Panjab’s minister for Non Resident Indians Sanjeev Arora wrote to the Indian union govt about the US govt's decision which has put the livelihood of Panjabi drivers at risk. Former union minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal wrote to India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar that one tragic accident involving a Panjabi driver should not lead to mass action against the entire community. However, given the current downturn in India-US relationship, it is not clear how much India is willing to push the US on the issue. In the US, the Sikh Coalition has also made an appeal to not stereotype all truck drivers, raised objections to Harjinder appearing in court without his turban and cautioned against fake campaigns seeking funding in the case (earlier coverage).

On 15 Aug, in his Independence Day speech, Indian Prime Minister Narender Modi said, 'Modi is standing like a wall against any harmful policy related to the farmers, fishermen and cattle rearers of India.’ On 19 Aug, bowing to the 50% tariff by the US, the Indian Union Textile Ministry decided to exempt all customs duties on the import of raw cotton until 30 Sep. The waivers amount to 11% import duty reduction on cotton. Cotton rates have fallen. The US plans to export nearly 2.72 MT cotton to India. The farmers’ union alliance Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) said the move signalled a death warrant to cotton farmers, including those from Panjab. SKM added, the cotton area is most suicide prone region of India because of fluctuation of prices. In the dairy sector, Daljit Singh Gill of the Punjab Dairy Farmers’ Association says with new US tariffs the India’s dairy sector could be wiped out. 'The industry is becoming cost-intensive due to cold chain demands and mechanization. If cheaper American milk powder or other dairy products are allowed into India, nothing will survive—not just in Panjab, but across the nation.' The US President Donald Trump says the extra tariff on India is for buying Russian oil during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The fact is, Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani profited from 67% of the oil and gas deals. Neither did the Indian consumer get concession in rates nor did the govt earn money. Still the Indian govt is defending the oil trade. Indian External Affairs minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said, 'If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from India, don't buy it. Nobody forces you to buy it. Europe buys, America buys, so you don't like it, don't buy it.' Amid India actively facilitating cotton import, this shows India does not have a coherent response to the tariff war and the govt is domestically trying to please its constituency but keeps bowing down to external pressure (earlier coverage).

On 24 Aug, Acting Jathedar (leader) of Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT), Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, extended greetings to the Sikh community on the Prakash Purab (birth anniversary) of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture and charter, GGS). He appealed to Gurdwara management committees abroad to refrain from taking unprincipled actions of restricting sangat (community members) from entering Gurdwaras. Sikhs in Jamshedpur and other places in India are also celebrating the occasion. Iran has sent greetings and to mark the occasion the Iranian embassy in India posted on X a Persian shabad from GGS citing the Sikh Research Institute, US. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted the Sikhs as did Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ajay Kumar Bisht alias Yogi Adityanath saying, ‘Sikhs saved the Sanatan Hindu Dharama (ancient Hindu religion).’ Meanwhile, on 25 Aug, Guru Nanak Dev University Vice Chancellor Dr. Karamjeet Singh appeared at AT to present his explanation following complaints about his briefing to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh—which is Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) parent organization—chief Mohan Bhagwat at an event last month. The AT has recorded his statement and will deliberate on it in the coming days before announcing their decision. Concurrently, on 20 Aug, Panjab government stopped the BJP’s mega outreach program named BJP de Sewadaar, Aa Gaye ne Thuade Dwar (BJP’s volunteers have reached your door step) being conducted in rural areas of the state. The camps set up in 39 constituencies to enrol residents in union govt schemes such as Ayushman Bharat (healthy Indians) and PM-Kisan (farmers) were shut down by local administration teams, accompanied by police which detained 125 BJP leaders. Panjab BJP president Sunil Jhakar has dared the Aam Aadmi Party govt to arrest him. Panjab BJP working president has written to the Panjab Governor Gulab Chand Khataria and said, 'When BJP reaches out to the poor, unemployed, farmers, Dalits (marginal caste), women and youth with Modi’s welfare initiatives, the Mann govt responds by arresting our workers.' It is ironic but the crackdown has boosted BJP’s outreach in the state (earlier coverage).

The 40^th anniversary of Sant Harchand Singh Longowal's assassination turned into an occasion for the two competing Shiromani Akali Dals (SAD) to hold rallies and display a show of strength in Longowal's native village. As chief of SAD, Longowal had steered the SAD during India's Emergency in 1975–77, had launched the Dharam Yudh Morcha (Principled Battle Front) in 1982 to guard Panjab's river waters. He was assassinated on 20 Aug 1985 at Gurdwara Akal Prakash at Sherpur village, Sangrur a month after he signed the Punjab Accord with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in Delhi. The outpouring to mark the death anniversary at both SAD rallies underlined the popularity enjoyed by moderate Longowal who had come under criticism from several quarters in Panjab after he had signed the accord. Longowal's assassination contributed to the formation of the SAD govt led by Surjit Singh Barnala in September 1985. Forty years later, addressing their supporters, both SADs launched blistering attacks on each other. SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal dubbed the Giani Harpreet group as 'Centre’s stooge'. Giani Harpreet termed the Badal camp as a 'group of deserters who have no right to be in the party or government as they have not abided by the edicts of Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne).' Badal said Panthic (Sikh collective) ideals and principles were 'paramount for him' and he would never compromise on the prestige of the Panth for power. Parminder Singh Dhindsa said the revival of the SAD led by Giani Harpreet Singh, would be a real tribute to Longowal. Both rallies were well attended but the stages were different. While the Badal stage had high seats for the leaders, the Giani Harpreet stage had installed the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture and charter) on the side indicating they are conducting their program in the traditional manner. Simultaneously, addressing Aam Aadmi Party state chief Aman Arora said Longowal sacrificed his life for communal harmony and was a guiding light for every peace-loving individual. Arora announced USD 262K worth developmental projects in village Longowal (earlier coverage).

Since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government took charge in Panjab in March 2022, the number of National Food Security Act (NFSA) beneficiaries in the state has seen major variations. At the time the AAP govt came to power, Panjab had about 14.3M beneficiaries. By early 2023, this number rose sharply to 15.7M. This triggered a massive verification drive, during which nearly 1.3M ineligible beneficiaries were struck off. However, ahead of the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) election in 2024, the state restored 1.07M names pending a fresh survey. The Indian union govt has asked the Panjab govt to verify the antecedents of these restored beneficiaries and remove them by 30 Sep. Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has accused the union govt of conspiring to 'snatch ration from the poor.' Mann alleged on X, 'They are striking off 2.3M people by saying e-KYC (bank document verification) is pending, while another 3.2M by saying they are not poor and hence not eligible.' The union govt argues that the e-KYC verification was mandated by the Supreme Court of India and that states, not the union govt, decide inclusion or exclusion. Meanwhile, on 22 Aug night, around 10 pm, a Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanker caught fire after colliding with a pickup vehicle near Mandiala Adda on the Hoshiarpur-Jalandhar road. The blaze spread rapidly, engulfing nearly 15 shops and at least four houses in the vicinity. Two people died, while 21 others sustained injuries. On 26 Aug the toll was seven. Hoshiarpur Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Malik said the ill-fated tanker was heading to the Sukhchain Singh Sukha’s farmhouse where LPG was to be siphoned off and sold in the black market. Investigation revealed a second module run by Avtar Singh of Bullowal village and brothers Ramesh Kumar and Raj Kumar, both residents of Lama Pind, Jalandhar. They operated their pilfering site under the guise of a tent house, a few kilometers from the spot of the tragedy.

The Panjab government has appointed Christian pastor Ankur Narula's close aide, Jatinder Masih Gaurav, as chairman of the Punjab State Minorities Commission (PSMC). He is the first appointee to the post from the followers of the Pentecostal churches which have emerged in Panjab in recent years and generated many controversies over conversions of Sikhs and Hindus to Christianity. Coming from a Balmiki (marginal caste)-Protestant family in Kalanaur, Gurdaspur district, Jatinder Randhawa became a follower of pastor Narula around a decade ago and took the name Jatinder Masih Gaurav. He was earlier appointed president of the Ankur Narula Ministries Management Committee. He also became president of the Global Christian Action Committee. The appointment to PSMC indicates the govt sanctioning the Pentecostal churches and perhaps drawing their followers. Meanwhile, on 18 Aug, a Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar sessions court dismissed the regular bail application of former Panjab cabinet minister, Shiromani Akali Dal’s (SAD) Bikram Singh Majithia in a vigilance probe that alleges disproportionate assets of around USD 61M accumulated during his ten-year tenure as Member of Legislative Assembly and minister between 2007-17. At the same time, the has filed a 40K-page charge-sheet against Majithia. This has increased SAD’s woes as Panjab readies for state elections in February 2027. Concurrently, ending a legal battle that spanned over 26 years, on 19 Aug, the Punjab and Haryana High Court (PHHC) directed the Panjab govt to extend to former employees of the defunct Punjab State Leather Development Corporation the same benefits granted under its 20 Apr 1992 policy for absorption of surplus staff. PHHC held that the employees’ 'rightful claim cannot be denied' by a 1995 amendment. In other news, on 20 Aug, the PHHC Chief Justice Sheel Nagu administered oath to Justice Ramesh Kumari as an Additional Judge. With Justice Kumari's appointment, now PHHC has a record 18 women judges. PHHC also has 60 judges against the sanctioned strength of 85 (earlier coverage).

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Replying to a query by member Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) Parshottambhai Rupala, the Indian Union minister of state for Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Ramnath Thakur stated that of the 14,500 drones approved under the union government scheme, a total of 1,021 have been allocated to Panjab. The union govt also trained young women as Drone Didi (sister). These women now educate farmers on how to spray insecticides, pesticides, and nutrients on their crops. 21-year-old entrepreneur from Chathewala village in Bathinda, Amanjot Kaur, said that she earned USD 1.9K in the last seven months by working as a drone pilot. Kulwinder Kaur from Messigan village in Patiala says, ‘In 2024, I sprayed farm chemicals on 448 acres, while this year I have already covered 265 acres of maize, sunflower, and fodder.' Meanwhile, with figures dropping by nearly 49% over the past five years, Panjab has recorded the steepest fall in the number of beneficiaries under the Indian PM-Kisan (farmers) scheme. Under this scheme the govt pays farmers USD 68 every year as a benefit. Beneficiaries fell from 2.3M between December 2019 and March 2020, the highest-ever recorded in the state when farmers received USD 53M, to just 1.13 M between April and July 2025, who received USD 44M. In Panjab many of the beneficiaries have been cancelled over incomplete paper work which has not gone down well with farmer unions. Concurrently, the union govt’s Digital Agriculture Mission across India has generated over 70M unique farmer IDs linked to land records. 14 states have provided such IDs. 'Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Panjab may soon join the initiative to provide digital IDs to farmers,' said an official. These IDs capture farmer demographic profiles, landholdings, and cropping patterns, enabling states to design targeted schemes. The reason farmers from north Indian states are resisting the move is because they do not want their land records entered in the AgriStack which will then be used to manipulate them.

Kiren Virdee’s Edinburgh Fringe show, Does Anyone Else Smell Curry? provides a personal political insight into what it is like to be a British, Panjabi, Sikh woman in Britain in these times. The show opens with Virdee recalling a throwaway joke a friend once told which is also how Indians are referred to in the West—curry. At the time Virdee laughed it off but was in fact, not okay with it. Beyond the show’s title, this comment has extreme importance as it draws out the issue of casual racism and the micro-aggressions that people of colour have to experience on a daily basis. In the show, Virdee experiments with a vast range of multimedia content, voiceovers, physical movements, spoken word and lip sync. The show creates an engaging and exciting performance that is ready to break out of the fringe and educate the world. Virdee is refreshingly honest and doesn’t position herself as a victim, but instead as a strong, independent woman fighting for change and resiliently educating anyone who is willing to listen. The show details the joys that Virdee finds in her British-Panjabi-Sikh culture while also acknowledging her own detachment from the same culture. The section of the show where Virdee dances along to pop-culture music demonstrates how her culture has been appropriated and leads to one of the best lines in the show 'they take everything but leave the person behind.' This articulates Virdee’s frustrations that people are willing to enjoy food from her culture, the music, clothing and film from her culture but dismiss the people who belong to her culture. The show run time is 45 minutes. Virdee opens the show recalling a racist comment that made her the butt of the joke, however, the show ends with her having the last laugh but with love and resilience—showcasing her incredible talent. The show was part of the Edinburgh Fringe festival.