Panjab Leaders Unite Against Chandigarh Land Allocation to Haryana

On 13 Nov, former Haryana Assembly Speaker Gian Chand Gupta claimed that the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had granted environmental clearance for 12 acres land offered by Haryana to the Chandigarh administration in exchange for land designated for a new Haryana State Assembly complex. The claim led to a political storm in Panjab uniting leaders across party lines to oppose the move. Panjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar as well as AAP, INC, and SAD all expressed strong opposition. Emphasizing Chandigarh’s historical and emotional significance. Jakhar stated the decision ‘emotionally hurt Punjabis as Chandigarh being the capital of Punjab is not merely a (piece of) land. It’s a matter of deep feeling for the people of the state’. Leaders argued that Chandigarh rightfully belongs to Panjab and any such allotment of land undermines Panjab’s rights and autonomy. A delegation of ministers, led by Panjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, submitted a memorandum opposing the move to Panjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria. On 17 Nov, Kataria clarified ‘no land has been allotted to Haryana’. Kataria stated that Haryana had only sent a proposal. Meanwhile, Kisan Mazdoor Morcha and Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) (SKM) announced on 18 Nov that if the Union govt. fails to respond to their demands, farmers will march towards Delhi on 6 Dec from the Shambhu border. SKM (Non-Political) Coordinator Jagjit Singh Dallewal previously announced a fast-unto-death protest at Khanauri on the Panjab-Haryana border with Sukhjit Singh Hardojhande, starting 26 Nov.

Citing that it has been two and a half months since he was declared tankhaiya (guilty of religious misconduct) by the Akal Takht (Eternal Throne; AT), on 13 Nov SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal urged the AT Jathedar (leader) Giani Raghbir Singh to convene a meeting of the Panj Singh Sahiban (five loved ones) to pronounce his tankhah (religious punishment). Despite initially tendering an unconditional apology to AT (SDW Vol 2, Issue 33, Story 4), Badal has been awaiting the formal tankhah, abstaining from public events as instructed. Badal highlighted that the delay impacts both SAD’s functioning and his ability to address current challenges facing the Panth (Sikh Collective) and Panjab. On 16 Nov, Badal submitted his resignation as President of the SAD to the party’s working committee. Sources within the party suggest the move is a preemptive measure to humbly accept any punishment from the AT, with the possibility of being reappointed after completing the punishment. SAD working President Balwinder Singh Bhunder said the party has yet to decide on Badal’s resignation. Elections for the SAD’s leadership are due on 14 Dec. The primary reason for the party being in disarray is because for decades the party has failed to build a system that would produce competent Sikh leaders to foreground Sikh issues regardless of who is in power in Panjab. Meanwhile, on 13 Nov, global representatives of different faiths visited the Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar ahead of the Inter-faith global sammelan (meet) scheduled at Bulandpur in Jalandhar. Accompanied by Takht Sri Damdama Sahib Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh, they participated in ardas (prayers) for Sarbat da Bhala (prosperity for all).

As part of the celebrations of the Prakash Purab (birth anniversary) of Guru Nanak in 2024, nearly 2,600 Sikh pilgrims from India have traveled to Pakistan, where they are visiting prominent Gurdwaras, including Gurdwara Janam Asthan in Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak. An important consideration is that this Prakash Purab is the 555th anniversary but it is Nanakshahi 556 calendar year which the Sikhs follow. The Sikh jatha (visiting group), with 750 members initially departing from Amritsar, joined the larger group in Pakistan, where celebrations began with a warm welcome at the Wagah Border by officials of the Evacuee Trust Property Board and Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee. However, Pakistan denied entry to 1,481 visa applicants. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami expressed dismay over the denial. Despite this, on 11 Nov, Pakistan Panjab Minister for Minority Affairs, Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora, and Pakistan Panjab Home Secretary, Noorul Amin Mengal, inaugurated the renovation work at Gurdwara Rohri Sahib near Aminabad, Gujranwala. Arora said the renovation and expansion of the Gurdwara would cost approximately USD 533K and will ensure all necessary facilities for Sikh pilgrims to have a safe and comfortable experience. Meanwhile, Sikh leaders have expressed concern over the transformation of Kartarpur Sahib from a religious site into what they see as a ‘commercialized tourist destination.’

Voters in four Assembly constituencies voted on 20 Nov (SDW Vol 2, Issue 43, Story 8). In the build up to the By-Polls, on 9 Nov, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu called for a probe into the land and properties owned by farmer leaders in Panjab, alleging that many of them are either arhtiyas (commission agents) or rice mill owners. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha leader Sarwan Singh Pandher challenged Bittu to investigate the properties, stating they are not afraid of his statements and highlighting issues like the unavailability of DAP (DiAmmonium Phosphate) fertilizer. AAP spokesperson Neel Garg condemned Bittu’s remarks, suggesting the BJP is seeking revenge for the farmers’ protests against the now-repealed farm laws. The BJP is attempting to consolidate non-Jat (farmers) and urban voters by consolidating Hindu and Dalit (marginalized-caste) votes. Meanwhile, INC leader Charanjit Singh Channi found himself embroiled in a controversy upon making derogatory comments about women and other castes. On 18 Nov, the Punjab State Commission for Women issued Channi a show-cause notice. At the same time, the Supreme Court directed the Panjab govt. and the state Election Commission to notify municipal elections within two weeks and complete the entire process within eight weeks. The directions came while hearing the Panjab govt.’s petition challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order that required the state to declare the poll schedule for five municipal corporations and 42 municipal councils/nagar panchayats (locality councils) within 15 days without waiting for the completion of a fresh delimitation exercise.

The Center has released its first advance estimate for the Kharif (autumn) season, predicting a record food grain harvest of 164M metric tonnes (MT) in the 2024-25 crop year, an increase of 8.9M MT over last year’s production. Kharif rice production is expected to reach a record high of 119M MT, up by 6.6M MT from last year. Despite this, in Panjab, issues have arisen regarding the PR-126 paddy variety promoted by the Panjab govt. to conserve groundwater. According to Punjab Agricultural University, PR-126 is superior in yield potential and requires significantly less water — 4K liters per kg compared to 5K-6K liters for traditional varieties like PUSA-44. But, unauthorized hybrid seeds sold as PR-126 have caused issues with lower yields and increased breakage. This has affected the quality of rice sent from Panjab to Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Assam, and Karnataka. The rice has been found ‘unfit for human consumption’ or ‘beyond rejection limit’, prompting the Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution to write to the Food Corporation of India (FCI) on 13 Nov asking them to check the quality of grains stored in Sangrur, Jalandhar, and Nabha FCI districts in Panjab and to remove unfit stocks. Meanwhile, farmers in Haryana and Panjab are facing a significant shortage of DAP (DiAmmonium phosphate), a key fertilizer used for sowing wheat, leading to concerns over potential delays in wheat cultivation and reduced yields (SDW Vol 2, Issue 37, Story 4). Amidst these crises’, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development released its Agricultural Policy Monitoring and Evaluation 2024 report revealing that Indian farmers were taxed USD 120B in 2023 due to export bans, duties, and other policies.

Data shows that air quality in Delhi remains poor throughout 2024, including in periods when stubble burning is not occurring in Panjab. From Jan to Mar 2024, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) ranged from ‘very poor’ to ‘poor,’ while Panjab recorded ‘moderate’ AQIs, with levels of 355, 218, and 176 in Delhi and 149, 112, and 99 in Panjab. Panjab’s pollution control authorities attribute Delhi’s pollution to internal sources, with blame shifting during winter when stubble burning increases in both Panjab and Haryana. A NASA satellite image shows a thick toxic blanket of smog covering eastern Pakistan and northern India. Meanwhile, as Delhi pollution levels soared to their worst this season, and AQI reached hazardous levels — more than 50 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit. New Delhi authorities implemented Graded Response Action Plan 4 and courts have ordered them to be in place even if AQI comes down below 300. Studies estimate that over a million Indians die each year from pollution-related diseases. Across the border, Pakistan’s Panjab province faces similar challenges, with Lahore recording an AQI of 1,136, making it the most polluted city globally. Meanwhile, a study by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air has found that thermal power plants in the greater Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) emit 16 times more air pollutants than stubble burning. Specifically, thermal power plants in NCR emit 281 kilotonnes of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) annually, compared to 17.8 kilotonnes emitted by burning of paddy straw in Panjab and Haryana. India is currently the world’s largest SO₂ emitter, responsible for over 20% of global anthropogenic SO₂ emissions, primarily due to its dependence on coal.

On 13 Nov, the AAP MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney organized the Punjab Vision 2047 conclave at Panjab University (PU). Students of the university, under the banner Panjab University Bachao Morcha (Save Panjab University) were taking out a march on the campus. They had reached near the Law Auditorium where Panjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann was addressing the event. The students wanted to question the CM over the delay in University Senate elections. The Chandigarh Police prevented the students from approaching the venue and even caned them to disperse them. Like a few other universities in India, PU has a Senate that is responsible for the management and superintendence of the university’s affairs, concerns, and property. According to university rules, the notification for Senate elections must be issued at least 240 days prior to the polling, but no such notification has been released in 2024. By not conducting elections to the Senate, the students allege, the authorities want to nominate members who could compromise PU’s interests. Students say this is part of the BJP-led Union govt.’s agenda to rob Union Territory Chandigarh of its rights. The PU Chancellor is the Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankar. Meanwhile, with the Canadian government announcing a slew of curbs aimed at reducing the intake of international students, International English Language Testing System (IELTS) institutes in Panjab which saw huge growth in the last decade are witnessing a significant decline in student numbers, with many centers shutting down. IELTS exam marks determine the quality of colleges where they get admission. 

The Panjab govt. has agreed to rename nearly half of its Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) and remove CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s photo from their facades to secure USD 76.9M in National Health Mission (NHM) funds that had been withheld by the Union govt. for the past 18 months (SDW Vol 2 Issue 34, Story 6). Out of approximately 870 AACs in the state, around 400 clinics are undergoing the name change. The Union govt. had stopped NHM funds in Feb 2023 saying AAP was misusing funds by indulging in self promotion. The AAP govt. had blamed the Union govt. for the stalemate over the non-release of NHM grants and an additional USD 130M under special assistance. Panjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh confirmed that discussions with the Union govt. have nearly reached a consensus. He explained that the name changes will not apply to clinics fully funded by the state govt., but where they are in joint funding (60:40 between Center and state), co-branding will be implemented. Meanwhile, Panjab has also initiated the renaming process for 233 govt. schools under the Pradhan Mantri (Prime Minister) Schools for Rising India scheme, marking the end of a months-long standoff between the BJP-led Union govt. and AAP-led Panjab govt. Panjab had earlier opted out of the scheme (SDW Vol 2 Issue 29, Story 8) favoring its own ‘Schools of Eminence’ and ‘Schools of Happiness’ programs, which led to the Union govt. withholding USD 59K in Samagra Shiksha (holistic education) funding, essential for teachers’ salaries and school operations.

Canadian authorities have confirmed they have arrested Arshdeep Singh Gill, alias Arsh Dalla. Dalla is alleged by India to have ties to the banned Khalistan Tiger Force, and a supposed associate of slain Sikh separatist, Hardeep Singh Nijar. He is linked to over 50 cases related to murder, extortion, and terrorism – including terror financing, in India (SDW Vol 2 Issue 43, Story 5). Arrested last month in Halton, Ontario, after a shooting incident, Dalla and his associate Gurjant Singh were found with firearms during a search of their vehicle and residence. India has submitted an extradition request and is pursuing verification of his financial activities. Dalla remains in custody in Canada, awaiting a bail hearing. Panjab police have also arrested the key accused in the Mansa grenade attack on the night of 26 Oct, allegedly orchestrated by Dalla. On 16 Nov, Panjab Police, in a joint operation with Maharashtra Police, arrested Akash Singh Gill, a resident of Pakka Chishti in Fazilka district, Panjab, in connection with the murder of Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique in Mumbai. Indian media initially reported that Anmol Bishnoi – Lawrence Bishnoi’s younger brother, and suspect in Siddique’s murder – had been arrested for unrelated reasons in California earlier, however there is no confirmation of his detention status. Gill was identified as an associate of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. Meanwhile, Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) superintendent Sundeep ‘Sunny’ Singh Sidhu has been cleared by the CBSA after being targeted by allegations from Indian media linking him to terrorism and murder in Panjab. Former Canadian Security Intelligence Service director Dick Fadden commented that while such allegations necessitate investigation, the govt. should protect its employees from baseless foreign interference.

Senior leaders of the Panjab-based Kirti Kisan Union met with Dr. Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer, Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of the State of Palestine in New Delhi, and donated USD 5,900 as humanitarian aid for the Palestinian people. Raminder Singh Patiala, Press Secretary of the union, expressed solidarity with the Palestinians during their ‘terrible times of oppression,’ describing the situation as a genocide by Israel and a dark chapter in human history. He said, ‘the incidents in Palestine remind Punjabis, especially Sikhs, of past atrocities during medieval times, Partition, and the 1984 Sikh genocide.’ General Secretary Rajinder Singh Deep Singh Wala appealed to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and other organizations, along with fellow countrymen, to help the Palestinian people. The union seeks a permanent truce and demands the United Nations find a sustainable solution to the issue of Palestine. Meanwhile, a rising wave of restrictions and disruptions targeting film screenings about Palestine and other politically sensitive subjects has sparked concerns about shrinking spaces for cultural expression in India. On 16 Nov, at the 9th Udaipur Film Festival, members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh forcibly disrupted screenings at the Rabindranath Tagore Medical College auditorium, opposing the festival’s attempts to screen Palestinian documentaries. Similarly, the Dharamsala International Film Festival recently withdrew two Palestinian documentaries — No Other Land and From Ground Zero. Activists suggest that the censorship of these films parallels patterns of displacement and demolition in India, referencing incidents such as the demolition of homes in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir. The suppression extends beyond Palestine-related content, with disruptions of screenings of Anand Patwardhan’s documentary Ram Ke Naam.