Panjab's Budget Presented; Total Liabilities Estimated at USD 44.2B

On 25 Mar Union Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, informed the Indian Parliament that Panjab's total liabilities are estimated at USD 44.2B. He also revealed that the state’s debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio stood at 46.6%, which is the second highest among Indian states, after Arunachal Pradesh. In 2022, when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government came to power, the total liability was USD 30.7B. In January 2025, Panjab’s Fiscal Health Index score was the lowest in the country at 10.7, according to the report on Fiscal Health index, released by the National Institution for Transforming India Aayog (Commission). Panjab’s total liabilities are expected to reach USD 48.7B by 2026. On 26 Mar, the Panjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema presented the USD 27.5B state’s budget for the financial year 2025-26 without imposing any new taxes. It is the fourth budget of the AAP govt., but the pre-election promise of providing INR 1K (USD 11) per month to women has not been implemented. The budget announced the first-ever 'drug census’ among other promises. The total revenue receipts have been projected to be USD 13.1B. Of these, the Panjab state’s own tax revenue accounts for USD 7.4B, the share of union govt. taxes has been pegged at USD 3B while its grant-in-aid is at USD 1.2B. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) target for the next financial year is USD 3.2B. The state will raise a loan of USD 5.8B in 2025-26. Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, state chief of Indian National Congress said, ‘Budget lacks both substance and vision. There is practically nothing for infrastructure development.’ Ravneet Singh Bittu, union minister from Bharatiya Janata Party said, ‘Empty vessels make the loudest noise.’ In 1981, Panjab’s debt was USD 1.2B; in 1991, it was USD 2.9B; in 2001, it was USD 6.3B; in 2011, it was USD 18.8B; and in 2021, it was USD 35.1B.

On 26 Mar, expressing concern over depleting groundwater, ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Nabha, Gurdev Singh Dev Maan moved a resolution in the Assembly, urging the Panjab government to take immediate and effective steps to curb the rapid decline. In a session often punctuated by opposition Indian National Congress (INC) MLAs raising questions on the state govt.'s draconian action on farmers on 19 Mar, all parties supported the resolution and passed it. INC MLA Rana Gurjit Singh reminded the house that the previous INC govt. had already formed a committee which predicted in 2021 that unless immediate steps are taken Panjab could become a desert in two decades. He added, 'Panjab consumed 66 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water annually, while the canal water available was only 14.4 BCM.' On 27 Mar, Water Resources minister Barinder Kumar Goyal informed the house that his department had identified 492 pollution points across the state, of which 444 were removed, with the remaining 48 being addressed. However, on 28 Mar, the Assembly passed a resolution by Panjab Parliamentary Affairs minister Dr. Ravjot Singh to adopt the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act, 2024. The new law decriminalises several violations related to water pollution and introduces financial penalties ranging from USD 116 to USD 17.5K, rather than the previous provisions that allowed for imprisonment of up to six years. When INC MLA Avtar Henry Junior opposed the resolution, Ravjot Singh said it was for ease of industry. Ravjot Singh said this legislation was enacted by the Indian Parliament on 15 Feb 2024 and Panjab was the 19^th state to accept it. With water pollution cases by industries at Buddha Nullah, Ludhiana being heard at the National Green Tribunal, such a decision amounts to letting off the polluters cheaply (earlier coverage).

Panjab Advocate General (AG) Gurminder Singh resigned from his post on 30 Mar citing his intent to return to private practice. On 31 Mar, Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa alleged, ‘the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government intended to bring in around 50 law officers from Delhi, who are loyal to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. Gurminder Singh was reluctant to do the same, so he was forced to quit.’ On 31 Mar, advocate Maninderjit Singh Bedi was appointed as Panjab AG. Bedi is 44 years old and the youngest AG of Panjab. Bedi is the fifth AG in the AAP govt. which came to power in March 2022. Deepinder Singh Patwalia had stepped down in March 2022, after the Indian National Congress (INC) was routed out of power by AAP. Senior advocates Anmol Rattan Sidhu and Vinod Ghai had resigned in July 2022 and October 2023, respectively. Bedi was serving in the Panjab AG office as Additional AG and is considered close to AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. Former mayor of Chandigarh, Anu Chatrath has been appointed Senior Additional AG. Chatrath is the daughter of late Gopal Krishan Chatrath, a former AG of Panjab, who had associations with the INC. Bedi takes charge at a time when the state is under intense scrutiny over multiple challenges, including the farmers’ agitation, its struggle to contain the drug menace, and the steady release of those accused in drug cases on bail due to prolonged detention caused by police failure to testify as witnesses. Adding to these is the recent clash between the police and an Army official in an assault case. The AG will also have to navigate the contentious Satluj Yamuna Link canal dispute between Panjab and Haryana, which remains unresolved after an inconclusive meeting between the Chief Ministers in December 2023 (earlier coverage).

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its 2025 annual report on 25 Mar. The report documents religious freedom conditions in 2024 and recommends policy to the White House, US Congress, and the US State Department to advance Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) abroad. USCIRF Chair Stephen Schneck said, 'As repressive governments and violent entities attack and drastically erode freedom of religion or belief ... the US government must continue to stand firm against these threats against the universal right of religious freedom.' The report recommends 16 countries for designation as Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) for particularly severe FoRB violations under International Religious Freedom Act. India is one of them and has been named such since the year 2000. The report says, 'The Indian government continued to expand its repressive tactics to target religious minorities abroad, specifically members of the Sikh community and their advocates. … International reporting and intelligence from the Canadian government corroborated allegations linking an official in India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and six diplomats to the 2023 assassination attempt of an American Sikh activist in New York.' The report called for sanctions on individuals and entities, such as Vikash Yadav and RAW, for their culpability in severe violations of religious freedom by freezing their assets and/or barring their entry into the US. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, 'USCIRF once again continues its pattern of issuing biased and politically motivated assessments.' Meanwhile, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has alleged Indian agents played a role in fundraising and organising support within the South Asian community for Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Canadian Conservative party, during his leadership race. The report flagged the risk of foreign interference and named China and India among major threats ahead of parliamentary elections in April 2025 (earlier coverage).

On 28 Mar, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) tabled and passed an annual budget of USD 161M for 2025-26. The session, held at Teja Singh Samundri Hall at the SGPC office, was presided over by SGPC President Harjinder Singh Dhami, while General Secretary Sher Singh Mandwala presented the budget. The budget has increased by 9.95% compared to the last budget. Dhami said efforts would be made to enhance sarais (inns), healthcare, education, and religious campaigns. The Dharam Prachar (religious preaching) Committee’s budget is USD 12.8M; Gurdwaras’ budget is USD 124M. Some SGPC members, especially Bibi Jagir Kaur and Bibi Kiranjot Kaur, raised the issue of sacking of the three Jathedars (leaders) of the Takhts (thrones) and asked on what basis did Dhami take back his resignation? Bibi Jagir Kaur later said, ‘The entire Sikh community is upset. We were not heard and if this continues, we shall hold a general body meeting in 15 days.’ As the budget was being passed, Sikh organizations protesting the sacking of Jathedars attempted to reach the SGPC headquarters but were stopped by the Panjab police. They included activists from Nihangs (traditional Sikh warriors), the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, and Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, led by Damdami Taksal (Sikh seminary) chief Harnam Singh Khalsa. They managed to reach Heritage Street and staged a sit-in near Sri Guru Ram Das Ji Langar Hall. Khalsa said, 'The SGPC has violated Sikh maryada (code of conduct) and principles while dismissing the Jathedars, belittling the sanctity of the Takhts, and it has to revoke its decisions.' After the budget session, the SGPC resolution condemned Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah for invoking Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (1947-84, prominent Sikh leader) to taunt jailed Khadoor Sahib Member of Parliament Amritpal Singh, condemned Panjab govt.’s action on farmers, welcomed recent judgements against police officials involved in fake encounters, and demanded quota for Sikhs in the Army (earlier coverage).

Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) President Harjinder Singh Dhami has said the framework for the qualification, appointment, jurisdiction and retirement of the Jathedar (leader) of Akal Takht (eternal throne, AT) will soon be established and a high-level committee will be formed. He said, the appointment for the vacant position of the AT Jathedar will be made in consultation with Panthic (Sikh collective) organizations and emphasised that Sikh Rehat Maryada (code of conduct), traditions, and history are the guiding principles. It must be noted that Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj is an acting Jathedar until the new Jathedar is appointed. The SGPC has made a call to Sikhs all around the world to submit their suggestions on the framework, but it has not committed to not control the AT and its Jathedar. Meanwhile, nearly three and a half months after he was arrested for allegedly attempting to assassinate Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal, septuagenarian Sikh activist Narain Singh Chaura was granted bail on 25 Mar. The assassination attempt was on 4 Dec 2024 when Badal was performing seva (service) as a gatekeeper of Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) upon the AT’s instructions. On the same day, the Patiala court acquitted Jagtar Singh Tara and Ramandeep Singh Goldy in the 2009 Rashtriya Sikh Sangat chief Rulda Singh murder case. Two unknown bike-borne men had shot Rulda Singh on 28 Jul 2009 and he died on 15 Aug 2009. On 31 Mar, the glass casing around the statue of Dr. B R Ambedkar was vandalised in Nangal village near Phillaur. Sikhs for Justice have claimed responsibility for the incident. Slogans 'Sikhs Are Not Hindus' and 'Trump Zindabad' have been painted on the glass casing, while a saffron and another blue flag bearing similar messages were taped to the casing. The reference is to Ambedkar being known as the ‘Father of the Indian Constitution’ while the Constitution’s Article 25-B presents Sikhs as Hindus (earlier coverage).

Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) gave a nationwide call to mark 28 Mar as ‘Anti-Repression Day’ against ‘Police Rule’ in Panjab. Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) and SKM (Non-Political, NP) joined the call. On 27 Mar night, the Panjab government released all farmers it had taken into custody including KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher. The govt. claimed it had never arrested SKM NP leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, but had moved him into a hospital. The protest was observed across India. When farmers were arrested on 19 Mar, Dallewal who was already on hunger strike for the last 114 days—but was being given medication—quit drinking even water. Upon all prisoners being released, Dallewal accepted water. The govt. claimed in the Supreme Court of India (SCI) that Dallewal’s fast is over. However, farmer leader Sukhjit Singh Hardo Jhande maintains the govt. is spreading misinformation to mislead the judiciary. He said, 'Dallewal has only taken a glass of water. His fast unto death, which he started on 26 Nov 2024, remains unchanged.' It is ironic that under the misimpression that Dallewal had ended his hunger strike, the SCI said septuagenarian Dallewal was a 'genuine leader without a political agenda.' Such labelling is problematic because singling out one of the leaders for praise creates a competitiveness among the farmers who have been protesting together as equals. SCI also dropped contempt proceedings against Panjab Chief Secretary and Director General of Police for not complying with the court’s order on providing medical aid to Dallewal. In a related development, the Panjab govt. justified the arrest of farmer leaders and eviction of protesters from the Panjab-Haryana interstate borders at Shambhu and Khanauri. Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Nanak Singh submitted an application at the Punjab and Haryana High Court saying intelligence gathered from various sources pointed that the 'farmers were likely to make a violent attempt at breaching the barricading’ (earlier coverage).

Panjab farmer unions are strongly opposing the visit of a delegation from the US to India to ink trade deals, including with the agriculture sector. The unions say, the US has already announced from 2 Apr it will impose heavy tariffs on goods imported from India. This will twist the arm of the union government to bow down to US imperialism. If this agreement is signed, India will have to reduce taxes on US agricultural products so they get supremacy in the Indian market. The opening of the Indian market will mean that the crisis in the country's agricultural sector will deepen further and farmers will get even lesser prices on their produce. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) President Joginder Singh Ugrahan and General Secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokri Kalan have issued a statement saying, 'There will be blind looting of farmers' crops and increase in farm loans that are already forcing farmers and laborers to commit suicides. This will expose the Modi govt.'s so-called patriotism.’ Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) has seriously viewed the meek response of the union govt. on the threat of reciprocal tariffs by the US President Donald Trump to force a reduction of tariffs on imports of goods including agricultural and dairy products from the US. SKM’s National Coordination Committee has decided to convene a one day meeting of the National Council (General Body) on 21 Apr at New Delhi to decide on the future plan of action. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said concerns over allowing US agricultural products into the Indian market were known to them and the negotiators should be trusted to ensure India’s best interests. However, given how in the past the union govt. has prioritized industry and neglected the agrarian sector, there isn’t much scope to trust the govt. to address the farmers’ concerns (earlier coverage).

Information released by the Central Water Commission on 27 Mar reveals the combined water storage in key reservoirs in Panjab and Himachal Pradesh are 52% and 46% below normal, respectively. Water levels in dams across all of north-west of India are significantly below normal for this time of the year. The reduced water levels could potentially impact power generation and the availability of water for irrigation. Additionally, rainfall in north-west India has been deficient this season. At Bhakra Dam, which lies on the river Satluj in Himachal Pradesh, the current storage is 1.247 billion cubic metres (BCM) against its total capacity of 6.229 BCM, making for 20% water availability. The average storage at Bhakra over the past 10 years at this time of the year is 33%. The current storage at Pong Dam on the river Beas in Himachal Pradesh is 13% as compared to the 10-year average of 25%. Thein Dam on the river Ravi in Panjab current storage is 20% of its total capacity, compared to the 10-year average of 41%. The rainfall in Panjab during March so far has been significantly deficient. According to the data compiled by the India Meteorological Department from 1-28 Mar, Panjab received 7.6 mm rainfall compared to the long-period average of 21.5 mm, accounting for a shortfall of 65%. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said on 30 Mar, Panjab will begin paddy transplantation on 1 Jun, 10 days earlier than last year, in an effort to help farmers avoid high moisture content in their harvest. These orders are a violation of the Punjab Preservation of Subsoil Water Act, 2009. Mann said the state will be divided into four zones of six to seven districts each for a structured transplantation process adding that the state will procure PR 126, 127, 128, and 129 varieties of rice as recommended by Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana.

As World Theatre Day was celebrated on 27 Mar, theatre director Neelam Man Singh traced the genesis of Panjabi theatre by noting it was only in the 20th century that drama came to be written for the purpose of performance. Before that in Panjab there was an oral tradition of qisse (love stories), varan (heroic tales) and jangname (battle narratives). These oral traditions were full of verve, robust imagery and passionate poetry and were sung and enacted in the grand tradition of the strolling minstrels and balladeers. Panjabi theatre started with an Irish woman, Norah Richards (1876-1971), who came to India in 1911 with her husband Philip Ernest, an Irish Unitarian minister. In Lahore, Norah directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream and its overwhelming success encouraged her to direct many more Shakespearean productions. This became a catalyst in stimulating Panjabi students to delve into their own myths and social issues, and garner from it an idiom that was local, vernacular and regional—Panjabi plays by Panjabi authors about Panjab for a Panjabi audience. In 1912, Norah held a competition of one-act plays. Two significant plays emerged: Dulhan (The Bride) by Ishwar Chander Nanda and Dina Marriage Procession by Rajendra Lal Sahni. These plays, written in the realistic mode, had an evangelical zeal but were important milestones in the search for modern content. Sheila Bhatia’s (1916-2009) work was in a different register. She wrote plays in the operatic style and also directed Federico Garcia Lorca’s Blood Wedding (Tere Mere Lekh, 1984), Bulle Shah’s Sulagde Darya (Burning Rivers, 1987). Though her central characters were women, the woman’s voice did not disturb the twin frames of patriarchy and feudalism. In 1974, the Department of Indian Theatre was established by Balwant Gargi (1916-2003) at Panjab University, Chandigarh. Concurrently, the Speech and Drama Department was set up by Surjit Singh Sethi (1928-1995) in Patiala. These two departments helped free the Panjabi theatre from provincialism through the spirit of experimentation.