Panjab’s Fiscal Health Deteriorates in ’22-23, Law Passed Against Illegal Colonies

On 5 Sep, the Comptroller and Auditor General report revealed significant issues regarding Panjab’s fiscal health, failure to meet deadlines for central assistance, and non-compliance with Goods and Services Tax (GST) by state institutions. The report disclosed Panjab’s revenue deficit rose sharply to $3.14B in 2022-23, up by $912M from the previous year, primarily due to mismatched receipts, reckless spending, and off-budget borrowings. The report also highlighted Panjab’s increasing fiscal deficit, recorded at $4.09B, or 5.04% of its Gross State Domestic Product, largely financed through market borrowing, with only 7% of the total borrowings used for capital expenditure. GST non-compliance by Punjabi University, Patiala, and Sardar Beant Singh State University, Gurdaspur led to a default of $637K in GST payments between July 2017 and March 2022. The state’s inability to meet deadlines led to Panjab losing out on central assistance for the Bus Rapid Transit System project in Amritsar. The Social Security, Women and Child Development Department has recovered $17.53M that was previously disbursed to 244K ineligible and deceased beneficiaries under the state pension scheme. On 6 Sep, Panjab scrapped the ₹3/unit power subsidy and increased value-added tax on fuel. The move impacts approximately 1.1M consumers, who will now pay around ₹3K ($36) more if they consume 1,000 units of electricity in a billing cycle. 90% households in Panjab had benefited from the govt.’s free electricity scheme, initiated shortly after CM Mann assumed office in 2022. The Panjab Assembly also passed the Punjab Apartment and Property Regulation (Amendment) Act, 2024, to curb illegal colonies and aid small plot holders.

When the monsoon session of the Panjab Assembly was announced 2-4 Sep, water activists were looking forward to constructive dialogue on the Buddha Nallah. Ludhiana civil society had recently pulled off a big protest in which people from as far as Rajasthan and Haryana had also participated (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 35, Story 1). On 30 Aug, activists from Kale Paani Da Morcha (Black Waters Front) also submitted a police complaint against officials of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), demanding the registration of a First Information Report. The activists accused PPCB member secretary Gurindar Singh Majithia, chief environmental engineer Pardeep Gupta, and others of colluding with dyeing industries to allow the illegal discharge of toxic waste into the Buddha Nallah, which flows into the Satluj river. SAD leader Manpreet Singh Ayali even raised the issue. However, the Speaker of the House Kultar Singh Sandhwan responded he was still awaiting the report by the legislative committee formed in 2022 on the Buddha Nallah and did not allow discussion. The next day when some of the activists reached the Assembly to demand a discussion on the issue, they were detained. Ayali once again raised the issue and also talked about the inadequate compensation for land to farmers for highway projects. Similarly, INC MLA Pargat Singh raised the issue of Ram Rahim’s prosecution whose file has been lying with CM Mann for the last two and a half years. The activists criticized the proceedings of the Assembly where no productive discussion was conducted. Even opposition legislators pointed out the short sessions which do not allow meaningful discussion on issues.

On 1 Sep, a day before the three-day Panjab Assembly session commenced, farmers from Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU Ekta Ugrahan) and farm labor from Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union started camping at Dussehra ground, Chandigarh. This is the first time in sixteen years that farmers unions were allowed into Chandigarh. The protest was driven by multiple grievances, including the delayed implementation of an agriculture policy, the ongoing drug menace, distribution of land to landless laborers and farmers, and promotion of chemical-free crop production. On 5 Sep, CM Mann met the protesting union leaders and assured them to share the 1,600-page draft of the new agricultural policy by 30 Sep. BKU Ekta Ugrahan agreed to the proposal and withdrew the protest. Farmers have agreed to wait until the end of September before determining their next steps. However, Panjab’s track record with such policies places the state’s new agricultural policy on shaky ground. The draft, prepared by an 11-member panel of agriculture experts led by Sukhpal Singh, chairman of the Panjab Farmers’ Commission, does not extensively address the power subsidy to the agriculture sector, which costs the state nearly $1.2B annually to power 1.45M tube wells. The draft recommends $12K ex gratia compensation for those have lost their lives to suicide and advocates creating a financial corpus to bridge the gap between the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and market prices. It promotes crop diversification to reduce paddy cultivation, unlike past unimplemented policies from 2013 and 2018. In contrast to farmers, a First Information Report was filed against pensioners protesting in Chandigarh on 4 Sep.

On 2 Sep, the Indian Union Cabinet approved the Digital Agriculture Mission and six other agricultural schemes, with a total allocation of over $1.68B. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the $340M Digital Agriculture Mission, which will implement Agri Stack, a system combining farmers’ registries, land maps, crop data, and Krishi (farmers) Decision Support Systems with geospatial data, weather updates, groundwater information, and crop yield modeling. Additionally, $278M will go to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research for modernizing agricultural education in line with the New Education Policy 2020. In terms of livestock, $204M will be invested in improving animal health and veterinary education. Other approved programs include Sustainable Development of Horticulture at $103M, strengthening Krishi Vigyan Kendra (farmer science centers) at $144M, Natural Resource Management at $133M, and $482M for the Crop Science for Food and Nutritional Security program. On 3 Sep, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan launched the AgriSURE Fund – Agri Fund for Start-ups & Rural Enterprises at $90.5M. The AgriSURE Fund is expected to drive further investments and innovative solutions, boosting the rural economy and improving the lives of farmers across India. Meanwhile, facing an acute shortage of DiAmmonium Phosphate (DAP), a crucial fertilizer for sowing winter crops like wheat and mustard, the Panjab govt. has issued an urgent appeal to the union govt. Panjab fears the union govt. may prioritize DAP supplies to Haryana ahead of elections, leaving Panjab short. CM Mann has written to Union Fertilizer Minister J.P. Nadda, stressing the need for 550K MT of DAP for sowing wheat across 3.5M hectares (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 31, Story 2).

A 20-year-old man has been charged with conduct intended to racially harass in connection with an alleged incident at the Canning Vale Gurdwara in Australia on 27 Aug. A video emerged showing a man engaging in beadbi (desecration) by stomping, ripping, and burning a Gutka (Sikh religious text). While Baaz News has seen the video, it has decided not to publish it. The man is scheduled to appear in court on 7 Sep. A police spokesperson confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, and early indications suggest the man acted alone. The Sikh community in Western Australia, particularly in Perth, has organized meetings to discuss the rise in anti-Sikh activities, some reportedly tied to Hindutva and right-wing groups. In response to the incident, MP David Shoebridge wrote to the Western Australia Police Commissioner, urging the matter be treated as a targeted criminal act. Reports from Baaz News have previously highlighted how Hindutva forces have made inroads in Australia, with Australian intelligence recently dismantling a network of Indian spies targeting the Sikh diaspora in 2022-23. Moreover, Australian police suspect that recent Mandir vandalisms in the country could have been staged by Hindu groups to undermine Sikh advocacy efforts. In the past, Indian national Vishal Jood was arrested on 18 Apr 2021 by New South Wales Police for allegedly leading violent assaults against Sikhs, including a February 2021 attack where a group of Sikh men were assaulted, causing physical harm and vehicle damage.

In Canada, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh has announced the termination of the supply-and-confidence agreement between his party and PM Justin Trudeau’s LPC govt., ending a deal that had been in place since March 2022 and was scheduled to run until June 2025. Singh’s announcement, made through a video posted on social media, criticized the Liberals for allegedly caving to corporate greed and failing to stand up for ordinary Canadians, while also warning about the potential consequences of a CPC govt. led by Pierre Poilievre. The deal, which ensured the survival of the minority LPC govt., was the first of its kind at the federal level. Trudeau, responding to the announcement, said he remains focused on addressing issues like affordability and climate change and hopes the next election will not take place until at least next fall. Poilievre, leader of the Conservatives, criticized Singh’s move as a ‘media stunt’ and called on him to commit to voting non-confidence in the govt. Poilievre himself is facing sharp criticism from Sikhs for his use of the term ‘Sellout Singh’ when referring to Jagmeet. Jaskaran Singh from Baaz News, posted to X that the term ‘Sellout Singh’ is offensive to Sikhs, as ‘Singh’ is a title given by Guru Gobind Singh and holds deep religious significance, citing the rise of anti-Sikh racism online. A PressProgress report highlighted growing concerns over the rise of far-right extremism in Canada, which is fueling anti-Sikh rhetoric on social media and underscoring the need for action against hate speech.

A joint research conducted by Pondicherry University’s earth sciences department and Fatehgarh Sahib’s World University has revealed alarming levels of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in 2,709 groundwater samples collected by the state’s water supply and sanitation department from Tarn Taran, Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Pathankot districts. High levels of arsenic, uranium, iron, and nitrate have dangerously contaminated groundwater in Panjab’s Majha region. The study found that arsenic levels exceeded the safe limit of 0.05 parts per million (ppm) in 16% of the samples, with Amritsar being the most affected. On 24 Aug, the Punjab and Haryana High Court (PHHC) ordered a comprehensive re-testing of water samples for uranium contamination in Panjab’s Doaba and Majha regions, citing discrepancies in previous test standards. The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Anil Kshetarpal, emphasized that the re-testing must adhere to the updated World Health Organization (WHO) standards, which have lowered the acceptable uranium concentration in water to 30 µg/l from the previously used 60 µg/l. On 31 Aug, the PHHC also directed the Panjab govt. to deposit $1.45M with the court registry and instructed the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to conduct tests at all sewage treatment plants (STPs) in the state to check pollution levels in the discharged water. The court ordered immediate action to prevent untreated sewage near schools and medical institutions, with a status report due by 30 Sep, and set aside $1.45M for CPCB recommendations. Expert teams will sample all 128 STPs, with results submitted to the court (SDW Vol. 1 Issue 5, Story 5).

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has asked the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to review objections raised by Sikh organizations against the film Emergency, by Kangana Ranaut. While the court did not issue a directive to halt the film’s release, it acknowledged that the movie had not yet been certified and remains under review by the CBFC. A division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf, reviewed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) brought by the Jabalpur Sikh Sangat and Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Indore. The petitioners, represented by NS Ruprah, expressed concerns over the trailer, arguing it contains objectionable content that misrepresents the Sikh community and could potentially create tension between Sikhs and Hindus. The court did not take further action on the PIL and advised the petitioners to submit a detailed list of their objections to the CBFC within three days. In turn, the CBFC has been instructed to consider these objections and take appropriate action regarding the film. The High Court clarified that it had not taken a stance on the case’s merits and reserved the rights and arguments of both parties. Meanwhile, actor Gippy Grewal, while promoting his next film from the Ardas (prayers) series, called for the inclusion of a Sikh representative in the CBFC to ensure accurate representation of the Sikh community in films. Gippy argued that while the CBFC can flag broader issues, it may not identify religious misrepresentation. The SGPC also passed resolutions requesting a Sikh member on the board, but the SGPC claims their demands have fallen on ‘deaf ears’ (SDW Vol. 2 Issue 36, Story 4).

A record number of undocumented Indian nationals, many of Panjabi origin, are crossing from Canada into the United States, raising concerns about Canada’s visa screening process. Data from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) shows a record 5,152 undocumented Indians crossed the US-Canada border in June 2024 alone, surpassing the number entering via Mexico. The US-Canada border, which stretches 9K km, offers a less dangerous route compared to the heavily fortified Mexico border, making it a preferred option for migrants. Between 2016 and 2022, Canada’s international student population grew by 61%, attracting many from India, with many from Panjab. Despite recent efforts to tighten visa regulations and increase cost-of-living requirements for students, the shift of Indian migrants to the northern US border is already underway. However, amid growing anti-immigration sentiments, Canada has been turning away more foreigners as immigration becomes a key political issue ahead of the next federal election, anticipated for the fall of 2025. According to recent data from Reuters, the ratio of refused visitor visa applications to approved ones has reached its highest point since the peak of the pandemic, with Canadian border guards turning away close to 3,700 people per month. In the first half of 2024, immigration officials rejected more applications than they approved. Approved study and work permits have also declined, with Canada refusing entry to nearly 6K foreign travelers, including students and workers, in July—the highest since 2019. Up to 70K students, mostly from Panjab, risk deportation as Canada enforces stricter immigration policies (SDW Vol 2 Issue 36, Story 7).

On 29 Aug, the Bhai Vir Singh Sadan, New Delhi hosted an online discussion on historian Nicole Ranganath’s bookWomen and the Sikh Diaspora in California: Singing the Seven Seas. The panelists were Ranganath, Associate Director and Assistant Professor Middle East/South Asia Studies University of California, Davis; Prof Anshu Malhotra Chair, Department of Global Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara; and Dr Radha Kapuria, Assistant Professor in South Asian History, Durham University. Singing the Seven Seas charts the transoceanic history of South Asian women in California across the 20th century. In an article Ranganath writes, ‘The earliest community of South Asian immigrants in America were Panjabi Sikh laborers and farmers who settled along the west coast of North America at the turn of the 20th century. Nearly 90% of the roughly 6,500 South Asians in the US were Panjabi Sikhs on the eve of World War I.’ The book focuses on the cultural and emotional lives of women who left Panjab for California, starting in the early 20th century, using music as a lens to explore their journeys. Ranganath reimagines the history of the South Asian diaspora through an examination of gender and the dynamic interplay of water and land in the cultural history of Sikhs. It shows how the history and music of transoceanic communities, in this case Sikhs, spilled beyond the boundaries of regions, empires and nation-states. It highlights the diverse South Asian diaspora by revealing women’s distinct migration history and experiences, challenging dominant views that depict men as mobile and women as stationary.