SAD Leader Majithia Arrested, Opposition Cries Foul

On 25 Jun, Panjab’s Vigilance Bureau (PVB) arrested Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia from his home in Amritsar. The arrest triggered a wave of protests from the opposition parties who termed it 'political vendetta,' while the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) hit back, accusing critics of shielding those responsible for Panjab’s drug crisis. Leader of Opposition and Indian National Congress (INC) leader Partap Singh Bajwa condemned the arrest, calling it undemocratic. INC Member of Legislative Assembly Sukhpal Singh Khaira said, 'Panjab has now turned into a police state.' Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Pritpal Singh drew parallels with the Emergency, tweeting, '#EmergencyIndia1975 till today in Punjab.' Though AAP said the arrest was part of 'War on Drugs', the First Information Report mentions 'disproportionate assets’ but does not mention drug money or invoke the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. In April 2025, the Supreme Court of India had upheld the bail granted to Majithia, dismissing the Panjab government’s appeal against the bail decision made by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. PVB has alleged that between 2007 and 2009, USD 18.7M in unexplained cash was deposited in Saraya industries in which Majithia has a 11% inherited share. The industry also received USD 16.4M through dubious foreign investments from Cyprus and Singapore. Advocate Rajvinder Singh Bains, who had prepared the initial fact finding report as part of Panjab Human Rights Organization said the report has been made basis of the arrest. He had submitted the report to the previous INC government in 2022. Majithia is SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal's brother-in-law. Badal has dared Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to prove Saraya industries received any foreign exchange since 2007. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal said, 'A clear message is being sent in Panjab no matter how big the leader is, no one will be spared.' He did not name Majithia or SAD. Before the 2017 state elections, Kejriwal had alleged Majithia was in the drugs trade and later publicly apologized upon facing a defamation case.

A day after the Indian National Congress (INC) lost the Ludhiana West Assembly by-poll, on 25 Jun, senior leaders Pargat Singh and Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon quit as the state unit vice-presidents. Both have sought a collective introspection for the by-poll debacle and stressed the need for restructuring of the state unit. On the day of the result, INC candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu had resigned as the working president of the party’s state unit. During the campaign Ashu had asked the party high command that Panjab INC president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of Opposition in state Legislative Assembly Pratap Singh Bajwa should not campaign for him due to his differences with the two top leaders. The resignations are indicative of the deepening fault lines in Panjab INC. The party has accepted all the resignations. A section of INC leaders believe INC state in-charge Bhupesh Baghel is unable to engage the state leadership towards a united goal. Meanwhile, days after the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Member of Legislative Assembly from Amritsar North, Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh, opposed the arrest of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia in a disproportionate assets case, the party’s political affairs committee suspended him from the party for five years. Kunwar Vijay said he may have had political disagreements or ideological differences with Majithia, but when it came to principles, religion, and integrity, one should speak out. Kunwar Vijay was earlier in the Indian Police Service. He was the chief of the Special Investigation Team formed to investigate the firing incidents in Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan in 2015 after the first case of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh scripture). As an MLA he has earlier publicly disagreed with some of the AAP government decisions. Also, AAP has given a clean chit to former health minister Vijay Singla in a corruption case. In 2022, AAP had fired Singla to keep up its anti-corruption image. In other news, Tarn Taran AAP MLA Kashmir Singh Sohal died at a hospital in Amritsar on 27 Jun after battling cancer (earlier coverage).

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has constituted a 34-member panel to frame rules regarding the appointment, retirement and termination of services of the Akal Takht (Eternal Throne, AT) Jathedar (leader). Though AT is for all Sikhs worldwide, the panel has also not included Sikhs who live in the Inspora—outside Panjab in India—and the Diaspora. The panel has even excluded Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). Former SGPC general secretary Bibi Kiranjot Kaur said, ‘The real issue is not who is the Jathedar and from which faction. The issue is which issues should come up to the Akal Takht. What is the method of arriving at Hukamnama (decree) and Gurmata (Guru sanctioned resolution).’ Meanwhile, DSGMC members Manjit Singh GK and Paramjit Singh Sarna have submitted their resignations alleging Delhi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government's interference in the affairs of the Sikh institution. Both GK and Sarna, former DSGMC presidents, said, ‘This is a complete reversal of the no-interference principle upheld under former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the then Chief Minister Madan Lal Khurana when, despite ideological differences, Sikh institutions were treated with a basic degree of respect.’ Meanwhile, a Haryana govt advertisement on the martyrdom day of revered Sikh warrior Baba Banda Singh Bahadur on 25 Jun started a controversy as it referred to him as 'Veer Banda Bairagi' implying he was Hindu. The SGPC president and acting Jathedar of AT condemned the label as a 'grave insult' to Sikh history and identity, alleging a deliberate attempt to distort the legacy of the Khalsa general who led a historic campaign against Mughal tyranny. The Haryana govt social media posts have since been modified. Another controversy erupted when former AT Jathedar and current head granthi (hymns reciter) Darbar Sahib (Golden Temple) Giani Raghbir Singh filed and later withdrew his petition from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He feared he might be sacked from his role. Giani Raghbir Singh was among those Jathedars who had announced the 2 Dec 2024 AT decrees against the Badal family control on Sikh institutions and the major political party (earlier coverage).

On 27 Jun, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague made a decision on the Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower cases in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) under the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) which is binding on India and Pakistan and does not allow appeal. The Court said India’s position on 'abeyance' of the IWT does not limit the competence of the Court over the dispute. It further said, 'it was not open to India to take unilateral action to suspend the Court's proceedings, regardless of how India’s position was characterized or justified under international law' and 'it has a continuing responsibility to advance the proceedings in a timely, efficient, and fair manner, notwithstanding India’s position on 'abeyance'.' The Court's decision was over Pakistan's Request for Arbitration on the Kishenganga and Ratle hydropower projects on 19 Aug 2016, under Article IX and Annexure G of the IWT. Subsequently, on 4 Oct 2016, India joined the hearing by requesting the World Bank appoint a neutral expert to look into the matter. Pakistan responded saying, 'India and Pakistan must find a way back to a meaningful dialogue, including on the application of the IWT.' The Indian Ministry of External Affairs said, 'It has never recognized the so-called framework for dispute resolution with Pakistan.' India has written to the World Bank’s neutral expert, Michel Lino, requesting a pause in his proceedings on the Kishanganga and Ratle hydropower disputes on Kishanganga river and Chenab river. Lino is expected to consider Pakistan’s comments before deciding whether to pause the proceedings. Meanwhile, the Kisan Sangharsh Morcha (Farmers Struggle Front) with the involvement of Karanpur, Rajasthan Indian National Congress Rajasthan Member of Legislative Assembly Rupinder Singh Kooner has started a protest demanding water to the Gang canal in Sriganganagar district, which borders Panjab’s Fazilka district. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Panjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann discussed the Firozpur Feeder Reconstruction Project, a joint initiative critical for the canal irrigation system in northwest Rajasthan. The USD 75.4M project was approved by the Central Water Commission in April (earlier coverage).

On 28 Jun, the Indian government appointed Parag Jain, a 1989-batch Indian Police Service officer from the Panjab cadre as the next chief of the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for two years. Jain is supposed to have played a key role in Operation Sindoor (vermilion mark) during recent India-Pakistan hostilities. Ensaaf—a human rights website which documents enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Panjab—lists Jain as Senior Superintendent Police, Patiala where Sukhdev Singh was killed in 1993. The World Sikh Organization has posted on X, 'Jain was posted to Canada from approximately 2016 to 2018 and was accused of activities targeting Sikhs in Canada.' Meanwhile, on 23 Jun evening, Surjeet Singh Shanty son of late Foja Singh was found hanging from a tree near Dharamgund village in South Kashmir’s Tral area. Dharamgund is one of the few villages in the region with a significant Sikh population. All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee Chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said that since the death of Surjeet Singh has taken place in mysterious circumstances it is imperative to hold a thorough investigation into the matter. Marking a first in Panjab, Harjit Kaur, mother of an alleged gangster Jagdeep Singh alias Jaggu Bhagwanpuria was shot dead in Batala, Gurdaspur on 26 Jun. Kaur’s relative and bodyguard Karanveer Singh was also killed when three men on a motorbike opened fire. The Davinder Bambiha gang has claimed the killing as revenge for Gore Briar’s earlier killing. In another murder, on 27 Jun, Kuldeep Singh, former personal assistant to former Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Member of Parliament Jagdev Singh Talwandi was assaulted to death with swords on Dhandra Road in Ludhiana. Gangster culture in Panjab is so prevalent now that liquor contractors in neighboring state Haryana are holding themselves back from bidding for the allotment of unsold liquor vends under the 2025-27. After 2 of 7 rounds of bidding, only 41 retail liquor zones out of the 260 unsold zones across 20 districts could be sold despite the Excise and Taxation Department reducing the reserve price (earlier coverage).

The Panjab Cabinet has approved a policy allowing fragmentation of big industrial plots across Punjab State Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC). These include industrial estates, focal points and growth centers. The policy existed since 2005 when it was approved by the PSIEC Board of Directors but lacked the state government’s approval. Recently, 15 plots in Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar fetched over three times the reserve price. The plots were sold for USD 1.8K per square yard, compared to the reserve price of around USD 500 per square yard. This increase is primarily due to the scarcity of industrial plots in Panjab’s focal points, where demand far exceeds supply. The state is currently witnessing its largest-ever land acquisition drive, with over 40,000 acres across 158 of its 1,200 villages marked under a new land pooling policy for urbanization, triggering protests from farmers and a political backlash over what critics call a real estate rush with no promise of jobs or inclusive development. While this is on, about 15.25 acres of Punjab National Fertilisers and Chemicals Ltd (PNFC), a closed unit of Punjab State Infrastructure Development Corporation (PSIDC) in Nangal town of Ropar district, have gone missing. The liquidator appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for PNFC has stated that the difference is seen in the revenue records between 2008-09 and 2018-19. In another case, a mother-son duo, Usha Ansal and Naveen Chand have been accused of selling a World War II-era airstrip. This airstrip, located in Fattuwala, Firozepur was previously used by the Indian Air Force during multiple wars, including the 1962, 1965, and 1971. The allegations date back to 1997, when the two allegedly colluded with revenue officials to claim ownership and sell the land. Upon a directive from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Panjab Vigilance Bureau investigated the allegation leading to the registration of a First Information Report. In May 2025, the land was restored to the Ministry of Defence.

The Israel-Iran war in June led to 100K tonnes or one-fifth of India's basmati export to Iran being stranded on Kandla and Mundra sea ports raising concern among exporters and agricultural trade bodies. The disruption occurred as shipping lines and insurers have suspended services to Iran, fearing liability exposure amidst intensifying military action across the Middle East. All India Rice Exporters Association president Satish Goyal said, 'Standard shipping insurance policies exclude conflict zones, and in the current scenario, no coverage is available for Iran-bound vessels. This has made it impossible for us to move the consignments forward.' India exported around 1M tonnes of basmati rice to Iran in FY 2024-25, making it the second-largest importer of Indian aromatic rice after Saudi Arabia. The trade impasse has impacted domestic prices, with basmati rates falling by USD 55 per tonne. Panjab produces about 40% of India’s basmati rice for export. Ashok Sethi, director of the Punjab Rice Millers and Exporters’ Association said consignments worth USD 233M were sent during the past one month. 'We do not know where the consignments are, have they been delivered or stuck at Iranian ports, particularly Bandar Abbas, Bushehr, and Chabahar.' Meanwhile, in Bersha village, Hoshiarpur, Arvinder Singh Kang has turned protected cultivation of seedless cucumbers profitable. He cultivates his 3-acre farm under polyfilm and nets and grows rice and wheat in the rest 7 acres. However, he earns better from cucumbers and is planning to increase acreage. Similarly, when Gurpreet Singh Saraan returned to Sadhana village in Bathinda in 2020 after spending five years in Singapore, he started cultivating a crop that most villagers barely notice—Ivy Gourd, often considered a wild vegetable. He says, 'My ancestors used to grow a vine or two for self-consumption. They used to say that it is good for stomach-related problems. That inspired me to expand its cultivation and the crop never failed me.' What started as a small experiment now provides steady employment to five families, thanks to the labor-intensive harvesting and packaging processes (earlier coverage).

Progressive newcomer 33-year-old Zohran Kwame Mamdani is the US Democratic Party candidate for the New York City (NYC) mayoral elections. He won the primary over former Governor Andrew Cuomo—the presumed favorite. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, surged to prominence with a grassroots campaign focused on the city’s cost-of-living crisis. Mamdani faces incumbent mayor Eric Adams in the final polls in November. Mamdani's mother is Panjabi origin film maker Meera Nair and he began the final leg of his campaign from the Sikh Cultural Society and Baba Makhan Shah Lubana Sikh Center in Queens borough of NYC. If Mamdani wins he will join the list of at least six earlier Indian-origin mayors of US cities. Meanwhile, in Australia, the Shepparton-based dairy brand, led by brothers Surinder Singh and Jaspreet Singh has won six gold and nine silver medals at the Dairy Industry Association of Australia award ceremony. In the UK, on 23 June, Professor Jagbir Jhutti-Johal from the University of Birmingham was presented with the Sternberg Interfaith Gold Medallion for their exceptional contribution to faith understanding in the UK and beyond. In the US, Angad Singh won the National Speech and Debate Association's original oratory championship. In his speech based on his personal and the Sikh community’s experience in the US, Angad urged his listeners to go beyond prayers towards affirmative action. In other news, based on statistics released by the US Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), the North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) has expressed serious concern over the growing number of individuals, including Panjabis, detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). NAPA executive director Satnam Singh Chahal said ICE is currently detaining 56,397 individuals—the highest number since May 2019. Alarmingly, 71.7% (40,433 individuals) of those detained have no criminal record whatsoever. However, in its annual report, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has mentioned both: threats from Canada-based Khalistani Extremists (CBKE) and concerns over Indian foreign interference in recent decades. The report accuses CBKE of supporting or planning violent activities aimed at establishing an independent state of Khalistan in India’s Panjab region (earlier coverage).

On 21 Jun, Panjab Police said it had busted a terror module of the Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). The BKI module was operated by a UK-based handler Dharam Singh alias Dharma Sandhu, who was a close associate of a Pakistan-based Harvinder Singh Rinda. The police apprehended a local operative named Onkar Singh alias Nawab, a resident of Jalalusma village in Amritsar district. Police recovered one 9 mm Glock pistol and two .30 bore pistols from the accused. On the same day, Panjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said police also uncovered a cross-border drug smuggling racket with the arrest of Lovepreet Singh alias Love and Balwinder Singh alias Bobby who were allegedly in touch with a Pakistan-based smuggler. The police also recovered 6.15 kg of heroin, a .30 bore pistol with four cartridges and USD 120 in Indian currency from their possession. In the month of June, the Panjab police recovered Türkiye-made PX5 pistols in three separate operations in addition to Zigana Pistols which were recovered earlier. On 24 Jun, NIA conducted searches at 18 locations linked to BKI in Panjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The NIA claimed to be investigating a larger conspiracy involving attempts to revive terrorism in Panjab through targeted killings, extortion, and smuggling. On 22 Jun, the Panjab police also arrested Gurpreet Singh, an army personnel posted in Jammu and his aide Sahil Masih for their alleged involvement in spying activities linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department has foiled a terror plot by arresting six suspected terrorists working for India's intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). The two operatives, Aslam and Akbar Ali were arrested in Bahawalnagar while obtaining explosives directly from India's Border Security Force. Three other alleged RAW agents—Azam alias Jaji, Manzoor alias Qari, and Amjad were captured from Toba Tek Singh. Zulfiqar (no second name), a key facilitator allegedly involved in funding these activities from Dubai, was nabbed in Bahawalpur (earlier coverage).

Fresno, California made history on 26 Jun with the opening of Jaswant Singh Khalra Elementary School—the first elementary school in the US named in honor of the Sikh human rights activist who was abducted and killed by the Panjab police in 1995. The school’s name honors Khalra who is remembered globally for his courage and advocacy on behalf of the voiceless. District leaders said the event marks a significant moment not only for Fresno, but for Sikh-American and Panjabi-American history as well. Meanwhile, in India, 2.5 years after being submitted to the Central Board of Film Certification, the movie Punjab ‘95 based on Khalra’s life is still awaiting clearance to be screened. Honey Trehan, the director of the movie says in the 30^th year since Khalra’s disappearance, his story has been abducted once again. Trehan and Daljit Singh alias Diljit Dosanjh who plays the protagonist in the movie have refused the 127 cuts the CBFC has asked for on the movie. They have also announced if the movie is released with cuts, they will withdraw their names. Diljit was again recently trolled by Hindutva right-wing for his new movie Sardaarji 3: The movie had cast Pakistani actor Hania Aamir. After the Pahalgam attack on 23 Apr and the hostilities between India and Pakistan, the trolls are questioning Diljit’s nationalism over casting Aamir. In an interview Diljit even explains the shooting of the film took place in February when there was no issue with Pakistan. The Federation of Western India Cine Employees has sent a letter to the Chairperson,CBFC, to ‘Withhold certification of the film Sardaarji 3, containing Pakistani artists.’ The movie producers had anyway decided to release the movie abroad and forgo the India rights though they are substantial. On 29 June, RP Singh, National Secretary of the Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called Diljit ‘a national asset and a global ambassador of Indian culture.’ BJP union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu from Panjab also came out in Diljit’s support. Since then, Indian media has started reporting positively on the movie’s earnings abroad.