The ground is about 12 acres and can hold nearly 50,000 persons. Booking it for one day needs an upfront payment of Rs 1.21 lakh.

Why is Ramlila Maidan in the news?

A day earlier, the Delhi Police removed Jantar Mantar from the list of protest sites. A standing order issued by Police Commissioner Anurag Kumar on October 11 named three new places for protests: Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground in north Delhi and CBD Ground in east Delhi.

The police said a new set of rules (SOP) for protests at these three places will be issued separately.

Also Read | Delhi Police de-notify Jantar Mantar as protest venue, three other sites designated for demonstrations

How much does it cost?

Here is how the Rs 1.21 lakh adds up:

Booking charge: Rs 50,000 per day

Security deposit: Rs 55,000 (refundable)

The rest is taxes

The ground is booked through the horticulture department of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The civic body gives permission only after the Delhi Police issue a no-objection certificate. A small part of the ground can be used for free. But it can hold only around 150 persons.

Protesters say the fees may be a burden for small groups and residents’ associations. At Jantar Mantar, no such payment was needed. An official, however, said that if the ground is given free for protests, the civic body would lose at least Rs 50,000 a day.

Civic officials has confirmed that the ground is already booked for several programmes and festivals. Dussehra and Diwali are also coming up in the next few weeks.

Traffic could be a big problem

Officials also pointed to traffic. Ramlila Maidan sits in a busy market area, close to three hospitals and the MCD headquarters.

Whenever big crowds gather, nearby roads feel the pressure. The police usually make Asaf Ali Road one-way and send traffic heading to Deshbandhu Gupta Road towards Jawaharlal Nehru Marg. Both roads are already crowded and have encroachments.

A look at the ground’s history

Until 1930, the place was a pond. It was filled and levelled so that Ramlila could be staged there. The tradition began in 1932 and is still going, which gave the ground its name.

In 1951, the area was developed to help refugees who had come from Pakistan earn a living. Over time, it became a major spot for political rallies.

Some key moments:

1952: Syama Prasad Mookerjee began a satyagraha here, demanding full integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India.

1956 and 1957: Jawaharlal Nehru addressed big public meetings.

1962: A permanent stage was built for an event honouring Queen Elizabeth II during her India visit.

1971: Indira Gandhi addressed a rally after India’s win over Pakistan.

1974: A public meeting was held on November 26 for Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev.

1975: On June 25, the day the Emergency was declared, Jayaprakash Narayan and Atal Bihari Vajpayee spoke at a rally here.

2013, 2015 and 2020: Arvind Kejriwal took oath as Delhi Chief Minister at the ground.

The final figure is lower than the 2,14,61,043 electors on the rolls before the revision began, a drop of about 6.3 per cent. When the draft roll came out in August, 20,66,608 names had been struck off, bringing the count down to 1,93,94,435. About 7.06 lakh voters were then added, which lifted the total to the final number.

As per Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra, names were removed mainly because of deaths, permanent migration out of the state, voters not being found at their listed addresses and duplicate entries. The department had put considerable effort into running the revision smoothly, she added.

She also said 7,97,263 new voters were enrolled, among them many first-time young voters and women.

According to information, 12.80 lakh voters were “unmapped” when the exercise began, meaning their names could not be linked to the 2003 roll, the last time an SIR was held. Another 22 lakh entries had discrepancies. Notices went to 34 lakh voters, who were heard and had their records corrected.

The final roll has been uploaded to the Election Commission of India’s website and shared with representatives of all seven registered and recognised political parties in Punjab.

Draft roll had 1.94 crore voters

After the final list was released, CEO Anindita Mitra said the draft roll had 1.94 crore voters, and about 8 lakh more people were added in the final roll. She said the Election Commission’s aim was to reach out to every single voter.

Chance to register for the next election

Mitra said anyone who wants to register to vote in the next election can submit Form 6 online, or to the BLO or ERO. Special camps will start from next week for this.

People can check the voter list at special camps

The camps will do two things. First, BLOs will sit with the final voter list so people can check whether their names are on it. The list is on the website, but many people prefer to see it physically. Second, the list has also been given to political parties, who can check it too. Anyone left out can apply on the spot.

How to download the final voter list?

Visit the official website: First, go to www.ceopunjab.gov.in or voters.eci.gov.in.

Select the option: On the homepage, click “Download Electoral Roll” or “Final Roll”.

Fill in the details: Select your state (Punjab), district, Assembly constituency, language and roll type (Final Roll).

Choose the polling station: Select your polling station number, enter the captcha and download.

The project was developed as a public-private partnership between Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, which is a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, and the Uttar Pradesh government. The airport blends Swiss operational know-how with Indian design touches.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase on March 28, 2026, and flights began operating commercially in June. It is the second international airport in the National Capital Region.

Also Read |  Delhi Police refuse permission for Cockroach Janata Party protest at Jantar Mantar; Section 163 imposed

What the airport offers

In its first phase, the airport has one runway and a terminal that can handle up to 12 million passengers every year. Over time, more runways will be added. By 2050, the airport is expected to serve as many as 70 million passengers annually.

Travellers can reach it through the Yamuna Expressway and other connected transport options. The main aim of the airport is to ease the pressure on Delhi’s busy airport and cut down air traffic congestion across the NCR.

The second phase of the airport is expected to become operational between 2031 and 2032.

Background: How the Jewar airport came to be

The idea of a second airport for the Delhi-NCR region has been discussed for many years, mainly because Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport was getting very crowded. Jewar, in Gautam Buddha Nagar district, was chosen as the site because of the large land available there and its closeness to the Yamuna Expressway.

In 2020, Zurich Airport International AG won the bid to build and run the airport. The company works through its Indian subsidiary, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited, under a long-term concession of around 40 years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone in November 2021.

Size and future plans

The first phase is spread over roughly 1,300 hectares of land and was planned at a cost of about Rs 11,000 crore. In the long run, the airport is planned to have several runways, with up to six mentioned in the master plan, which would make it one of the biggest airports in the country.

Focus on cargo and trade

Apart from passenger flights, the airport is also meant to become a major cargo hub. Its location near the Yamuna Expressway and industrial areas in western Uttar Pradesh and the NCR is expected to help exporters, manufacturers and logistics companies move goods faster.

Boost for the region

Local officials expect the airport to bring jobs, new businesses, hotels and real estate growth to Jewar and nearby areas. Better road and rail links are also being planned to make travel easier for passengers coming from Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida, Agra and Mathura.

Why permission was refused 

Joint Commissioner of Police Nupur Prasad explained the decision. She said CJP co-convenor Saurav Das sent in the application on October 7, only three days before the protest. The rule for Jantar Mantar is that organisers must apply at least 10 days ahead.

The police also pointed to what happened the last time the party held a demonstration. According to Prasad, the conditions and lawful directions given then were not followed. Taking the late application, the earlier violations and the current law and order and traffic situation together, the police said the protest could not go ahead.

Section 163 in force

Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has been imposed across the New Delhi area. The police say the restrictions are meant to keep the public safe and maintain order. Prasad warned that anyone who breaks the order, vandalises property or damages public property will face legal action, in line with court judgments.

Metro stations may be shut

The police have also written to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). They want entry and exit gates closed at 57 stations and fewer trains stopping there. The plan would start at 9 pm on Friday and last through Saturday until things return to normal.

The list includes Rajiv Chowk, Central Secretariat, Patel Chowk, Janpath, New Delhi, Mandi House, ITO, Supreme Court and Kashmere Gate. The letter alone does not mean the DMRC has accepted the request or acted on it. Some railway services and routes into Delhi may also be affected, but details were not available yet.

What the CJP wants

The Cockroach Janata Party called the protest over alleged “vote theft” and wants the Chief Election Commissioner to be held accountable.

'Gyanesh Kumar gaddi chhodo'

 Slogans of 'SIR radd karo' and 'Gyanesh Kumar gaddi chhodo' echoed across Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Thursday, as the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) began a large protest against the Chief Election Commissioner. Actor-activist Prakash Raj and YouTuber Dhruv Rathee stood with CJP's Abhijeet Dipke on the stage. The group is holding a "people's tribunal" on alleged irregularities in the revision of voter lists. A "chappal protest" will follow. CLICK HERE TO READ FULL TEXT

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the INDIA bloc would pray that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah "realise" that what they are doing is not in the interest of the country.

The Opposition plans to press several issues. These include the alleged "vote theft", rising prices, unemployment and what it describes as the erosion of citizens' rights.

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi claimed that around 300 MPs were stopped from protesting outside the Election Commission and at Jantar Mantar. He alleged that some of them were assaulted. 

Separately, 42 former judges have issued a warning against attempts to weaken constitutional institutions.

Heavy security has been put in place near the Election Commission. Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel and riot-control vehicles have been deployed in the area.

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Crowd gathers from morning

People started arriving at Freedom Park early on Thursday. Activists and members of several civil society groups filled the venue as the day went on. Around 1 pm, CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka reached the stage. They raised their hands together with Rathee and Prakash Raj, and the crowd responded with chants of "vote chor, vote chor."

'The government is choosing its voters'

Prakash Raj, best known to many as the actor from Singham, said the Election Commission of India had insulted the whole country through the SIR exercise. He put it in simple words: earlier, people chose the government, but now, with SIR, the government is choosing who gets to vote.

The protesters want the SIR scrapped. According to the report, the exercise has led to the exclusion of over 13 crore people across 20 states and Union Territories. Raj said the protest is about bringing back the rights of citizens.

'Not about one man'

Raj also made it clear that the protest is not aimed at CEC Gyanesh Kumar alone. If he goes, he said, someone else will take his place. The real goal, according to him, is to end the SIR itself.

Pressure on the CEC grows

The CJP and the Opposition have been demanding Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over the SIR. The demand has become louder after an Indian Express investigation reported that concerns about deleting and restoring names in the voter lists were being raised inside the Election Commission too.

The report claimed that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi had objected at least 14 times in the last ten months to various decisions the poll panel took on the SIR.

The people's tribunal is now underway, and the chappal protest is expected to follow later in the day.

Also Read | Gyanesh Kumar and SIR controversy explained: 5 key persons, 14 objections and what happened inside ECI

Earlier, opposition MPs had lunch for about an hour and a half at the Sagar Ratna restaurant on Janpath. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had invited the INDIA bloc MPs for the meal.

A day before, more than 200 INDIA bloc MPs marched from Parliament towards the Election Commission office, but they were stopped before reaching it. Rahul and Priyanka then staged an eight-hour sit-in at the Akashvani premises. However, an FIR has been registered against both of them for forcibly entering the premises.

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Why October 7 matters

Narendra Modi first took oath as Gujarat's Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, succeeding Keshubhai Patel as the state's 14th Chief Minister. The BJP and his supporters marked the day on Wednesday, but PM Modi said it should not be only about looking back.

He thanked party workers and volunteers and said the day should be used to renew the country's resolve. "This is a day to repeat that promise," he said and then repeated the words "We will do it" several times.

Modi's five big targets for India

Along with the long-term aim of making India a developed nation by 2047, Modi listed these five goals:

Become a top-three economy: India is currently the sixth-largest economy. It was 10th when Modi became Prime Minister in 2014.

Build an Atmanirbhar Bharat: The aim is a self-reliant India that depends less on imports.

Become a global manufacturing hub: The idea is to shift the economy from mainly consumption to producing more goods at home.

Host the Olympics: India would stage the Games on its own soil.

Set foot in space: A manned space mission is the fifth goal.

"This energy, this enthusiasm, this self-confidence is extraordinary," Narendra Modi told the crowd.

'Small goals would be an injustice'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India had come through a tough few years, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East. These disrupted global supply chains and energy routes, but India handled the pressure better than many emerging economies.

"Earlier, whenever a crisis hit, India's economy would shake. Now people talk about India's strength," he said. He added that the talk of "policy paralysis" has been replaced by talk of a "reforms express," and that India is now setting new export records instead of looking for ways to import more. The "policy paralysis" remark was seen as a dig at the Congress and its UPA-2 government (2009-2014).

He also said it would be unfair to the country's potential to chase small or easy goals, and that India should now think big.

Also Read |  Loans to get costlier as RBI hikes repo rate to 5.5 %, cites inflation; first raise since 2023

Also Read | FIR registered against Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi over entry into Akashvani Bhawan without permission during opposition protest

Some numbers behind the speech

India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world. Its trade deficit narrowed to $9.41 billion in August 2026, compared with $11.62 billion in August 2025, according to reports. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which began in April 2020 and rewards domestic manufacturing, has also shown good results.

Analysts say the speech comes at a difficult time for the government. Dharmendra Pradhan resigned as Union minister in July after a protest movement. Protesters are again on the streets demanding the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Congress-led Opposition have alleged that the BJP and the CEC were working together to rig elections. The withdrawn UGC equity guidelines have also upset the general category, a key BJP support base.

The CJP held a big protest in Mumbai over the weekend, and the Opposition staged a sit-in near the Election Commission office in Delhi on Tuesday. Against this background, Modi's speech is likely to lift the mood of party workers and supporters, and bring the focus back to the government's agenda.

It began with ED letters to the DGP

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) wrote to Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav in July and August 2026, asking the police to register an FIR. It said its inquiry had turned up signs of interference in transfers and postings, government tenders, policy decisions and land-use changes.

The ED named Nitin Gohal, real estate businessman Ajay Sehgal, Suresh Kumar Bajaj and others. It also pointed to contacts linked to Rajbir Singh Ghuman, Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. According to the agency, some of these people acted as middlemen to get official decisions made in their favour.

What the ED says it found

The ED says chats and other material recovered during its probe show discussions about posting and transferring officers and filling government posts. It also alleges attempts to influence Markfed tenders, licences and other approvals.

The agency has said the allegations disclose offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, as well as criminal conspiracy, cheating and forgery.

The May searches

In May 2026, the ED searched premises linked to Gohal, Sehgal and others. The agency says it recovered documents and digital material, and claims about Rs 1 crore in cash was seized. WhatsApp chats and call records from mobile phones are now part of its case.

The land angle

The matter is tied to a change of land use (CLU) and money laundering investigation. The ED's action grew out of its probe into the Suntec City project, which is valued at around Rs 348 crore. The agency alleges that attempts were made, through government officials, to secure land-use changes and other clearances for certain real estate entities.

Why the High Court got involved

After the ED's letters, the Punjab Police did not register an FIR. It asked the Bureau of Investigation for a legal opinion instead. The ED wrote again. In September, it told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that it had sent the police several letters and still no case had been registered.

The High Court had asked the state government for its reply in August, calling the allegations serious. It reserved its verdict in September, and on October 5 it ordered a CBI investigation.

Does the CBI need Punjab's permission?

Normally, yes. Punjab withdrew its general consent for the CBI on November 6, 2020, when Captain Amarinder Singh's Congress government was in power. The decision was taken under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. Since then, the CBI has usually needed the state's approval case by case.

This case is different. When a High Court or the Supreme Court orders a probe, the CBI can investigate without the state's consent. The High Court has also told the Punjab Government and police to cooperate with the agency.

The search is linked to allegations that people close to the OSD interfered in transfers, postings and other government work. The CBI has not yet said officially what it was looking for or whether anything was taken from the house.

The raid comes just days after the Punjab and Haryana High Court, on October 5, ordered the CBI to register a case and investigate the allegations. The court asked the agency to submit its report within two months. It also told the Punjab Government and state police to cooperate fully so that the probe stays fair and independent.

The Punjab government has challenged that order in the Supreme Court. Its Special Leave Petition was filed at about 1.42 am on Tuesday, only hours after the High Court's order.

Also Read | Major setback for Punjab government: High Court orders CBI probe into corruption charges flagged by ED, CM Mann's aide under scanner

 
Also Read | Punjab challenges CBI probe order in Supreme Court over alleged corruption claims against CM’s OSD Rajbir Singh Ghuman

The matter was mentioned before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the state, asked for an early hearing. He argued that these allegations were surfacing just before the Assembly elections, and that the High Court's order interfered with the federal structure. The CJI said the case would be heard on Wednesday or Thursday.

How the case began

The case started with information shared by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) with the Punjab Police. The ED alleged that a man named Nitin Gohal acted as a middleman between people wanting government favours and OSD Ghuman. The alleged favours included transfers, access to confidential government documents and help in getting arms licences.

When no FIR was registered, advocate Nikhil Saraf filed a public interest litigation in the High Court.

The Bench of Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice Rohit Kapoor said the ED's material, at first look, pointed to serious offences involving a high public office. It also questioned how slowly the police had acted. Only a preliminary inquiry was held after the ED shared its information on August 3. The police also cited the need for legible copies of the ED's documents as a reason for the delay. The court noted that Ghuman himself had not been called to take part in the inquiry.

The court concluded that the material called for an FIR and a proper investigation, not a continued preliminary inquiry.

Ghuman and his associates have earlier denied the allegations, calling them baseless.

Further details of the Phase 11 CBI raid are awaited.

The march began from Parliament’s Makar Dwar at around 10:30 am, with Opposition MPs carrying a “Save Democracy” banner. The protesters were stopped by Delhi Police barricades around 150-200 metre from the ECI office, near the NITI Aayog/Akashvani Bhawan area.

Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, NCP-SP leader Supriya Sule and other INDIA bloc leaders joined the protest.

During the sit-in, Rahul Gandhi directly targeted CEC Gyanesh Kumar, saying, “Gyanesh, it’s done, bro. Time to resign.”

Key developments so far

• Opposition MPs started the march from Parliament’s Makar Dwar, carrying a “Save Democracy” banner.
• Barricades were placed near Akashvani Bhawan, stopping the march roughly 150-200 metre from the Election Commission headquarters.
• Addressing protesters, Rahul said CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s “time is over” and called for his resignation.
• After being stopped, INDIA bloc leaders and MPs staged a dharna near the ECI office.
• ‘Vote Chor, Gaddi Chhod’ slogans: Protesters raised slogans targeting the government and displayed banners accusing the BJP over the electoral roll controversy.
• Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were briefly detained by the police.
• During the standoff, Rahul Gandhi climbed a police barricade and waved the Tricolour.
• The protest centres on the Opposition's allegations regarding the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
• Three key demands: Opposition leaders have demanded Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, scrapping of the SIR exercise and restoration of voter names allegedly removed during the revision.
• The Opposition has also called for a high-level inquiry into allegations of electoral-roll manipulation.
• The Election Commission has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and maintained that its decisions are being taken in accordance with statutory procedures.
• The Aam Aadmi Party and DMK did not participate in Tuesday’s march, with the AAP indicating that it would pursue the issue separately.

Stay with us for LIVE updates from the INDIA bloc protest in Delhi

Start with the party in power. AAP did well in the May municipal polls, taking 954 seats and just under half the vote, while the Congress managed 393 and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) 192. That gives Bhagwant Mann a talking point. But a civic body result is not an Assembly verdict.

Today's Punjab and Haryana High Court order handing the ED's corruption allegations against his close aides to the CBI changes the mood. The HC was blunt that the Punjab Police had handled the matter poorly. Whatever the CBI finds, the opposition now has a ready-made line  and the government has to explain why its own police didn't act first.

The Congress has chosen this moment to reshuffle. Pargat Singh replaces Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the PPCC chief with Sachin Pilot brought in alongside him. The high command evidently saw divisions it could no longer ignore. Changing a captain this late can steady a side or unsettle it and the Congress has a history of doing the latter. Pargat Singh met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Monday, but a photo is not a united unit.

The BJP is playing two games at once. State president Kewal Singh Dhillon says the party will fight all 117 seats and that no alliance talks are on. Yet Shiromani Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 7 and some reports claim seat-sharing talks are well advanced. Both parties have denied a deal. The two broke up in 2020 over the farm laws and they won 68 seats together in 2012, so a reunion would matter. 

Then there is law and order. Opposition leaders are pointing to firings, extortion and attacks on police personnel. Some of that is routine campaign rhetoric, but a government that has promised change cannot afford a prolonged argument about safety.

My reading: this is the most open Punjab contest in over a decade. AAP has a base but a growing liability, Congress has energy but little cohesion, and the BJP and SAD hold the only variable that could reshuffle the arithmetic. The next few months will say more about the outcome than any survey.

Also Read | Maiserkhana suspension: AAP punishes dissent instead of fixing Punjab's teacher shortage | Opinion

Also Read | Punjab govt to challenge HC order handing transfer-posting corruption probe to CBI

Maiserkhana's complaint was not political theatre. He said government schools, including the ones his own two children attend, do not have enough teachers. Apparently, he is the only MLA in the 117-member Assembly who sends his children to a government school. When he says the system is failing, he is speaking as a parent whose children sit in those classrooms. He also says he raised the issue repeatedly with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and with Manish Sisodia, and was ignored.

MUST READ | Even if i go to jail...: AAPs own Maur MLA Maiserkhana goes public against own govt, alleges conspiracy and sidelining

The party's reply was to call his allegations false and accuse him of defaming it. Yet it offered no figures on teacher vacancies and no action plan. A government confident of its record would have put the numbers on the table. Suspension is what a party does when it has no answer.

This matters because "education revolution" is not a minor slogan for AAP. It is the core of its pitch to Punjab, borrowed from the Delhi model. When an insider says the reality in his own constituency does not match the claim, the right response is to check the claim, not to remove the person.

Nor is this a one-off. Amritsar North MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh was suspended for five years in June 2025 after questioning how the Vigilance Bureau handled the Bikram Singh Majithia case. Sanour MLA Harmit Singh Pathanmajra criticised the flood response and the role of Delhi leadership in September 2025. His security was then withdrawn and he was booked in a three-year-old case. He calls it politically motivated. The AAP says the law is simply taking its course. The government is entitled to that defence, but the timing makes it hard to accept without questions. When action follows criticism this closely, the public will draw its own conclusions.

AAP state general secretary Harchand Singh Barsat says dissent exists in every family and should be raised within the party. That is fair as a principle. But Maiserkhana says he did raise it within the party, repeatedly and nothing happened. Public airing is usually the last resort of someone who feels the internal door is shut. If the party wants issues raised privately, it must first show that it listens privately.

The wider picture is worse for AAP. In April, seven of its 10 Rajya Sabha MPs moved to the BJP, six of them from Punjab. Now sitting MLAs are speaking out. A party that won 92 of 117 seats in 2022 is entering the February 2027 elections with visible cracks. Opposition parties will exploit this, as Congress state president Pargat Singh has already done by calling it "dictatorship". They have an easy target, but AAP handed it to them.

Voters will not judge this episode by party statements. They will look at their local school and count the teachers. The government's task is to fix that, not to silence the person who pointed it out.

A suspension can end one MLA's membership. It cannot end the teacher shortage and it will not end the questions. If anything, it has made them louder.

19 new posts in Chief Electoral Officer's office

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the Cabinet has approved 19 additional posts in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer.

The new appointments are expected to strengthen the manpower available for election-related work and improve the functioning of the office.

Punjab Nursing Service Rules-2016 amended

The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Punjab Nursing Service Rules-2016. The nursing department was separated from the existing administrative setup in 2021, but separate service rules had not been framed at the time. The latest amendment addresses that gap.

According to the government, around 1,400 staff nurses have already been recruited in the department. The revised rules are expected to provide employees with greater clarity regarding their service conditions and make various service-related benefits available to them.

Also Read | Punjab govt to challenge HC order handing transfer-posting corruption probe to CBI

Non-teaching staff to come under society

Another important decision concerns non-teaching employees. The government has approved bringing their services under the society framework. A similar arrangement had earlier been introduced for computer teachers. The latest decision will now extend the system to other non-teaching employees as well.

Ranjit Sagar Development Authority to come up in Pathankot

The Cabinet also gave the go-ahead for setting up the Ranjit Sagar Development Authority in Pathankot with the aim of developing the area as a tourism destination. The state government believes the move could help unlock the tourism potential of Pathankot, which has several locations that can be developed for visitors.

The Ranjit Sagar Dam area spreads across around 305 acres. Under the proposed authority, the Chief Minister will serve as the chairman, while the ministers concerned will be members.

The government expects the new authority to play a role in developing tourism infrastructure and promoting Pathankot as an important tourist destination in Punjab.

ਇਸ ਦੇ ਵਿਰੋਧ 'ਚ ਕਾਂਗਰਸੀ ਕੌਂਸਲਰਾਂ ਤੇ ਹੋਰ ਵਰਕਰਾਂ ਨੇ ਥਾਣਾ ਸਿਵਲ ਲਾਈਨ ਦੇ ਬਾਹਰ ਧਰਨਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ। ਕਾਂਗਰਸੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਕਹਿਣਾ ਸੀ ਕਿ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਨੇ ਦਿਨੇਸ਼ ਬੱਸੀ ਨੂੰ ਸਿਆਸੀ ਦਬਾਅ ਹੇਠ ਗ੍ਰਿਫ਼ਤਾਰ ਕੀਤਾ ਹੈ। ਕੁਝ ਦਿਨ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਬੱਸੀ ਦੇ ਪੁੱਤਰ ਖ਼ਿਲਾਫ਼ ਧੋਖਾਧੜੀ ਦਾ ਕੇਸ ਦਰਜ ਹੋਇਆ ਸੀ। ਕਾਂਗਰਸੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਦੋਸ਼ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਇਸ ਕੇਸ 'ਚ ਜਾਣਬੁੱਝ ਕੇ ਬੱਸੀ ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਵੀ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਕਾਂਗਰਸੀਆਂ ਮੁਤਾਬਕ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਦੁਪਹਿਰ 12:30 ਵਜੇ ਬੱਸੀ ਦੇ ਗੋਲਡਨ ਗੇਟ ਸਥਿਤ ਦਫ਼ਤਰ 'ਚ ਪਹੁੰਚੀ ਸੀ। ਬੱਸੀ ਨੂੰ ਕੇਸ ਦੇ ਸਬੰਧ 'ਚ ਪੁੱਛਗਿੱਛ ਲਈ ਥਾਣੇ ਚੱਲਣ ਲਈ ਕਿਹਾ ਗਿਆ ਸੀ। ਇਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਦਿਨੇਸ਼ ਬੱਸੀ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਸਾਥੀ ਕਾਂਗਰਸੀ ਥਾਣਾ ਸਿਵਲ ਲਾਈਨ ਪਹੁੰਚੇ।

ਦੱਸ ਦੇਈਏ ਕਿ ਬੱਸੀ ਦੀ ਗ੍ਰਿਫਤਾਰੀ ਥਾਣਾ ਸਿਵਲ ਲਾਈਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੁਕੱਦਮਾ ਨੰਬਰ 187 ਤਹਿਤ ਹੋਈ। ਬੀਐਨਐਸ ਦੀਆਂ ਧਾਰਾਵਾਂ 318(4) ਤੇ 61(2) ਅਧੀਨ ਮਾਮਲਾ ਦਰਜ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ ਹੈ। ਪੁਲਿਸ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਹਿਰਾਸਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੁੱਛਗਿੱਛ ਜਾਰੀ ਹੈ।  

ਚਰਨਜੀਤ ਸਿੰਘ ਚੰਨੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਦੀ ਮੁਹਿੰਮ ਨੂੰ ਜੋਰਦਾਰ ਢੰਗ ਨਾਲ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰਨ ਲਈ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੇ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਨੂੰ ਦੀਵਾਲੀ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸਾਈਕਲ ਰੈਲੀਆਂ ਦਾ ਆਯੋਜਨ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਸੁਝਾਅ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ। ਵਿਚਾਰ-ਵਟਾਂਦਰੇ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਚਮਕੌਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਤੋਂ ਤਲਵੰਡੀ ਸਾਬੋ ਅਤੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅੰਮ੍ਰਿਤਸਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਤੱਕ ਸਾਈਕਲ ਰੈਲੀਆਂ ਕੱਢੀਆਂ ਜਾਣਗੀਆਂ। ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਰੈਲੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ "ਪਗੜੀ ਸੰਭਾਲ ਯਾਤਰਾ" ਦਾ ਨਾਮ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ ਅਤੇ ਇਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦਾ ਮੁੱਖ ਵਿਸ਼ਾ "ਨੌਜਵਾਨੀ ਬਚਾਓ, ਨਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ ਛੁਟਕਾਰਾ ਪਾਓ" ਹੋਵੇਗਾ।

ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਦੌਰਾਨ ਜਨਤਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਸ਼ਾਖੋਰੀ, ਕਾਨੂੰਨ ਵਿਵਸਥਾ ਅਤੇ ਗੈਂਗਸਟਰਵਾਦ ਵਰਗੇ ਮੁੱਦੇ ਉਠਾਏ ਜਾਣਗੇ। ਸਾਈਕਲ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਹਰ ਸਮੇਂ ਲਗਭਗ 2,000 ਲੋਕ ਹਿੱਸਾ ਲੈਣਗੇ। ਚੰਨੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਨੌਜਵਾਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਦੁਰਵਰਤੋਂ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਜਾਗਰੂਕਤਾ ਪੈਦਾ ਕਰਨਾ ਅਤੇ ਨਸ਼ਾ ਵੇਚਣ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਵਿਰੁੱਧ ਕਾਰਵਾਈ ਦੀ ਮੰਗ ਕਰਨਾ ਵੀ ਯਾਤਰਾ ਦਾ ਮੁੱਖ ਉਦੇਸ਼ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ।

ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਸਤਵੀਰ ਸਿੰਘ ਮੈਸਰਖਾਨਾ ਵੱਲੋਂ ਸਿੱਖਿਆ ਕ੍ਰਾਂਤੀ ਸਬੰਧੀ ਉਠਾਏ ਗਏ ਸਵਾਲਾਂ ਦੇ ਜਵਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਚੰਨੀ ਨੇ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਆਉਣ ਵਾਲੇ ਦਿਨਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਆਮ ਆਦਮੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਦੇ ਅੱਧੇ ਤੋਂ ਵੱਧ ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਨਿੱਜੀ ਤੌਰ 'ਤੇ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਦੇ ਅੰਦਰ ਦੀ ਸਥਿਤੀ ਬਾਰੇ ਦੱਸਣਗੇ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਸਿਰਫ਼ 'ਆਪ' ਵਿਧਾਇਕ ਹੀ ਇਹ ਖੁਲਾਸਾ ਕਰਨਗੇ ਕਿ ਕੇਜਰੀਵਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਕੰਪਨੀ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਨੂੰ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਲੁੱਟਿਆ ਹੈ।

ਚੰਨੀ ਨੇ ਦੋਸ਼ ਲਗਾਇਆ ਕਿ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੁੱਟ-ਖੋਹ ਅਤੇ ਕਤਲ ਦੀਆਂ ਘਟਨਾਵਾਂ ਵਧੀਆਂ ਹਨ ਅਤੇ ਹਰ ਰੋਜ਼ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਗੋਲੀ ਮਾਰੀ ਜਾ ਰਹੀ ਹੈ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਆਮ ਆਦਮੀ ਪਾਰਟੀ 'ਤੇ ਗੈਂਗਸਟਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਬਚਾਉਣ ਅਤੇ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਪਾਰਟੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਸ਼ਾਮਲ ਕਰਨ ਦਾ ਦੋਸ਼ ਲਗਾਇਆ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਨੌਜਵਾਨ ਰੋਜ਼ਾਨਾ ਨਸ਼ੇ ਕਾਰਨ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਜਾਨਾਂ ਗੁਆ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ, ਪਰ ਸਰਕਾਰ ਨੂੰ ਕੋਈ ਚਿੰਤਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੈ।

ਮੋਰਿੰਡਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਵਰਕਰ ਮੀਟਿੰਗ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਪੱਤਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲਬਾਤ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਚੰਨੀ ਨੇ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਚਮਕੌਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਵਿੱਚ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਅੱਖਾਂ ਦੇ ਇਲਾਜ ਕੈਂਪ ਦੇ ਆਯੋਜਨ ਬਾਰੇ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀ ਦਿੱਤੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਹਰੇਕ ਮਰੀਜ਼ ਨੂੰ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੇ ਘਰੋਂ ਲਿਆ ਕੇ ਮੁਫ਼ਤ ਅੱਖਾਂ ਦਾ ਇਲਾਜ ਕਰਵਾਉਣਾ ਅਤੇ ਫਿਰ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਘਰ ਵਾਪਸ ਲੈ ਜਾਣਾ ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀ ਜ਼ਿੰਮੇਵਾਰੀ ਹੋਵੇਗੀ। ਉਨ੍ਹਾਂ ਕਿਹਾ ਕਿ ਮਰੀਜ਼ਾਂ ਲਈ ਲੰਗਰ ਸਮੇਤ ਹਰ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਸਹੂਲਤਾਂ ਉਪਲਬਧ ਕਰਵਾਈਆਂ ਜਾਣਗੀਆਂ। ਇਹ ਕੈਂਪ 11, 12, 13 ਅਤੇ 14 ਅਕਤੂਬਰ ਨੂੰ ਲਗਾਇਆ ਜਾਵੇਗਾ।

In a video shared on social media, Maiserkhana questioned the condition of government schools in his constituency, particularly the shortage of teachers. He said he had repeatedly raised the issue with the government but had not received the response he expected.

Maiserkhana, who represents the Maur Assembly constituency in Bathinda district, also claimed that several government schools in his area continue to face staff shortages. He referred to a school in Burj Sahima village, saying it had met the required conditions for upgradation but had not been upgraded.

The MLA further alleged that even some Schools of Eminence were operating without their full sanctioned staff. According to him, he had approached senior leaders and sought a meeting with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over these issues, but his attempts had not yielded a satisfactory response.

MLA alleges he was sidelined

Maiserkhana also spoke about what he described as his growing marginalisation within the party. He claimed that despite working to build the AAP organisation at the grassroots level, he had faced repeated instances of being sidelined and humiliated.

In a serious allegation, the MLA claimed that a conspiracy was allegedly hatched against him during the Tarn Taran election. He said he was told that if something happened to him, his family would be considered for a party ticket.

Fear of police action

The Maur MLA also expressed apprehension that police cases could be registered against him for speaking out against the government. He said he was prepared to continue raising issues concerning his constituency and would not step back even if it resulted in him going to jail.

His remarks have drawn attention because they come from a sitting AAP legislator and focus on issues directly linked to the government's education policies and its relationship with elected representatives.

Maiserkhana was elected from Maur on an AAP ticket in the 2022 Assembly elections.


Also Read | 'No one stays at the top forever”: Raja Warring gets emotional after stepping down as Punjab Cong chief | Watch

The move comes shortly after Amarinder Singh Raja Warring resigned as Punjab Congress chief. Warring submitted his resignation to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi following a meeting at his residence.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Raja Warring said he had resigned on his own. He remarked that in the Congress, resignations are generally not formally sought; instead, a letter is issued thanking the outgoing office-bearer.

Warring spoke cautiously about the leadership change and appeared visibly disappointed, although he maintained that he was always happy. He said he had discussed the challenges facing the Punjab Congress with Rahul Gandhi and indicated that he felt he needed to take some time off after spending around four-and-a-half years as the Punjab unit chief.

Warring also spoke about Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot, saying he believed Pilot may have felt that he should be removed from the post. However, Warring made it clear that he had no confirmation of this. He said he had met Pilot only once in Delhi, when he had gone to wish him on his birthday, and later spent around two hours with him during a protest in Chandigarh.

How the decision to replace Warring unfolded

Differences between Warring and leaders associated with former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had reportedly widened over time. During a gathering in Chandigarh attended by Sachin Pilot, Channi did not mention Warring in his speech. Pilot did attempt to bring the two sides together, but the differences within the state unit continued. Reports have described factional tensions as one of the factors behind the leadership change.

According to party sources, leaders from the Channi and Randhawa camps told Pilot that they were not comfortable working under Warring. The disagreement was linked to earlier organisational meetings where members of rival camps had accused each other of working against the party. Warring had also been critical of leaders from the opposing camp on several occasions.

After taking charge as Punjab Congress in-charge, Sachin Pilot held meetings with district presidents and youth leaders to assess the organisation and gather feedback from the ground. He subsequently submitted his assessment to the party high command. Reports said the exercise was aimed at understanding the extent of differences within the state unit and the leadership concerns among party workers.

Raja Warring handed his resignation to Rahul Gandhi during the meeting, formally completing the process of stepping down from the post he had held for around four-and-a-half years. He had already changed his social media profile a day earlier to describe himself as the “former Punjab Congress president”.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Raja Warring said he had resigned voluntarily and that nobody had forced him to quit.

He said he submitted his resignation to Rahul Gandhi because he had been the leader who had appointed him as the Punjab Congress chief.

“I have formally submitted my resignation. I resigned voluntarily. No one asked me to resign,” Warring said, according to reports.

Warring discusses Punjab politics with Rahul Gandhi

Warring said his meeting with Rahul Gandhi also covered the political situation in Punjab, the challenges facing the state and his experience during his tenure as party president. He said he would continue to remain available whenever the Congress needed his services.

Reflecting on his departure, Warring said no person can remain at the top forever and that everyone eventually becomes a former office-holder.

His resignation comes at a time when the Congress is preparing for an organisational change in its Punjab unit. Reports have said the party leadership has been considering a new state president following discussions on the functioning of the state organisation.

Warring speaks about internal differences

The change comes after months of reported differences within the Punjab Congress. Warring has also made comments suggesting that newly appointed Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot may have played a role in the decision to change the state leadership. 

Says he may take some time off

After stepping down, Warring indicated that he may take some time to rest following his long tenure as state Congress chief. Reports have also suggested that he could travel abroad, including to the UK or the US, although his immediate plans have not been formally confirmed.

Warring had led the Punjab Congress since April 2022, when he succeeded Navjot Singh Sidhu.

The Congress is now expected to announce his successor as it begins the next phase of its organisational planning in Punjab. Several names have been reported as being under consideration, but no new state president had been formally announced at the time of reporting.

For Warring, the resignation marks the end of his tenure as Punjab Congress chief, although he has indicated that he intends to remain available for the party in the future.

The exercise will also cover young people who have become eligible to vote and first-time voters who are yet to be enrolled.

The Election Commission said the drive would be carried out under the existing process of continuous updation of electoral rolls. Eligible people whose names are missing can approach the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) concerned and apply for inclusion through Form 6.

The move comes after the SIR process resulted in the removal of around 13 crore names from draft electoral rolls across states and Union Territories. The figure represents deletions from draft rolls and should not be read as meaning that all 13 crore people were eligible voters who were wrongly removed. The reasons for non-inclusion can include people who have shifted, died, are duplicated in the rolls or otherwise do not meet the eligibility requirements.

Also Read | After internal objections, EC withdraws SIR declaration from Form 6 in states where revision is complete

Also Read | Gyanesh Kumar and SIR controversy explained: 5 key persons, 14 objections and what happened inside ECI

BLOs to visit homes of voters left out

As part of the new exercise, Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will identify electors whose names appeared in earlier rolls but are missing from the current list.

The BLOs will then make house-to-house visits to check the present status of such voters. Where a person is found to be eligible, the officer will help facilitate the filing of Form 6 for enrolment.

The Election Commission has asked BLOs to cover around 20 to 25 electors every week, with the exercise expected to be completed in about a month.

The officers would record the status of the people they contact and indicate cases where Form 6 has been submitted.

The drive is also intended to make the enrolment process easier for people who may need assistance in completing the formalities.

Special attention to young and first-time voters

The Election Commission has specifically included young and first-time eligible voters in the exercise. This means people who have recently become eligible to vote can also approach election officials for inclusion in the electoral roll. The ECI's voter services portal provides Form 6 for new voter registration for eligible citizens.

The EC has stressed that voter registration is a continuous process. Therefore, a person who was not included during the SIR process can still seek enrolment if they meet the eligibility conditions.

Booth-level camps planned

Election authorities have also been asked to provide assistance through booth-level camps and other field-level arrangements.

Special camps may be organised for people who could face difficulties accessing the enrolment process, including residents of night shelters, labour colonies, homeless people and other marginalised groups.

The aim is to ensure that eligible citizens do not remain outside the electoral roll simply because they were missed during the revision exercise or have only recently become eligible to register.

Goa cases highlight the importance of verification

The need for such follow-up has also been highlighted by cases reported during the revision process in Goa. According to a report by The Indian Express, 649 electors who had been flagged for “logical discrepancies” came forward with documents and objections. Following examination by Electoral Registration Officers and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers, 97 cases were found eligible for inclusion.

The Goa example shows why the status of individual electors needs to be checked before deciding whether a name should remain outside the electoral roll. At the same time, not every person whose name is absent from a draft roll is necessarily eligible for restoration.

What voters need to do

For an eligible person whose name is missing from the electoral roll, the key route is Form 6.

Applicants can submit the form to the Electoral Registration Officer concerned under the continuous updation process. The Election Commission's voter services platform also provides facilities for new voter registration and tracking applications.

The special drive is therefore not a separate voting process. It is an effort by election authorities to identify eligible people who remain outside the rolls and help them complete the required enrolment procedure.

With SIR completed in 20 states and Union Territories, the Election Commission has now asked local election machinery to focus on identifying omissions and bringing eligible voters into the rolls through the prescribed process.