A total of 117 students played various roles. Harkamaldeep Singh from the School of Eminence, Ghanouri Kalan, represented Dhuri MLA and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. He engaged in fact-based debates with the opposition. Meanwhile, Harpreet Singh of Government Adarsh Senior Secondary School, Kotdhandal, portrayed Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa. He raised state-related issues and challenged ruling party representatives.

Jagmandar Singh of H.S.N. School of Eminence, Jaito, acted as Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan. He managed debates professionally and adjoined the House twice. Daljit Singh represented Sri Anandpur Sahib MLA and Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains, highlighting innovations in the state’s education sector. Additionally, Gursevak Singh of PM Shri Government Senior Secondary School, Harike Pattan, portrayed Patti MLA and Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar. He received praise for his confident and spontaneous responses to opposition queries.

The mock session offered students hands-on knowledge of legislative procedures. Furthermore, teachers and officials lauded their enthusiasm, poise, and understanding of governance. Overall, the event was both educational and inspiring, reinforcing the principles of the Indian Constitution.

The post Students Excel in Punjab Vidhan Sabha Mock Session appeared first on India Podcast.

To begin the session, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann paid tributes to Guru Tegh Bahadur on his 350th martyrdom anniversary. Soon after, he firmly declared that Punjab would not step back from its constitutional rights. Moreover, he stressed that no one should assume that the state will give up claims related to Panjab University, river waters, or Chandigarh.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa urged Punjabis to rise above political divides. He said that although parties may differ on issues, they must still stand together when the state’s interests are at stake. Furthermore, he warned that attempts to challenge Punjab’s patience were becoming frequent.

Additionally, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema pointed out that Punjab faced repeated attempts to weaken its agriculture, education, and administrative rights. Similarly, SAD MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali reminded the House of Punjab’s sacrifices and demanded rightful control over Chandigarh as well as the release of Sikh prisoners.

In conclusion, leaders across parties agreed that only collective resolve can safeguard Punjab’s identity, historical rights, and future.

The post Chandigarh and Panjab University Debate Dominates Special Assembly Session appeared first on India Podcast.

Sandhu joined the Aam Aadmi Party earlier this year after ending his long association with the Akali Dal. His political journey spans three earlier terms—first as an independent in 2002 and later through two consecutive victories as a SAD representative. His win in the November 14 election, with a margin of more than 12,000 votes, reflected strong backing from Tarn Taran voters.

Before the oath, Sandhu met Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The Chief Minister instructed officials to speed up promised development projects in the district. Mann stressed the need for quick action on roads, water supply, and public services.

After the ceremony, Sandhu thanked residents for trusting him again. He promised focused development work and constant engagement with local communities. Speaker Sandhwan said Sandhu’s long experience will strengthen the functioning of the Assembly.

The post Harmeet Sandhu Takes Oath as Tarn Taran MLA appeared first on India Podcast.

The BJP announced a “people’s assembly” in Chandigarh against the state government. Earlier, the House had seen sharp exchanges between AAP and Congress.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the Opposition used the floods only to criticize. Congress demanded details of State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) spending and the sacking of Water Resources Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal.

AAP ministers Aman Arora and Harjot Bains called for unity and expert reviews of Punjab’s dams and reservoirs. Bajwa hit back, saying the government was shifting blame to the Centre while failing to manage the Ravi waters.

The Assembly will now take up resolutions. These include condemning the Centre, seeking a ₹20,000 crore relief package, and demanding transfer of ₹1,600 crore for immediate help.

The post AAP vs Opposition Clash in Assembly appeared first on India Podcast.

Mann told the Assembly that the session was called to plan relief and rehabilitation. But instead of helping, the Opposition only blamed the government. He said floods were a natural calamity, not manmade, as claimed by rival parties.

The CM highlighted that his government cleaned 3,825 km of drains in three years. The previous regime managed only 2,066 km. He also said Punjab had asked the Centre many times to desilt Bhakra and Pong dams, which had not been cleaned in 70 years.

Mann accused the Centre of ignoring Punjab’s problems. He recalled that after the Dinanagar terror attack, Punjab was even asked to pay for Army deployment.

He also slammed the IMD for poor forecasts. On one day, rainfall was 1,961% higher than predicted.

Mann appealed to Punjabis to unite and rebuild the state. He asked the Opposition to stop misleading people on the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF).

The post Punjab CM Slams Opposition Over Flood Relief appeared first on India Podcast.

Explaining the move in the Punjab Assembly, Mann said the government faced several hurdles with the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. CSR donations are not allowed in it, and Members of Parliament can give only up to ₹20 lakh. “These limits make it hard to mobilize large-scale resources,” Mann said. To fix this problem, the government launched the Rangla Punjab Fund.

The response has been encouraging. Citizens, industries, and social organisations have already begun contributing. Mann promised to maintain complete transparency. “We will release details of funding daily,” he said while responding to Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa’s question on RTI. He added that the Chief Minister will chair the fund, and contributions will come through cheques and other secure methods.

Mann also addressed the opposition’s criticism. He said some parties are trying to create doubts about the new fund but the people of Punjab know its importance. He added that the government’s focus is only on the victims, not on politics.

The Chief Minister also launched a strong attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He accused the PM of ignoring Punjab’s suffering while making frequent foreign trips. “The Centre has not shown seriousness in supporting flood relief,” Mann said. He called this attitude an insult to citizens who expect real help in tough times.

Mann concluded by repeating his promise. The Rangla Punjab Fund will remain dedicated to one mission—helping every flood-hit family rebuild their life with dignity and speed. He urged Punjabis everywhere to join this collective effort.

The post Every Penny of Rangla Punjab Fund to Support Flood Victims appeared first on India Podcast.

The recent floods were among the worst in decades. They submerged over 2,300 villages and hit more than 2 million people. Crops spread across five lakh acres were lost. Fifty-seven people died, and nearly seven lakh lost their homes.

Public infrastructure also collapsed. The damage includes 3,200 schools, 19 colleges, 1,400 hospitals, 8,500 km of roads, and 2,500 bridges. The state estimates losses at ₹13,800 crore, though the final figure could rise further.

The disaster struck after heavy rains swelled the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi rivers. Rains in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir worsened the situation. Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Pathankot, Hoshiarpur, Ferozepur, Fazilka, and Tarn Taran were the worst affected.

Mann urged the Centre to release ₹60,000 crore of Punjab’s pending funds. He also demanded a revision of State Disaster Response Fund norms, calling them too weak. Mann said the Assembly’s decisions would bring real relief and strengthen recovery efforts.

The post Punjab Assembly to Focus on Flood Relief appeared first on India Podcast.

Arora visited flood-hit areas in Ajnala and Ramdas along with PWD Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal. He reviewed the damage and inspected ongoing relief operations by the district administration.

He said nearly 3 lakh acres of farmland, mostly paddy, remain under water. Farmers face huge crop losses weeks before harvest. Many households also lost livestock, worsening the crisis for rural families that depend on dairy and farming.

Arora criticised the BJP-led Central Government for ignoring Punjab. He said the state has lost ₹50,000 crore in revenue since GST and another ₹8,000 crore is stuck under RDF and MDF. He also pointed out that PMGSY projects worth ₹828 crore were scrapped, weakening rural connectivity.

The minister said current relief rates—₹6,800 per acre for crop damage and ₹1.20 lakh for homes—are unfair. He demanded ₹50,000 per acre for farmers and higher aid for houses and deaths. “Punjab needs urgent help, not photo sessions,” Arora said.

The post Aman Arora Presses Centre for Punjab Flood Relief appeared first on India Podcast.