A senior assistant editor, Navneet Sharma leads the Punjab bureau for Hindustan Times. He writes on politics, public affairs, civil services and the energy sector.
Articles by Navneet Sharma
Punjab assembly: Stormy scenes after Cong adjournment motion on law & order disallowed
The budget session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha resumed post-recess on a stormy note on Wednesday with members of the opposition Congress raising slogans in the well of the House after their adjournment motion on law and order was disallowed.
Updated on Mar 22, 2023 10:32 PM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
Punjab assembly declares Himachal Pradesh’s move on water cess ‘illegal’
In the absence of opposition Congress MLAs, unanimously adopts resolution against neighbouring hill state, recommends to state govt to request Centre to prevail upon hill state to withdraw decision
Published on Mar 22, 2023 04:01 PM IST
Punjab assembly: Oppn Congress guns for AAP govt on law and order
Opposition Congress MLAs walk out of the House, raising slogans against Speaker and CM Bhagwant Mann when their adjournment motion on law and order was disallowed
Updated on Mar 22, 2023 11:43 AM IST
One year at helm: Roller-coaster year for AAP govt in Punjab
With mandate for badlav (change), Bhagwant Mann’s government scores on intent to deliver on its populist promises, but misses in action whether it’s reining in radicals or maintaining law and order, while it struggles to fight the drug problem and fiscal troubles.
Published on Mar 15, 2023 07:38 PM IST
Punjab education minister orders principal secy-level probe into teachers eligibility test goof-up
Harjot Singh Bains says accountability will be fixed and guilty will be booked for criminal negligence after GNDU, Amritsar cancels Punjab State Teachers Eligibility Test after most correct answers in social studies question paper were marked in bold
Updated on Mar 13, 2023 12:28 PM IST
Big push for agriculture, education, health in Punjab budget
No new taxes, 26% hike in allocation over last year as Punjab budget focuses on agriculture, education, health
Published on Mar 11, 2023 01:59 AM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
Punjab budget: Five key takeaways
Chandigarh : Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, like some of his predecessors, started his stint by talking about the ‘empty coffers’ left by the previous government and even brought out a ‘white paper’ on the debt-laden state’s finances
Published on Mar 11, 2023 01:39 AM IST
Punjab FM presents ₹1,96,462-cr budget, 26% increase in outlay
₹13,888 crore has been allocated for agriculture and allied activities, which is 20% more than the amount earmarked in the previous year; new agriculture policy on anvil, says Harpal Singh Cheema
Updated on Mar 10, 2023 04:15 PM IST
Allotment of industrial plots: Punjab Vigilance seeks wide-ranging probe into politician-official-land mafia nexus
In fresh trouble for Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation (PSIEC), the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has recommended an extensive enquiry into the alleged irregularities in the allotment, regularisation, and bifurcation of industrial plots to break the nexus between politicians, officials, and land mafia.
Published on Mar 09, 2023 11:10 PM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
‘Threatening posture’: Punjab Cong MLAs to boycott CM till he apologises
A day after chief minister Bhagwant Mann and leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa sparred in the state assembly over the functioning of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), the Congress on Tuesday announced its decision to “boycott” Mann in the House till the time he apologised for his “threatening posture” towards its members.
Published on Mar 07, 2023 10:50 PM IST
AAP, Cong slug it out over Punjab guv’s ‘my government’ remark
The budget session of the Punjab assembly on Friday saw heated exchanges between members of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress over governor Banwarilal Purohit referring to the Bhagwant Mann government as “my government” that eventually led to a walkout by MLAs of the opposition party.
Published on Mar 03, 2023 08:30 PM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
Punjab assembly’s budget session gets off to rocky start
Governor Banwarilal Purohit delivers speech amid Congress walkout over his addressing the Bhagwant Mann government as “my government”
Updated on Mar 03, 2023 02:44 PM IST
Restructure PSIEC, re-examine plot re-allotments, vigilance tells industries dept
The vigilance department recommended restructuring and re-engineering of the Punjab Small Industries and Export Corporation for better accountability and transparency, besides seeking re-examination of the re-allotment of old industrial plots done by the corporation in the past 10 years.
Updated on Feb 28, 2023 10:22 PM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
‘Budget session only after legal advice’: Punjab governor Purohit drops another letter bomb
Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit responds terming chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s response as “unconstitutional” and “derogatory”
Updated on Feb 24, 2023 02:20 AM IST
Govt rewards loyalists, appoints them in loss-making defunct undertakings
On a spree to accommodate its loyalists, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab appointed some of them as chairmen of public sector enterprises that have been either incurring losses or are virtually non-functional.
Published on Feb 17, 2023 10:58 PM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
Schools of Eminence: 117 schools shortlisted , Govt fast-tracks upgrade of 4 Amritsar schools
Days after it shortlisted 117 existing schools for the flagship ‘Schools of Eminence’ Scheme, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has set the ball rolling for upgrading four of these schools in Amritsar district on priority.
Updated on Feb 08, 2023 11:52 PM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
Punjab govt likely to fall short of revenue targets this fiscal year
The revenue receipts of the state government in the first nine months stood at 63% of the target for the current year, according to the data on fiscal indicators for the April-December 2022 period released by the comptroller and auditor general (CAG)
Published on Feb 04, 2023 01:39 AM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
Samagra Shiksha programme: Centre proposes ₹1,181 crore allocation for Punjab next fiscal
The Union ministry of education has proposed an allocation of ₹1,181.30 crore for Punjab in the financial year 2023-24 under the centrally sponsored Samagra Shiksha programme for school education.
Published on Feb 02, 2023 11:50 PM IST
First batch of Punjab govt school principals headed for Singapore
36 principals will attend professional teacher training seminar from February 6 to 10: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann
Published on Feb 02, 2023 01:51 PM IST
Punjab AAP MLA Kunwar Vijay Pratap quits assembly panel over differences on sacrilege probe
The former IPS officer, who has been airing differences with the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government in Punjab over its handling of the 2015 sacrilege cases from time to time, sent his resignation to the Punjab Vidhan Sabha secretary on Tuesday night.
Updated on Jan 25, 2023 12:12 PM IST
Sidelined in Congress, Manpreet Badal looks for greener pastures in BJP
The exit of former finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal, who quit the Congress and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday, could not have come at a more inopportune moment for the party.
Published on Jan 19, 2023 12:57 AM IST
After Punjab CM cracks whip, PCS officers call off protest, resume duty
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann had directed chief secretary VK Janjua to suspend all officers who did not join duty by 2pm on Wednesday
Published on Jan 11, 2023 04:00 PM IST
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann declares PCS officers’ strike illegal
Cracking down on striking Punjab Civil Service (PCS) and revenue officers, chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday declared their protest against the arrest of an officer for allegedly taking bribe in Ludhiana illegal
Updated on Jan 11, 2023 01:10 PM IST
Backlash over Punjab vigilance action as disquiet grips state bureaucracy
Discontent is brewing in the bureaucracy in Punjab, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, over the cases registered and inquiries being conducted by the vigilance bureau, frequent transfers, and a feeling of creeping mistrust.
Published on Jan 09, 2023 11:59 PM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
Punjab minister Fauja Singh Sarari resigns after 'extortion plan' audio leak
Punjab horticulture, food processing and defence services welfare minister Fauja Singh Sarari sent his resignation to chief minister Bhagwant Mann, who is learnt to have accepted it; a first-time MLA from Patiala is likely to be sworn in as cabinet minister in his place.
Updated on Jan 07, 2023 01:48 PM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
Farmers at toll plazas: NHAI pegs losses at ₹28 cr, ministry secy writes to Punjab government
The National Highways Authority of India has incurred a loss of ₹28 crore due to the ongoing protest by farmers who have shut down its 13 toll plazas in six districts of Punjab.
Published on Jan 04, 2023 10:05 PM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
CAG points out ‘irregularities’ worth crores in implementation of forest schemes in Punjab
The Comptroller and Auditor General of India has found alleged “irregularities” worth crores, including unauthorised expenditure and non-utilization of funds, in the implementation of the schemes for forest conservation and tree plantation in Punjab.
Published on Dec 28, 2022 11:10 PM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
Shahpur Kandi project: CAG flags ₹ 42-crore ‘avoidable payment’ for idle machinery, labour
The Comptroller and Auditor General on India (CAG) has found alleged irregularities in the construction of the Shahpur Kandi dam project on river Ravi in Punjab.
Published on Dec 21, 2022 11:33 PM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
Punjab farmers’ protest takes toll on NHAI, suffers ₹1.33-crore loss daily
NHAI officials warn of impact of disruption of its operations on new projects, upkeep of existing national highways in Punjab
Published on Dec 17, 2022 11:47 AM IST
Chandigarh SSP’s repatriation: Punjab informed in advance, says governor
In reply to chief minister’s letter, Punjab governor Banwarilal Purohit takes swipe at Bhagwant Mann, says he was busy campaigning in Gujarat so couldn’t be contacted
Published on Dec 14, 2022 06:03 PM IST
Navneet Sharma, Chandigarh
