Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Councillor Vineet Dhir (Ward Number 62) elected as the new Mayor of the Jalandhar Municipal Corporation. Balbir Singh Bittu Dhillon has been appointed Senior Deputy Mayor, and Malkeet Singh will serve as Deputy Mayor.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann congratulated the three newly elected office-bearers and stated that the Aam Aadmi Party government is committed to the development of Jalandhar. He added that the city’s development and modernization remain a top priority.

As soon as the three names were announced, AAP leaders and workers celebrated outside the Red Cross Building with drumbeats, welcoming the new office-bearers and rejoicing in the party’s victory.

AAP Punjab President Aman Arora also congratulated the three office-bearers, stating that the appointment of an AAP mayor will accelerate Jalandhar’s development. He said that the Aam Aadmi Party has always prioritised work, and now Jalandhar will write a new chapter of development.

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his ministers allegedly swindled over Rs 2,026 crore as the liquor excise policy lacked transparency and thrived on illegal decision-making to benefit some favoured licencees, said a Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report whose excerpts came into public domain on Saturday.

The document of the government's auditor that has exposed the liquor scam is named, "Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India on Performance Audit on Regulation and Supply of Liquor in Delhi."

The damning findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Girish Chandra Murmu, over the AAP government’s controversial liquor policy come as a big setback to the ruling AAP ahead of the February 5 Assembly elections, giving fresh ammunition to the Opposition BJP and the Congress who have dubbed the scam “Liquorgate”.

“Responsibility and accountability should be fixed for the lapses observed and the enforcement mechanism should be strengthened,” said Murmu in his final recommendation in the report for the year ended March 31, 2022. The report was also signed by Principal Accountant General (Audit), Delhi, Aman Deep Chatha.

Punjab ruling AAP’s legislator Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, 58, from Ludhiana (West) died of bullet injuries under mysterious circumstances at his residence late on Friday night, police said.

Police said an autopsy report would confirm whether Bassi had committed suicide or if he had accidentally shot himself.

Confirming the death, Joint Police Commissioner Jaskaran Singh Teja told the media in Ludhiana that Gurpreet Gogi was brought dead at the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital (DMCH).

Teja said, "As per the family members, he shot himself accidentally and sustained bullet injuries to his head. Gurpreet Gogi was declared dead at the hospital, his body has been kept at the mortuary in the DMC hospital."

The incident occurred around 12 a.m. soon after his return from a public function.

Senior Akali leader Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday warned the Union government against going ahead with the reported decision to re-designate the post of Advisor to Punjab Governor-cum-Chandigarh Administrator as the Chief Secretary.

He said the decision “comes with the active collusion of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab and its Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.”

“Mann had formally acknowledged Haryana’s right over Chandigarh by agreeing to setting up of the Haryana Legislative Assembly in Chandigarh,” Badal said in a statement.

“He had the same anti-Punjab stand on Panjab University and the PGI,” the Akali leader said and added that the transfer of Chandigarh to Punjab is a settled issue, committed by two Prime Ministers and endorsed by the Union Cabinet as well as by both Houses of Parliament following the Memorandum of Settlement on Punjab in July 1985.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday released the diary and calendar of the Punjab Government for the year 2025 at his official residence this morning.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the layout design of the calendar and diary had been conceptualized and prepared by the Information & Public Relations Department and printed by the Controller Printing & Stationery Punjab.

With tears in her eyes, an emotionally disturbed Delhi Chief Minister Atishi on Monday hit out at BJP candidate from Kalkaji seat Ramesh Bidhuri for stooping so low to attack his 80-year-old educationist father.

“He is seeking votes by abusing my father and not on his own performance in the constituency,” Atishi alleged claiming that attacks on her father are very disturbing.

Atishi’s response to Bidhuri came during a press conference to allege a “voter scam” in the garb of deletion and addition of voters' names in the New Delhi Assembly constituency of Arvind Kejriwal.

During a rally in Delhi, Ramesh Bidhuri stated, "Atishi has changed her father. She used to be Marlena, but now she is Singh. Her parents had filed a petition seeking clemency for Afzal Guru, the man responsible for killing young people."

A five-decade-old commercial building near the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Chandigarh's Sector 17, which had been declared unsafe earlier, collapsed on Monday morning.

However, there was no causality in the building collapse located in the heart of the city.

Eyewitnesses said the building collapsed at around 7 a.m. The adjoining building, which was once running the famed Mehfil restaurant, has also developed cracks and is partially damaged by the caving-in of the building.

Police and fire brigade teams have arrived at the spot.

The local administration had earlier declared the building unsafe and sealed it.

Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor was arrested by the Patna Police on Monday for staging a sit-in in an unauthorised location in Gandhi Maidan, according to an official.

After the arrest, a medical examination was conducted, and Kishor will be presented in court, Patna SSP Awakash Kumar told.

"Prashant Kishore of Jan Suraaj Party and some other people were illegally protesting in front of Gandhi statue in the restricted area of Gandhi Maidan for their five-point demands," SSP Kumar said.

He also informed that the administration had earlier issued a notice to Kishor and other protestors to move from the unauthorised area of Gandhi Maidan to the designated place of protest, Gardnibagh.

The river-interlinking initiative proposed by the Union government warrants comprehensive review and needs to be thoroughly examined, said Punjab Assembly Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan on Friday, while characterising this initiative as an unprecedented intervention in natural systems.

He cautioned that such projects could adversely impact agricultural productivity and disrupt monsoon patterns.

In an official statement here, Sandhwan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the Ken-Betwa River Interlinking Project in Madhya Pradesh.

"Although the Union government said the objective of redistributing water resources to drought-prone regions," the Speaker said, adding that scientific research indicates such interventions could significantly alter natural hydrological systems.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday released a newsletter, in an apparent attempt to maximise his reach to the people and impress upon them with his exploits in 2024.

The newsletter summarises Rahul's efforts as well as accomplishments in 2024, his endeavours in connecting with the electorate and also how he cornered the Centre on matters of public issues.

Sharing the newsletter, the Congress MP wrote, "Know my views on my speech on the Constitution and Manusmriti in Parliament and the developments related to it. Read along about my recent visit to the vegetable market and other activities."

The eight-page newsletter showcases his heartfelt tribute to former Prime Minister Mammohan Singh, his arguments and assertions on the "battle between Manusmriti and Constitution" and also a recollection of the memorable moments from his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday welcomed the farmer-friendly decisions made in the first Union Cabinet meeting of 2025, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Expressing his gratitude to the Prime Minister, he said that the thoughtful manner in which these decisions have been made for the welfare of farmers will directly benefit lakhs of farmers in Haryana.

Referring to the Union Cabinet's decisions as a New Year gift to the farmers from Prime Minister Modi, the Chief Minister said that these decisions will ensure the availability of DAP to farmers at affordable and subsidised rates.

Former Punjab Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Jasvir Singh Garhi, along with his supporters, on Wednesday joined the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann welcomed him into the party and assured him of AAP's dedication to social justice and inclusive governance.

Along with Garhi, former general secretaries of BSP Jaspreet Singh and Gurlal Saila also joined the AAP. On this occasion, MLAs Kulwant Singh Pandori and Sukhwinder Sukhi were also present.

Welcoming Garhi, CM Bhagwant Mann said, “The Aam Aadmi Party is dedicated to carrying forward the ideals of Baba Saheb Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram-ji. Together, we will ensure justice, equality, and opportunities for every section of society.”

A breakthrough was achieved on Wednesday that would end the continuing protests in Jammu and Kashmir’s Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine base camp town of Katra.

Shopkeepers, hoteliers, transport operators, Pony and Palki wallahs have been in protest for the last eight days against the proposed Rs 300-crore ropeway project from Tarakote Marg in Katra to Sanji Chhat at the Mata’s cave shrine.

The administration formed a 4-member team on Tuesday to engage in discussions with the protesters. The administration has already announced its decision to release all detained protesters, including the Samiti leaders.

Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, told reporters that the decisions were taken after holding detailed discussions with members of the civil society.

AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat seeking answers to some questions on the BJP's politics.

In the letter, Kejriwal has posed questions like -- Does RSS support whatever wrong BJP has done in the past few days? BJP leaders are openly distributing money, does RSS support vote buying? Dalit and Purvanchali votes (from the voter list) are being cut on a large scale. Does RSS think this is good for democracy? Doesn't RSS feel that the BJP is weakening democracy?"

The former Delhi Chief Minister had on December 29 launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing the party of attempting to manipulate the voter lists, and also claimed that 'Operation Lotus' has been going on since December 15 in his Assembly constituency. He highlighted voter deletion issues in the Shahdara constituency, where the BJP allegedly submitted applications to remove 11,008 voters.

While the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engage in a war of words, accusing each other of manipulating the voters’ list ahead of the imminent Assembly elections, the Chief Electoral Office (Delhi) is set to 'settle' the controversy by publishing the final list of electoral rolls, early next month.

Sharing information about registration of new voters, the Electoral office said that since November 28 this year, about 4.8 lakh forms have been received for New Voter Registrations and the final Electoral rolls would be published on January 6, 2025.

The battle for Delhi has heated up recently, with both AAP and BJP upping the ante against each other.

Samyukt Kisan Morcha chief Sarwan Singh Pandher on Monday urged the Punjab government not to "misuse" its power against the farmers and instead support them in their fight pushing their demands.

Farmers in Punjab staged a statewide shutdown, 'Punjab Bandh,' on Monday, significantly impacting road and rail traffic between 7:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

The bandh, organised by Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, is part of ongoing protests at Shambhu and Khanauri border points since February 13.

The farmers were stopped by security forces during their march to Delhi, prompting a push for their longstanding demands, including a legal guarantee for Minimum Support Price (MSP) for crops.

Farmers have announced a 'Punjab Bandh' on Monday leading to the expected closure of all shops across the state and disruptions in road and rail services. However, emergency services will continue to operate.

There will also be no supply of milk, fruits, and vegetables until the protest ends on Monday evening as several trade organisations lent their support to the bandh.

"Farmer union leaders will enforce a chakka jam on roads and rail lines from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Government and private institutions are requested to stay closed. Only emergency vehicles, such as ambulances, marriage vehicles, or anyone in a dire emergency, will be allowed to pass," reports quoted a senior farm leader as saying.

The decision to give a call for a 'Punjab bandh' was taken last week by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM).

Delhi BJP President Virendra Sachdeva on Saturday accused AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal of trying to rig elections and cited cases of property owners whose addresses have allegedly been used to create fake voter IDs and bogus votes.

Sachdeva presented details of homeowners whose addresses were used to create fake Muslim votes, stating that households with five members were suddenly recorded as having 60 or more Muslim voters.

BJP leader and legal counsel Sanket Gupta, who oversees legal matters for the election committee, was also present at the press conference.

Sachdeva alleged that Kejriwal, along with his MLAs, has been running a fake voter scheme for the last 10 years to win elections.

He cited a case from Tughlakabad, where the address of resident Mohit Mavi has been used for voters like Mohammed Suleiman and Imran Khan, and five others.

 Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal, on Saturday, accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to derail key welfare schemes introduced by the Delhi government. These include monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,100 for women and free healthcare for senior citizens.

Addressing a press conference, he claimed that investigations have been initiated against these schemes under BJP's directives to obstruct their implementation.

Kejriwal questioned the rationale behind the investigations, asserting that these initiatives were part of AAP's poll promises. "What is there to investigate? These are our commitments to the people, which BJP now wants to halt under the guise of inquiries," he stated.

He alleged that BJP, in collaboration with Congress, is working to undermine AAP’s governance. "When BJP lacked the courage, they used Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit to lodge complaints with the Lieutenant Governor," Kejriwal said.

 Punjab Police on Saturday said it has busted a narco-terror module with the arrest of two people. The arrested individuals have been identified as Gurjeet Singh and Baljit Singh.

In a post on X, DGP Punjab Police said, "State Special Operation cell (SSOC) Amritsar, has busted a narco-terror module which is being operated by controllers from abroad. Gurjeet Singh r/o Dande, Amritsar Rural and Baljit Singh r/o Chhapa, Tarn Taran have been arrested."

According to the police, the arrested persons carried out a grenade attack on a police station on December 17, 2024. Police also recovered 1.4 kg heroin, one hand grenade, and two pistols from the accused. Further investigations are ongoing to uncover the entire network, DGP Punjab Police said.

The mortal remains of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh were brought to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters on Saturday morning, where senior Congress leaders and party workers gathered to bid a final farewell to their stalwart leader.

Prominent Congress leaders, including Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi, and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, were among those who reached the party headquarters to pay their heartfelt tributes to the former Prime Minister.

Dr Singh's last rites will be conducted with full state honours at Nigam Bodh Ghat, a public cremation ground in Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other senior leaders are expected to attend the funeral later in the day.

The protest against the ropeway project in Mata Vaishno Devi shrine base camp Katra in Jammu & Kashmir entered the third day on Friday, as more protesters joined the hunger strike.

The protesters are demanding that the ropeway project proposed from Tarakote to Sanji Chhat be cancelled as it would affect the livelihood of shopkeepers, hoteliers, transporters, pony and palki wallahs and others connected with business in Katra town.

The protesters also demanded the release of fellow protesters detained by police during earlier demonstrations.

Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti called for a 72-hour shutdown, which began on Wednesday. Women and children have now joined the six protesters who began a hunger strike on Wednesday night.

On the martyrdom day of Baba Zorawar Singh Ji and Baba Fateh Singh Ji, the younger Sahibzadas of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab President Aman Arora, along with Cabinet Ministers, MLAs, and senior leaders, paid obeisance at Gurdwara Sri Fatehgarh Sahib today.

Speaking on this solemn occasion, Aman Arora said, "The sacrifice of the younger Sahibzadas is unparalleled in history. Their courage and devotion to their principles inspire countless generations. Today, we bowed in reverence and prayed for the well-being of all humanity. May their legacy continue to guide us in serving the people with humility and dedication."

Punjab Jails Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said on Friday that adequate steps have been taken by the Prisons Department in fortifying security measures and improving prisoner rehabilitation.

“The government is establishing a Rs100 crore high-security jail near Ludhiana, spanning over 50 acres. Once completed, this facility will accommodate 300 high-risk prisoners,” an official statement quoting Bhullar said.

He said the department has prioritized technology integration with AI-based CCTV surveillance being implemented in eight central jails to detect contraband throws, wall scaling and unauthorized mobile usage.

Noting the draft policy of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing is silent on the minimum support price (MSP), the most crucial for the state farmers, Punjab on Thursday said it "is minutely studying it and is in no mood to leave any of its clauses unconsidered".

A team of officers and agriculture experts "is even decoding the message in between the lines", a state government statement said.

Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian, along with Punjab Mandi Board Chairman Harchand Singh Barsat and officers, conducted a brainstorming session with ‘arthiyas’ (commission agents) and rice millers of the state seeking their inputs and suggestions on the draft of the policy.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), a member of the opposition INDIA bloc, on Thursday issued a stern ultimatum to the Congress, demanding action against its Delhi leader Ajay Maken within 24 hours, else the party would push for the Congress' removal from the alliance.

AAP leaders Sanjay Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, at a press conference here, demanded clarification from the Congress leadership and immediate disciplinary measures against Maken. Accusing him of making anti-AAP statements, they alleged that Maken has been acting at the behest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Ajay Maken crossed all limits on Wednesday by calling Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi's most popular leader, anti-national," Singh said.

He further accused the Congress of orchestrating smear campaigns against the AAP in collusion with the BJP, adding that the Youth Congress has even filed a complaint against Kejriwal and CM Atishi.

जम्मू-कश्मीर के रियासी जिले के कटरा शहर में माता वैष्णो देवी मंदिर रोपवे परियोजना के खिलाफ 72 घंटे का बंद दूसरे दिन में प्रवेश कर गया।

यह विरोध प्रदर्शन बुधवार से शुरू हुआ. दुकानदार, ट्रांसपोर्टर, होटल व्यवसायी, पोनी और पालकी वाले और अन्य व्यवसायी ताराकोट से सांझी छत तक प्रस्तावित रोपवे परियोजना का विरोध कर रहे हैं।

नवंबर में, कटरा शहर में प्रदर्शनकारियों और पुलिस के बीच झड़पें हुईं जब पुलिस ने आंदोलनकारियों को तितर-बितर करने के लिए बल प्रयोग किया। पुलिस ने दावा किया कि आंदोलनकारियों के पास विरोध मार्च निकालने की अनुमति नहीं थी.

ताराकोटे से सांझी छत तक प्रस्तावित रोपवे के खिलाफ श्री माता वैष्णो देवी संघर्ष समिति द्वारा 72 घंटे के बंद का आह्वान किया गया है।

टट्टू मालिकों, दुकानदारों और परिवहन ऑपरेटरों सहित सभी स्थानीय हितधारकों द्वारा समर्थित, बंद से शहर में बेचैनी छा गई। सभी व्यावसायिक प्रतिष्ठान बंद रहे और सड़कें सुनसान रहीं, जिससे हजारों तीर्थयात्री आवश्यक सेवाओं तक पहुंच के बिना फंसे रहे।

The 72-hour-long shutdown against the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine ropeway project entered the second day in Katra town of Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district

The protest began started on Wednesday. Shoppers, transporters, hoteliers, Pony and Palki Wallahs in addition to other businessmen have been protesting against the proposed ropeway project from Tarakote to Sanjhi Chhat.

In November, clashes erupted in Katra town between the protesters and the police when police used force to disperse the agitators. Police claimed that the agitators did not have permission to take out a protest march.

The call for the 72-hour-long shutdown has been given by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti against the proposed ropeway from Tarakote to Sanjhi Chhat.

Under the dynamic leadership of Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Mines and Geology department has achieved remarkable milestones in 2024, establishing new benchmarks in transparency, efficiency and sustainable mining practices.

"Our focus has been on modernizing the mining sector while ensuring benefits reach the common citizen," stated Punjab Mining and Geology Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal, highlighting the department's citizen-centric approach.

He said that the department's Public Mining Program has seen outstanding success through the implementation of the Punjab Minor Mineral Policy 2023, with 73 public mining sites becoming operational, which generated Rs.16.07 crore for the state and Rs.13.77 crore for local villagers, while helping stabilize sand prices. He said that so far 18.37 Lakh MT of sand has been sold, which shows the program's effectiveness in meeting public demand.

Congress leader Ajay Maken lambasted both AAP dispensation in Delhi and BJP government at the Centre on Wednesday, accusing them of first ensnaring the Delhi residents with fake promises and then betraying them on multiple occasions, despite being at the helm for more than a decade.

In a press briefing by Delhi Cong chief Devendra Yadav and RS MP Ajay Maken, the Congress party released ‘white paper’ against the misdeeds and misgovernance of AAP government in Delhi and BJP at Centre.

Hitting out at Centre and Delhi govt over the plight of city residents, Maken said, “Aam Aadmi Party is in power in Delhi for the last 11 years and BJP is in power at the Centre since 2014. The people of Delhi elected both these governments with great expectations but they got only betrayal with false promises all these years.”

Aam Aadmi Party national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of orchestrating a "dirty conspiracy" against his party and its leaders in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly elections.

The accusations follow public notices issued by the Department of Women and Child Development and the Department of Health and Family Welfare, refuting claims about the existence of the 'Sanjeevani Scheme' and 'Mukhyamantri Mahila Samman Yojana.'

Addressing a press conference alongside Delhi Chief Minister Atishi, former Deputy CM Manish Sisodia and AAP MP Sanjay Singh, Kejriwal also alleged that the BJP was "fabricating a fake case" against Atishi.

"BJP is facing a historic defeat in the upcoming Delhi Assembly elections. They have no narrative, no agenda, and no accomplishments from the past ten years. Despite having MPs, the L-G, and significant resources, they have failed to deliver on security, education, infrastructure, or healthcare," Kejriwal stated.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday claimed that there were plans to arrest Delhi Chief Minister Atishi by framing her in fake cases in the next few days and plans were also underway to conduct raids on senior party leaders ahead of the 2025 Delhi Assembly election.

This comes after the national capital's Health and Family Welfare department red-flagged the ruling AAP's registration drive for Sanjeevani Yojana, a scheme to provide free treatment to Delhi's residents over 60 at private and government hospitals. In a public notice published in newspapers on Wednesday, the department said that it does not have "any such supposed Sanjeevani scheme in existence". It added that it had not authorised anyone to collect personal data from elderly citizens and is not providing any card. The department said any individual or political party collecting such forms under the name of this scheme is "fraudulent and without any authority".

Kejriwal claimed that Delhi Chief Minister Atishi would soon be arrested in a fake case as some people were rattled by the AAP government's announcement of welfare initiatives like the Mahila Samman Yojana and the Sanjeevani Yojana.

The Congress has moved the Supreme Court, challenging the recent amendment to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, which restricts public access to election materials, such as CCTV footage, unless explicitly listed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

In a post on social media platform ‘X’, senior party leader and General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday said that the Election Commission cannot be allowed to unilaterally amend the 1961 Conduct of Election Rules in such a brazen manner and without public consultation.

"A Writ has just been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the recent amendments to the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961. The Election Commission, a Constitutional body, charged with the conduct of free and fair elections cannot be allowed to unilaterally, and without public consultation, amend such a vital law in such a brazen manner," announced Ramesh.

The Rajya Sabha MP added that the amendment, introduced on Saturday following recommendations from the ECI, does away with "public access to essential information that makes the electoral process more transparent and accountable".

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday slammed the BJP-led Union government for stepmotherly treatment of farmers by not even giving them an opportunity to air their genuine demands.

In a statement, the Chief Minister said the ‘self-proclaimed’ global leader Narendra Modi “is more worried about intervening in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine but the Prime Minister is apathetic towards the food growers of the country”.

He said the Union government has been blatantly ignoring the genuine demands of the farmers of the country which is highly deplorable.

Mann said, “It is unfortunate that the Prime Minister is more worried about emerging as ‘global leader’ by intervening in international affairs rather than resolving the issues faced by the countrymen”.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been fasting for the past 29 days for farmers' rights and lost 15 kg, reiterated on Tuesday that he would continue the fight till their demands are either accepted or the last breath.

In an appeal, while lying on a cot brought on the dais at the Khanauri protest site, bordering Haryana where farmers have been staging sit-in protest since February 13, Dallewel, whose vital organs have been deteriorating owing to fast and elderly age, said this battle should be fought in unison, indicating other states should also join the call of the protest of the farmers belonging to Punjab.

"I am well...We have to win this war unitedly," said Dallewal, 70, whose health is being monitored round the clock by a team of doctors who have already warned that the farmer leader is at risk of cardiac arrest.