Setting 15-day deadline, Punjab's former Deputy Chief Minister and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Sunday issued a legal notice to Delhi’s former Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal demanding a public apology over allegedly defamatory comments made during an election rally in Dera Baba Nanak on Saturday (November 9).

The notice, sent through Randhawa's lawyer Gurmukh Singh Randhawa, accused Kejriwal of making “baseless” and “damaging” statements that have harmed Randhawa’s reputation.

In his legal communication, Randhawa has demanded that Kejriwal issue an unconditional written apology. The notice warned that failure to comply with this demand will result in legal action. Specifically, Randhawa sought a retraction of the remarks made by Kejriwal, which he claimed were both “defamatory” and “aimed at tarnishing his image in front of his constituents and supporters”.

The legal notice alleged that during the AAP rally in Dera Baba Nanak, Kejriwal used terms like “corrupt” and “dishonest” to describe Randhawa, which have been seen as an attempt to malign his character. Randhawa’s lawyer stated that these remarks not only harmed his client’s personal reputation but also hurt the sentiments of his family, supporters, and the people of his constituency. The notice further stresses that these allegations are baseless and unfounded.

Randhawa’s lawyer clarified that the MP’s political career has been marked by transparency and integrity, with no allegations of personal enrichment or misuse of power. Known for his dedication to serve his community and state, Randhawa considered these accusations as an attack on his honour, undermining the trust that his constituents have placed in him.

The notice included three primary demands — unconditional written apology, a public apology in media, and commitment against future defamation. Kejriwal is asked to issue a written apology, retracting his statements, and publicly acknowledging the harm caused.

The notice also demanded that Kejriwal issue a public apology through both social media platforms and leading newspapers. This public retraction would serve to compensate for the damage done to Randhawa's reputation and character.

Randhawa also demanded that Kejriwal refrain from making any further defamatory or derogatory statements about him in the future.

The legal notice also specified that Kejriwal has 15 days from the receipt of the notice to comply with these demands. If Kejriwal fails to meet the deadline, Randhawa reserved the right to pursue both civil and criminal defamation charges against him.

The timing of the notice is crucial, coming amid the high-stakes by-election in Dera Baba Nanak along with three other constituencies, where political rivals have been keenly watching every move.

“No concrete evidence, thus far…Investigation ongoing”: Gurdaspur DC to ECI on alleged gangster threatening voters

A controversy has erupted following the serious allegations of voter intimidation by a jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria. Congress’ senior leader and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had filed a formal complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Union Ministry of Home Affairs claiming that the incarcerated gangster was influencing and threatening voters via video calls from his prison cell — the allegations denied by the Gurdaspur District Election Officer (DEO), as of now.

The central poll panel, following the Congress’ complaint, had instructed the Gurdaspur District Election Officer Uma Shankar Gupta to conduct an immediate investigation. Gupta, submitting an initial report to the Election Commission, submitted that “no concrete evidence” had been uncovered thus far.

He confirmed that the investigation was ongoing, and special attention was being paid to the matter. Gupta also stated that the officials at the Kurukshetra jail had been notified and requested to monitor any such activities closely.

The allegations centered around the claim that Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, who is currently held in the Kurukshetra jail in Haryana, was using his mother, Harjeet Kaur, to orchestrate calls to local voters, coercing them into voting for the AAP. The accusations suggest that Harjeet Kaur would visit homes in the area and facilitate video calls between voters and her son in jail, where he allegedly threatened them to vote for the party or face dire consequences.

Despite the initial findings, the allegations have raised significant concerns about the integrity of the election process in the region. In his complaint, MP Randhawa, whose wife Jatinder Kaur is contesting as Congress candidate from Dera baba Nanak seat, had urged the ECI to take swift action, emphasizing that such actions could severely undermine the fairness of the election and instill fear among voters.

While the District Election Officer has denied finding any direct evidence of phone calls or threats during the initial inquiry, the matter remains under close scrutiny.

Farmers to Campaign Against AAP-BJP Candidates

In a major mobilization, the Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) on Sunday announced a campaign to oppose the candidates of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab's upcoming assembly by-elections. The farmers’ union plans to protest village-to-village from November 14 to 19, specifically targeting the constituencies of Gidderbaha and Barnala.

BKU leaders, including president Joginder Singh Ugrahan and general secretary Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan, shared that their protest will focus on the unresolved issues of rice procurement and availability of DAP fertilizer. Additionally, the Union has announced a blockade of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Barnala on Monday, while toll plazas across the state will remain free as part of their protest.

The union’s leaders expressed frustration with the delays and challenges faced by farmers this season. Many farmers have harvested fully mature rice crops and transported them to market, yet have encountered issues due to increased moisture levels in the harvested crops. The leaders attributed the late crop maturation to delayed sowing, which, they claimed, was due to postponed electricity supply from the state government. This delay led to prolonged exposure to colder conditions and dew, increasing moisture levels and slowing procurement in the markets. Consequently, farmers have faced payment delays, adding to their grievances.

The BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) has resolved to strengthen their protests by monitoring procurement operations in markets across Punjab and holding responsible officials accountable for any delays in procurement or payments. Additionally, they criticized the government for failing to provide machinery necessary to manage crop residue without burning, as mandated by the National Green Tribunal. This lack of equipment has forced farmers to resort to burning crop residue, a practice that continues to contribute to environmental pollution in the region.

This is not the first instance of direct action by farmers against political parties. Previously, farmers staged extended sit-ins outside the residences of AAP and BJP candidates in both Barnala and Gidderbaha. Farmers have maintained that these actions are taken out of necessity, demanding accountability and support from those in power. They vowed to continue their resistance, with participation expected from neighboring districts to amplify their voices.

Bittu Supports Traditional Opium; Blames Ban for Rise of Heroin in Punjab

Days after AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal dubbed drugs as Punjab’s biggest problems, BJP leader and the Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu on Sunday stirred the controversy with his remarks supporting the traditional substance “choora post” (opium). Bittu, in a recent campaign video going viral, can be seen addressing a public gathering where he pledged to discuss the revival of traditional substances like choora post with the Central Government, claiming that banning such substances had indirectly harmed Punjab by paving the way for “chitta” (heroin) in the state.

Bittu argued that the restrictions on traditional substances like afeem have negatively impacted Punjab’s hardworking community. He recalled how these traditional practices allowed Punjab’s labour-intensive workforce to work diligently, contributing significantly to the Green Revolution. According to Bittu, the absence of choora post and similar substances left a vacuum that was subsequently filled by chitta, leading to the current drug crisis in Punjab. He assured the crowd that he would advocate for reconsidering this ban with central authorities, emphasizing that a thoughtful decision could benefit Punjab’s agricultural sector and its community.

Bittu’s comments follow similar remarks made the previous year by Punjab’s former Panchayat and Agriculture Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, who also advocated for reconsidering opium cultivation in the state. Dhaliwal had argued that, if managed properly, allowing controlled cultivation of opium could provide farmers with additional income. He urged the State Government to study the feasibility of such cultivation and its potential economic benefits, particularly for struggling farmers.

Bittu’s statements have reignited debates over drug policies in Punjab. Advocates of the traditional substance argue that these age-old practices, when used responsibly, can help alleviate the burden on farmers and prevent the spread of harder drugs. Opponents, however, fear that reintroducing such substances might open the door to further complications in the state’s ongoing battle against drug addiction.