*Punjab Vidhan Sabha Unanimously Passes Harpal Singh Cheema’s Resolution To Protect Eligible Citizens’ Voting Rights Under SIR*

*Every Eligible Citizen’s Vote Must Be Protected; Independent Inquiry & Accountability Essential To Safeguard Democracy: Harpal Singh Cheema*

*No Eligible Voter Should Be Deprived Of Voting Rights: Harpal Singh Cheema*

CHANDIGARH, 23rd October 2026:The Punjab Vidhan Sabha on Friday unanimously passed a significant resolution moved by Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, calling for constitutional safeguards to protect the voting rights of eligible citizens during the revision of electoral rolls under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. The resolution also urged the Union Government and relevant constitutional authorities to ensure transparency, impartial scrutiny of electoral roll discrepancies and accountability in the election process.

Addressing the House, AAP MLA and Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema emphasised that protecting every eligible citizen’s right to vote was essential to strengthening Indian democracy. He said the Constitution of India was founded on the principles of equality, justice and the supremacy of the people. “Articles 324, 325 and 326 play a pivotal role in supervising the electoral machinery, preventing discrimination in voter rolls and guaranteeing universal adult suffrage,” he said.

Recalling the pre-independence era, when voting rights were restricted to a select section of society, the Cabinet Minister paid tribute to Bharat Ratna Babas Sahib Ambedkar for laying the constitutional foundation for equal voting rights for every adult citizen. “The right to vote was a hard-won democratic privilege that enabled the poor, labourers, Dalits, minorities and all sections of society to participate equally in the governance of the country,” he added.

Expressing concern over reports of large-scale deletions of names from electoral rolls and the exclusion of eligible voters, Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the revision of electoral rolls had raised serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process in different parts of the country. “Public confidence in democratic institutions could be maintained only by ensuring that no eligible voter was excluded and every citizen’s voting rights remained protected.

Referring to past controversies surrounding electoral rolls in Delhi and other states, the Minister highlighted complaints that supporters of opposition parties and marginalised communities had been selectively targeted. He called for a thorough and impartial investigation into such complaints, asserting that any deliberate attempt to undermine the electoral process must invite strict criminal action under the law if established by evidence.

The AAP MLA further called for an independent, transparent and credible mechanism to examine reported irregularities in electoral rolls and scrutinise administrative conduct under Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. “Institutional autonomy, neutrality and accountability of the Election Commission were indispensable to the functioning and survival of constitutional democracy,” he added.

Commending the House for unanimously supporting the resolution, the Minister said the right to vote was not merely an administrative formality but the voice of the common citizen and a fundamental expression of equal democratic participation. “Safeguarding this right is a collective constitutional responsibility that transcends political considerations,” he added.

Through the resolution, the Punjab Vidhan Sabha urged the Union Government and the relevant constitutional authorities to ensure the constitutional protection of voting rights, order an impartial inquiry into reported discrepancies in electoral rolls and establish accountability wherever irregularities were found. Copies of the resolution will be forwarded to the President of India, the Prime Minister and the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) for appropriate follow-up action.

Supporting the resolution, MLAs Inderjit Kaur Mann (Nakodar), Dr. Ishank Kumar (Chabbewal), Manpreet Singh Ayali (Dakha), Dr. Amandeep Kaur (Moga), Rupinder Singh Happy (Bassi Pathana), Dr. Nachhatar Pal (Nawanshahr), Amansher Singh Sherry Kalsi (Batala), Prof. Baljinder Kaur (Talwandi Sabo), Amolak Singh (Jaito), and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora also shared their views in the House and extended their support to the resolution.

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*Japan Men's Hockey Team Arrives in Mohali for Asian Champions Trophy*

*Japan Men’s Hockey Team Receives Grand Punjabi Welcome With Beats of Bhangra & Garlands at Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport*

*Persistent Efforts of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann Led to Punjab Getting Opportunity to Host Such Prestigious Tournament*

SAS NAGAR (MOHALI); 23rd October 2026:The 18-member Japan Men's Field Hockey Team landed at the Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali, to participate in the Asian Champions Trophy, scheduled to be held at Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5.

The team was accorded a grand welcome at the airport with the beats of Bhangra, traditional garlands and Punjabi hospitality by officials of the Sports department. The visiting players, who were visibly delighted by the warm reception, thanked the hosts and expressed excitement to play in Punjab, the land of hockey legends.

The Japan squad for the tournament includes: Yamada Shota, Tanaka Seren, Watanbe Jun, Matsumoto Kazumasa, Nagai Yuma, Yamashita Manabu, Fujishima Raiki (Captain), Nagayoshi Ken, Saito Hiro, Kashiwagi Ren, Tanaka Tsubasa, Ooka Ryoma, Kawamura Yusuke, Kuroda Kisho (Goalkeeper), Yamanaka Motoya, Ochiai Haruki, Kitagawa Takumi (Goalkeeper) and Fukuda Kentaro.

Elaborate arrangements have been made for the smooth stay, practice sessions and travel of the team during the championship. The Asian Champions Trophy, being hosted in Punjab for the first time, is expected to witness top hockey action with participation from leading Asian nations.

Owing to the persistent efforts of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the land of Punjab is becoming a first time witness to an international Hockey tournament.

The Punjab Government has assured all participating teams of world-class facilities, security and hospitality befitting an international sporting event.

Other than Japan and hosts India, teams from South Korea, China, Malaysia and Bangladesh are also participating in the Asian Champions Trophy tournament which would start on October 27th at Olympian Surjit Hockey stadium in Jalandhar while the Final would be played at Olympian Balbir Singh Senior hockey stadium in Mohali on November 5th.

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*PUNJAB INCREASES CANAL WATER UTILISATION FROM 26% TO 80%; IRRIGATION COVERAGE EXPANDS TO 61 LAKH ACRES: BARINDER KUMAR GOYAL*

*31.44 KM OF CANALS IN BABA BAKALA CONSTITUENCY LINED WITH CONCRETE AT A COST OF Rs. 21.97-CR*

*REMAINING 77 KM TO BE TAKEN UP FOR LINING ON FEASIBILITY AND PRIORITY BASIS*

*108.71 KM CANAL NETWORK SERVES BABA BAKALA AGRICULTURAL BELT*

*Rs. 7,500 CRORE SPENT TO STRENGTHEN CANAL IRRIGATION ACROSS PUNJAB: BARINDER KUMAR GOYAL*

*Chandigarh, October 23:*Punjab Water Resources Minister Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal on Friday informed the Punjab Vidhan Sabha that the state government was expanding canal irrigation and strengthening the canal network to ensure that water reaches agricultural fields across Punjab.

Replying during question hour to a question raised by Baba Bakala MLA S. Dalbir Singh regarding canal water supply and the lining of watercourses in the constituency, the Cabinet Minister said that concrete lining of 31.44 km of canals had been completed at a cost of Rs. 21.97 crore while the remaining 77 km would be taken up on the basis of feasibility assessments and priority.

The Cabinet Minister informed the house that the canal network serving Baba Bakala constituency originates from the Sabhraon Branch of the Upper Bari Doab Canal (UBDC) system. Irrigation in the area is supplied through seven distributaries and five minors with a combined length of 108.71 km.

Responding to the concerns raised by MLA S. Dalbir Singh regarding the Raiya, Nagoke, Bhinder and Ghaggar Bhana Rajbahas, the Water Resources Minister said that these channels collectively serve around 28,540 acres of agricultural land. He said the government would take up the remaining canal lining works in a phased manner, subject to feasibility and the availability of funds.

Providing details of the work completed in the constituency, Sh. Barinder Kumar Goyal said that 31.44 km of the 108.71-km canal network had been lined with concrete at a cost of Rs. 21 crore 97 lakh 50 thousand. The remaining stretch of approximately 77 km would be considered for lining in the coming period based on technical feasibility and project priorities. He said the objective was to strengthen the canal infrastructure and improve the reliable delivery of irrigation water to farmers.

The Cabinet Minister said that canal water utilisation in Punjab had increased from around 26% to 80% under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann. He said that the government had focused on taking canal water to the tail-end areas so that farmers could access irrigation supplies closer to their fields.

He further informed the house that the area receiving canal irrigation had expanded from 20.89 lakh acres to 61 lakh acres. The government has spent Rs. 7,500 crore to strengthen the irrigation network and improve water distribution across the state.

Sharing details of water availability in Baba Bakala, the Cabinet Minister said that during the Kharif season, water flows in different distributaries ranged from 100% to 132.8% of their respective capacities. He added that canal flows across Punjab had reached 40,000 cusecs for the first time, whereas, the average water capacity was around 26,000 cusecs prior to year 2022.

The Water Resources Minister said the government was working towards its target of ensuring that the entire available share of canal water is utilised within Punjab for agricultural needs.

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*INDIA FACING GRAVEST INSTITUTIONAL CRISIS, BEING PUSHED TOWARDS ELECTED DICTATORSHIP: AMAN ARORA SLAMS CENTRE ON ECI AUTONOMY*

•*ECI’s credibility has been systematically eroded, says Aman Arora*

*• Industries Minister calls the 2023 law a case of “institutional capture”*

Chandigarh, October 23:Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led Union Government, Punjab Industries and Commerce Minister and AAP state president Mr. Aman Arora on Friday said that India's electoral democracy is facing its "gravest institutional crisis" in decades, warning that the Election Commission of India (ECI) has been systematically stripped of its autonomy and the country is being pushed towards an "elected dictatorship."

While participating in the discussion on a crucial resolution seeking constitutional safeguards to protect the voting rights of eligible citizens, Mr. Aman Arora paid tributes to Punjab’s freedom fighters and revolutionaries who laid down their lives for the country’s independence and for the right to vote. Recalling Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s vision of equality at the ballot box, he asserted that the right to vote is not a privilege but the very foundation of democratic citizenship.

Mr. Aman Arora said the crisis was not about any individual Election Commissioner but was structural in nature. He pointed out that two Election Commissioners had raised objections about not being heard and their dissent being repeatedly ignored. Flagging lingering questions over EVMs and the functioning of the ECI, he said the nationwide protests by youth reflected a deepening public distrust in the electoral process.

“The issue is not limited to one Gyanesh Kumar. Tomorrow, whoever comes will have to function within the same system, because the strings are being pulled by those in power,” Mr. Aman Arora stated, while adding that a democracy does not survive on power alone; it survives on the perception of honesty and fairness.

Drawing parallels with the past, Mr. Aman Arora recalled former Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan, who in 1995 suspended elections in Bihar four times amid large-scale booth capturing and refused to hold polls until paramilitary forces were deployed, despite pressure from the then government. He also cited former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, who had objected to Prime Ministerial speeches during 2018-19 and later left the country to join the Asian Development Bank as Vice-President, calling the departure of such officers a loss to national institutions.

He also referred to earlier political attempts to reshape the ECI, including the move from a single-member to a three-member Commission, and said institutions like the ECI must not only be independent but must also appear to be independent.

Training his guns on the 2023 law governing the appointment of Election Commissioners, Mr. Arora said the selection committee- which earlier comprised the Prime Minister, the Leader of Opposition and the Chief Justice of India- has been reconstituted by replacing the Chief Justice with a Union Minister, leaving the Leader of Opposition in a minority. He also flagged the provision that allows the selection committee to consider “any other person” beyond the panel shortlisted by the search committee.

This structure creates a scenario where the accused is also the investigator, the lawyer and the judge. What this law means is that the ruling party can orchestrate the process, commit the crime and pass the judgment, he said, adding that the committees were merely ornamental while effective powers remained with the government.

Reminding the House of Punjab’s legacy in the freedom struggle, Mr. Arora said the responsibility of defending the Constitution now rests again on the people of the state. He strongly supported the resolution brought by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

“This is not a fight for one person or one party. It is a fight to preserve the soul of the world’s largest democracy. If the system is not restored, every future government will be forced to operate within a compromised framework. The survival of a 1.5-billion-strong nation depends on the people’s faith in the fairness of the democratic process,” Mr. Arora asserted.

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Special Camps to be held at all Polling Booths across Punjab on October 24: Anindita Mitra

*Chandigarh, 23rd October:*As per the instructions of Election commission of India, Special Camps are being organized at all polling booths across the State of Punjab on 24th October, 2026 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM to facilitate electors, Mrs Anindita Mitra Chief Electoral officer Punjab informed today.

The CEO stated that the camps are being organized to facilitate the voters to check their names in the Final Electoral Roll published on 12th October, 2026 under Special Intensive Revision (SIR), 2026 and filing applications for new enrolment and modification of electoral details.

Ms. Mitra informed that the qualifying date for new enrolment under the forthcoming Special Summary Revision (SSR) will be 01.01.2027. Any citizen who is attaining the age of 18 years on or before this date can apply for inclusion of his/her name in the electoral roll by filling Form No. 6.

Giving details about the forthcoming SSR schedule, Ms. Mitra said that the Special Summary Revision with reference to 01.01.2027 as the qualifying date will be undertaken across the State. As per the schedule, the Draft Electoral Roll will be published on 12.11.2026, the period for filing claims and objections will be received from 12.11.2026 to 11.12.2026 and the Final Electoral Roll will be published on 04.01.2027.

Mrs. Anindita Mitra appealed to all electors to make maximum use of the camp for obtaining electoral services and for verifying their names and particulars in the Final Electoral Roll, and specially called upon the youth attaining 18 years of age to visit their respective polling booths during the camp and get themselves enrolled.