*Indian Farmers Betrayed with US-India Trade Deal: Kultar Singh Sandhwan*
Chandigarh, 16 February 2026:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S Kultar Singh Sandhwan accused the central government of betraying with Indian farmers through the India-US trade deal. He added that the agreement will inflict deep damage to Indian farmers.
He said this deal will not only destroy Indian farmers but also ruin farmers interest. He strongly condemned this decision of the central government and said BJP government continuously misled the farmers. He stated that our government stands shoulder to shoulder with the farmers.
Sandhwan highlighted that without strong domestic support such as fair prices, subsidies, infrastructure and risk protection, moves to open markets to foreigners can spell trouble for small and marginal farmers. The upcoming protest of farmers is a warning sign. If the government believes that this agreement truly puts the interests of farmers first, then it must prove it through transparency, parliamentary debate and meaningful consultation. Otherwise, this narrative of reform will once again fail to address the concerns of those who feed the country.
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*PUNJAB GOVT CRACKS DOWN ON LUDHIANA “GHOST SCHOOL”; INITIATES RECOGNITION WITHDRAWAL, CRIMINAL COMPLAINT*
*• Harjot Bains vows to uphold integrity of education system*
*• Education Minister directs investigation teams to expedite probes into other suspected schools & submit reports at the earliest*
Chandigarh, February 16:–In a major crackdown on educational malpractices to uphold the integrity of the state's education system, the Punjab Government has taken stringent action against a "Ghost School" in Ludhiana for enrolling students for 12th exams despite lacking facilities for practical exams.
Sharing the details, Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains disclosed that the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has initiated stringent action against the Dasmesh Public Senior Secondary School, Mehdoodan in Ludhiana, (School code 3100187), including withdrawal of recognition and filing a criminal complaint for submitting false documents. The PSEB has also cancelled the roll numbers of all 27 students registered by the school.
S. Harjot Singh Bains stated that upon physical verification, the erring school was found to be non-existent, with its premises rented out and no classes held. The 27 students registered for 12th exams were found to be non-existent, prompting the PSEB to cancel their roll numbers. He further shared that four more schools are under investigation as the government vows to crack down on institutions compromising education quality and indulging in exam malpractices.
S. Harjot Singh Bains categorically stated, "Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government is committed to ensure quality education and protecting students' future. We'll take strictest action against institutions running 'ghost schools' and compromising students' futures – no leniency will be shown."
The Education Minister assured parents and students that action will be taken against erring institutions while protecting legitimate students' interests through rehabilitation and guidance. Investigation teams have been directed to expedite probes into other suspected schools and submit reports at the earliest.