News / Author / Sukhdeep Kaur

Sukhdeep Kaur

Sukhdeep Kaur is an assistant editor with the Punjab bureau. She covers politics, social issues and special projects, including on-the-ground reporting during critical situations.

Articles by Sukhdeep Kaur

Punjab minister says every 2nd inmate in state jails is a drug convict

Aam Aadmi Party in Chandigarh accused the on chair party Congress of not maintaining law in Punjab prisons.

AAP MLAs alleged that there was complete lawlessness in Punjab prisons.(HT photo)

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Updated on Aug 07, 2019 09:58 AM IST

Hindustan Times,Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

‘Wrong to arrest Kashmiri leaders,’ says Capt Amarinder Singh

He also expressed surprise at the Akali Dal’s decision to welcome the development, saying they had done a somersault as the move was against the federal structure, which incidentally was the essence of the Akali’s Anandpur Sahib resolution.

Capt Amarinder Singh said the act smacked of double standards on the part of the BJP-led government at the Centre.(HT PHOTO.)

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Updated on Aug 07, 2019 01:35 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Punjab tweaks bill, govt to bear ₹17 lakh tax liability on CM’s perks

After chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh endorsed it, the Punjab assembly had in the last budget session passed the amendment to make ministers and leader of Opposition, who holds a cabinet rank, bear their own income tax liability.

It was Punjab finance minister Manpreet Badal who had mooted the idea that Punjab’s MLAs — 81% of whom are millionaires — pay income tax on their salaries.(Sanjeev Sharma/HT Photo)

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Updated on Aug 07, 2019 01:38 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Fireworks at Punjab Congress meet; ministers, MLAs air grievances

The meeting was held on Monday evening during the "dinner diplomacy" of chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh to placate ruffled feathers of party MLAs who had aired their resentment over handling of the sacrilege issue by the government during the CLP meeting held on Friday.

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh(Sanjeev Khanna / HT File)

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Published on Aug 06, 2019 01:16 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Amarinder Singh accepts Sidhu’s resignation, sends it for Governor’s nod

The CM’s office cited Sidhu’s refusal to take over the power ministry as the reason for acceptance of the resignation.

Sidhu had submitted his resignation to Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on June 10 and gone incommunicado. A statement released by the CM’s office on Saturday said the governor has given his approval.(Gurpreet Singh/Hindustan Times)

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Updated on Jul 22, 2019 07:37 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Half of Punjab farmers on loan-waiver list ‘ineligible’ or being verified

Punjab is pinning the blame for ineligible beneficiaries on private commercial banks, saying the data given by them was “misleading”.

Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh along with other Congress leaders during the distribution of loan waiver cheques to farmers in Gurdaspur in April , 2018.(HT File Photo)

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Updated on Jul 05, 2019 08:59 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur, Chandigarh

Navjot Sidhu refuses new portfolio, left out of key govt panels

A sulking Sidhu is learnt to be camping in New Delhi to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi before deciding his next course.

Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh along with local bodies minister Navjot Sidhu talking with media at Jalandhar.(Pardeep Pandit/HT File Photo)

india news

Updated on Jun 08, 2019 11:24 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Captain clips Sidhu’s wings, strips him of local bodies, rejigs portfolios

The Captain’s action came hours after Sidhu skipped the first cabinet meeting post the Lok Sabha elections and instead held a press briefing at his official residence.

The CM struck back by stripping Sidhu, who is at third place in the cabinet pecking order, of his plum local bodies portfolio as well as tourism ministry.(Pardeep Pandit/HT Photo)

india news

Updated on Jun 07, 2019 07:22 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Flush with funds, Sidhu’s department puts out report card for Capt Amarinder Singh

The simmering Amarinder- Sidhu tussle had escalated soon after the results of Lok sabha elections after the Congress won eight of 13 seats in state.

The CM had hinted that he would seek a change in Sidhu’s portfolio from the party high command, blaming the minister for lack of development in urban areas.(HT File Photo)

india news

Updated on Jun 02, 2019 02:49 PM IST

Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Punjab: In 20 seats it lost in 2017 polls, BJP wrests 11 from Cong, cuts lead in 9

In the assembly seat sharing matrix, the saffron party contests 23 urban seats , while its senior ally, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the remaining 94.

In all the three seats the BJP won in state polls, it has bettered its vote tally, including Phagwara, Sujanpur and Abohar.(AFP File Photo)

india news

Updated on May 29, 2019 12:12 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Amid face-off, Capt, Sidhu camp in Delhi to get audience

The CM blamed Sidhu for party’s “poor show” in urban areas, saying no development work was carried out in cities and towns by Sidhu’s department. Capt said he would be taking Sidhu’s report card to Rahul to make a case for change in his portfolio.

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit and AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi at the CWC meeting in Delhi(HTphotos)

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Updated on May 27, 2019 10:23 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Lok Sabha Elections Results 2019: Amarinder Singh blames Navjot Sidhu for seats Congress lost, hints at portfolio change

Though Capt Amarinder Singh was able to stop the Modi juggernaut in Punjab, the mood at the CM residence where he addressed the media on Thursday afternoon was sombre in face of his party’s poor show.

The BJP failed to make much headway in Punjab where the Congress led by Capt Amarinder Singh bucked the trend to win eight of the 13 Lok Sabha seats.(ANI)

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Updated on May 25, 2019 01:18 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur, Chandigarh

Lok Sabha Elections Results 2019: Congress in driver’s seat in Punjab

Lok Sabha Elections Results 2019: The verdict will be a mid-term report card for the Congress and chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who is battling rebellion from his firebrand minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.

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Updated on May 23, 2019 03:31 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: At Priyanka Gandhi rally, Navjot Sidhu rejoins Punjab campaign to attack Badals

Navjot Singh Sidhu had taken offence to the Punjab Congress dropping him out of the list of speakers at a Rahul Gandhi’s Moga rally in March this year and had been in a sulk for days, skipping office and political events.

Navjot Singh Sidhu, a star campaigner of the Congress in many states, had kept himself out of electioneering in Punjab reportedly because he felt slighted by the state leadership(Sameer Sehgal/Hindustan Times)

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Updated on May 14, 2019 09:36 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Lok Sabha elections 2019: Navjot Singh Sidhu to give his home state a miss in poll campaign

Congress star campaigner, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu is all set to give his home state a miss. The cricketer-turned-politician, who is headed next to Bihar today to address a rally for Shatrughan Sinha.

Navjot Singh Sidhu will not address a single rally in Punjab(HT Photo)

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Updated on May 14, 2019 09:26 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

‘Jakhar as future CM’: Capt Amarinder Singh plays Hindu card in star-struck Gurdaspur

With history of no Hindu chief minister, Captain tries to woo the community in Gurdaspur where it has a dominant presence

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Updated on May 13, 2019 10:44 PM IST

Hindustan Times | BySukhdeep Kaur, Chandigarh

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: BJP micro-managing Sunny Deol’s campaign from Delhi

Gurdaspur candidate Sunny Deol may have lent star power to the campaign, but the BJP headquarters in New Delhi is micro-managing both his on-ground and social media campaigns.

BJP candidate Sunny Deol during an election campaign in Gurdaspur, Punjab on Sunday, May 12, 2019.(ANI)

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Published on May 13, 2019 11:06 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Gurdaspur | BySukhdeep Kaur, Gurdaspur

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Gunning for Gurdaspur, attack and counter attack between Sunil Jakhar and Sunny Deol

Sunil Jakhar, the Congress candidate from Gurdaspur has called BJP candidate Sunny Deol a misfit in politics, and alluded to his rival’s recent Bollywood flops to question his poll plunge. Deol says it means he will be in politics full time.

Sunil Jakhar (left) of the Congress is pitted against BJP’s Sunny Deol in Gurdaspur Lok Sabha constituency.(Agencies)

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Published on May 10, 2019 11:01 AM IST

Hindustan Times | BySukhdeep Kaur

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Modi, not Sunny Deol the real hero in Gurdaspur; Sikhs divided over Jakhar

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: In Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, it is PM Modi and not BJP candidate Sunny Deol who is the real hero on the ground.

Supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wear masks in the likeness PM Modi during a rally in New Delhi, on Wednesday, May 8, 2019.(Bloomberg)

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Published on May 09, 2019 02:37 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Gurdaspur | BySukhdeep Kaur, Gurdaspur

Lok Sabha elections 2019: Congress wants Priyanka to counter Sunny’s star appeal in Gurdaspur

Congress general secretary in-charge of Punjab Asha Kumari said Priyanka will be campaigning in Punjab. “We have sought her dates for Gurdaspur.

On whether the party will rope in Bollywood celebrities to take on Deol, Asha said the party has enough star power.(Asha Kumari/ Twitter)

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Updated on May 06, 2019 12:03 PM IST

Hindustan Times, CHANDIGARH | BySukhdeep Kaur

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Value of Punjab CM’s Moti Bagh palace same as 15 years back

As per the poll affidavit filed by Congress’ Patiala candidate, Preneet Kaur, the value of Moti Bagh palace, inherited by her husband and Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, is ₹35 crore, the same as it was in 2004.

Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singhn inherited the New Moti Bagh palace in Patiala as scion of the Patiala royalty.(Bharat Bhushan / HT File)

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Published on Apr 30, 2019 01:55 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur, Chandigarh

Lok Sabha elections 2019: Congress playing poaching games, say AAP MLAs

Sunam legislator Aman Arora said the Congress has tried to poach every MLA in AAP.

The defections being engineered by the ruling party has left its own MLAs fuming.(HT Phptp)

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Published on Apr 28, 2019 08:30 AM IST

Hindustan Times, CHANDIGARH | BySukhdeep Kaur

Lok Sabha elections 2019: Congress playing poaching games, say AAP MLAs

The MLAs owing allegiance to party chief Arvind Kejriwal tried to keep flock together by holding a show of strength in Chandigarh on Saturday to refute reports that some of them were ready to switch loyalties.

Days after Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rebel MLA Nazar Singh Manshahia joined the Congress, its legislators accused the ruling party of being on a poaching expedition.(Hindustan Times)

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Published on Apr 28, 2019 05:13 AM IST

Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Lok Sabha election: Congress playing poaching games, allege AAP MLAs

Holding show of strength, legislators from party’s rebel faction too accuse ruling party of spreading canards.

The MLAs owing allegiance to party chief Arvind Kejriwal held a show of strength in Chandigarh on Saturday to refute reports that some of them were ready to switch loyalties.(HT Photo)

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Updated on Apr 27, 2019 10:22 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Congress candidate from Fatehgarh Sahib LS seat, Dr Amar Singh claims to know people’s pulse

Among those supporting Dr Amar Singh, the Congress candidate from Fatehgarh Sahib Lok Sabha seat, Amloh MLA Randeep Singh Nabha says Amar Singh is an educated candidate, who would be an asset for the party and Fatehgarh Sahib as a MP as he has the right connections in government of India.

Dr Amar Singh, Congress candidate from Fatehgarh Sahib LS seat.(HT Photo)

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Published on Apr 22, 2019 12:38 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur, Chandigarh

Congress names Raja Warring for Bathinda, Ghubaya for Ferozepur

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has allowed Amarinder to have his way on some key seats, including Anandpur Sahib and Sangrur.

From Ferozepur, the party has decided on Ghubaya, keeping in mind that Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal has given indications of contesting from the Akali bastion.(PTI FILE PHOTO)

india news

Updated on Apr 21, 2019 04:20 AM IST

Hindustan Times, CHANDIGARH | BySukhdeep Kaur

Lok Sabha Elections 2019 : Embattled Badals offer political asylum to long-time foe

In line of fire over Panthic issues, Akalis desperate to win Bathinda and Ferozepur; Brar’s political career too had reached a dead end.

elections

Published on Apr 20, 2019 11:54 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur, Chandigarh

Lok Sabha election: Sidhu says no to Rahul Gandhi’s Bathinda seat offer to wife

The waiting game is still on between the Congress and the Akalis on Bathinda and Ferozepur seats ever since Sukhbir has given indications that both he and Harsimrat could contest from the two segments.

Congress star campaigner Navjot Singh Sidhu meets supporters during a road show at Kozhikode in Kerala on Thursday.(PTI)

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Updated on Apr 18, 2019 10:59 PM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Congress clears 2 more names, Tewari from Anandpur Sahib, Dhillon from Sangrur

The meeting that started late on Thursday evening went on for an hour during which all four remaining seats were discussed.

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Published on Apr 12, 2019 06:08 AM IST

Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

Lok Sabha polls: Congress clears two more names, Tewari from Anandpur Sahib, Dhillon from Sangrur

The names were finalised at a meeting of the state screening committee comprising Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, state Congress president Sunil Jakhar, state affairs in-charge Asha Kumari and general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal with Rahul.

elections

Updated on Apr 12, 2019 09:15 AM IST

Hindustan Times, Chandigarh | BySukhdeep Kaur

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Sukhdeep Kaur

Sukhdeep Kaur is an assistant editor with the Punjab bureau. She covers politics, social issues and special projects, including on-the-ground reporting during critical situations.

Aam Aadmi Party in Chandigarh accused the on chair party Congress of not maintaining law in Punjab prisons.

He also expressed surprise at the Akali Dal’s decision to welcome the development, saying they had done a somersault as the move was against the federal structure, which incidentally was the essence of the Akali’s Anandpur Sahib resolution.

After chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh endorsed it, the Punjab assembly had in the last budget session passed the amendment to make ministers and leader of Opposition, who holds a cabinet rank, bear their own income tax liability.

The meeting was held on Monday evening during the "dinner diplomacy" of chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh to placate ruffled feathers of party MLAs who had aired their resentment over handling of the sacrilege issue by the government during the CLP meeting held on Friday.

The CM’s office cited Sidhu’s refusal to take over the power ministry as the reason for acceptance of the resignation.

Punjab is pinning the blame for ineligible beneficiaries on private commercial banks, saying the data given by them was “misleading”.

A sulking Sidhu is learnt to be camping in New Delhi to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi before deciding his next course.

The Captain’s action came hours after Sidhu skipped the first cabinet meeting post the Lok Sabha elections and instead held a press briefing at his official residence.

The simmering Amarinder- Sidhu tussle had escalated soon after the results of Lok sabha elections after the Congress won eight of 13 seats in state.

In the assembly seat sharing matrix, the saffron party contests 23 urban seats , while its senior ally, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the remaining 94.

The CM blamed Sidhu for party’s “poor show” in urban areas, saying no development work was carried out in cities and towns by Sidhu’s department. Capt said he would be taking Sidhu’s report card to Rahul to make a case for change in his portfolio.

Though Capt Amarinder Singh was able to stop the Modi juggernaut in Punjab, the mood at the CM residence where he addressed the media on Thursday afternoon was sombre in face of his party’s poor show.

Lok Sabha Elections Results 2019: The verdict will be a mid-term report card for the Congress and chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who is battling rebellion from his firebrand minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Navjot Singh Sidhu had taken offence to the Punjab Congress dropping him out of the list of speakers at a Rahul Gandhi’s Moga rally in March this year and had been in a sulk for days, skipping office and political events.

Congress star campaigner, Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu is all set to give his home state a miss. The cricketer-turned-politician, who is headed next to Bihar today to address a rally for Shatrughan Sinha.

With history of no Hindu chief minister, Captain tries to woo the community in Gurdaspur where it has a dominant presence

Gurdaspur candidate Sunny Deol may have lent star power to the campaign, but the BJP headquarters in New Delhi is micro-managing both his on-ground and social media campaigns.

Sunil Jakhar, the Congress candidate from Gurdaspur has called BJP candidate Sunny Deol a misfit in politics, and alluded to his rival’s recent Bollywood flops to question his poll plunge. Deol says it means he will be in politics full time.

Lok Sabha Elections 2019: In Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, it is PM Modi and not BJP candidate Sunny Deol who is the real hero on the ground.

Congress general secretary in-charge of Punjab Asha Kumari said Priyanka will be campaigning in Punjab. “We have sought her dates for Gurdaspur.

As per the poll affidavit filed by Congress’ Patiala candidate, Preneet Kaur, the value of Moti Bagh palace, inherited by her husband and Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, is ₹35 crore, the same as it was in 2004.

Sunam legislator Aman Arora said the Congress has tried to poach every MLA in AAP.

The MLAs owing allegiance to party chief Arvind Kejriwal tried to keep flock together by holding a show of strength in Chandigarh on Saturday to refute reports that some of them were ready to switch loyalties.

Holding show of strength, legislators from party’s rebel faction too accuse ruling party of spreading canards.

Among those supporting Dr Amar Singh, the Congress candidate from Fatehgarh Sahib Lok Sabha seat, Amloh MLA Randeep Singh Nabha says Amar Singh is an educated candidate, who would be an asset for the party and Fatehgarh Sahib as a MP as he has the right connections in government of India.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi has allowed Amarinder to have his way on some key seats, including Anandpur Sahib and Sangrur.

In line of fire over Panthic issues, Akalis desperate to win Bathinda and Ferozepur; Brar’s political career too had reached a dead end.

The waiting game is still on between the Congress and the Akalis on Bathinda and Ferozepur seats ever since Sukhbir has given indications that both he and Harsimrat could contest from the two segments.

The meeting that started late on Thursday evening went on for an hour during which all four remaining seats were discussed.

The names were finalised at a meeting of the state screening committee comprising Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, state Congress president Sunil Jakhar, state affairs in-charge Asha Kumari and general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal with Rahul.

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