Gurpreet Singh Nibber is an Assistant Editor with the Punjab bureau. He covers politics, agriculture, power sector, environment, Sikh religious affairs and the Punjabi diaspora.
Articles by Gurpreet Singh Nibber
Resumption of broken rice exports to ease Punjab’s storage woes
The ban led to a buildup of rice stocks and a sharp decline in international prices. Before the ban, India regularly exported 10 to 12 lakh tonnes of broken rice, but with the restriction in place, trade shifted to countries like Vietnam, Thailand and Pakistan.
Published on Mar 12, 2025 09:16 AM IST
Uphill task ahead for new Takht jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj
Politically aware, aggressive and vocal, Giani Gargaj will have to find a way to navigate the present Sikh politico-religious turmoil in SAD and SGPC
Published on Mar 11, 2025 07:28 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Removal of jathedars: SAD initiates disciplinary action against dissenting leaders
The SGPC’s move to sack jathedars of Akal Takht and Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib has triggered an uproar with several SAD leaders opposing the decision and a few even tendering their resignations
Published on Mar 10, 2025 08:34 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Jathedar removal deepens Sikh religio-political crisis, say experts
SGPC's removal of jathedars Giani Raghbir Singh and Giani Sultan Singh fuels Sikh outrage, deepening SAD's crisis amid factional infighting.
Published on Mar 08, 2025 08:40 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab: Revenue officials call off strike but not given property registration work
The Punjab Revenue Officers’ Association had suspended the property registration work till March 7 in protest over the Vigilance Bureau (VB) action against some revenue officials in Ludhiana in a fraudulent land deal
Published on Mar 06, 2025 09:16 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Mann-farmer spat: Latest flashpoint poses a fresh challenge for AAP govt
The SKM, a conglomerate of over 30 farm unions, is on collision course with the Mann government as it has been feeling ‘left out’ lately, especially after the SKM (Non-Political), headed by BKU (Sidhupur) chief Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Kisan Mazdoor Sangarh Committee president Sarwan Singh Pandher, hogging all the limelight
Published on Mar 05, 2025 09:56 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Protest in Chandigarh: SKM to go ahead with Mar 5 sit-in as talks with Mann ‘end abruptly’
Following the meeting between the Punjab government and Samyukta Kisan Morcha, the SKM leaders announced to go ahead with their call for a week-long sit-in in Chandigarh starting March 5
Published on Mar 04, 2025 09:38 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Takht-constituted committee mulls starting SAD membership drive
The month-long recruitment drive organised by the leaders from the Sukhbir Badal camp ended on February 25, and the party had proposed to hold the election of the party’s office bearer on March 1, but later deferred it. So far, no new date for the party’s internal polls has been announced.
Published on Mar 03, 2025 08:30 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Bedlam in House after LoP makes graft allegations against power minister
Without naming anyone, Bajwa during zero hour alleged that the ‘party fund’ was collected at the behest of a minister, triggering a sharp reaction from the AAP and cabinet minister Aman Arora.
Published on Feb 26, 2025 08:56 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Bajwa takes on AAP government in Punjab over ‘dismal’ revenue from sand mining
Ruling party promised ₹20,000 crore annual revenue but it’s ₹288 crore averagely, he says in state assembly
Published on Feb 25, 2025 09:08 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Two-day Punjab assembly session begins with tributes to former PM Manmohan Singh
Leader of opposition and Qadian Congress MLA Partap Singh Bajwa urged Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan to pass a resolution, recommending the highest civilian award of Bharat Ratna to Manmohan Singh.
Published on Feb 24, 2025 12:46 PM IST
Ministers, farmers hold discussions on MSP law
Two years after farm unions ended their massive protest on Delhi’s borders, they are back on the streets demanding guaranteed prices for their crops
Published on Feb 23, 2025 05:46 AM IST
Paddy farmers in dilemma over seed selection amid last season’s losses
The out-turn ratio of paddy to rice is the percentage of rice yield that is extracted from paddy after milling. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) mandates an OTR of 67%, meaning that from every 100 kg of paddy, 67 kg of rice should be obtained.
Published on Feb 21, 2025 09:48 AM IST
Panthic convention calls for Sikh unity, opposes Giani Harpreet’s removal
Giani Harpreet Singh advocates for diplomatic solutions for Sikhs abroad and calls for unity within the community amid ongoing challenges.
Published on Feb 20, 2025 07:46 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Former SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar quits Akal Takht-constituted panel
Five of the seven members of the committee met at Bahadurgarh near Patiala on Tuesday and decided to approach the Akal Takht, seeking clarity on the purpose of the committee. Dhami and Badungar abstained from the meeting.
Published on Feb 19, 2025 08:52 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Not a Singhu 2.0 but farmers’ Shambhu, Khanauri standoff still a force to reckon with
The current agitation led by Jagjit Singh Dallewal and Sarwan Singh Pandher didn’t get a full-fledged support of other key farmer unions, but it prompted the SC to form a panel to study their demands and the Centre to invite them for talks
Published on Feb 14, 2025 09:28 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
To check stubble burning: 500-cr plan for crop residue mgmt in the works in Punjab
A ₹500-crore outlay is being prepared for crop residue management (CRM) in Punjab to handle paddy stubble both in-situ and ex-situ during the upcoming kharif (paddy) harvest, set to begin in October
Published on Feb 10, 2025 07:08 AM IST
5 out of 11 Sikh faces victorious in Delhi assembly elections
In the 2020 Delhi assembly elections also 11 Sikhs had contested, out of which two – both belonging to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) -- had won. Then, SAD an alliance partner of the BJP had backed out of the polls at the last moment protesting against the Citizens Amendment Act passed by the BJP government.
Published on Feb 09, 2025 09:06 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Punjab: Takht panel seeks clarity on membership drive from Bhundar
The next meeting has been fixed for February 11, in which, according to Gurpartap Singh Wadala, who is part of the Takht committee, Bhundar will be asked if the membership drive initiated by the party was as per last year’s edict of the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs.
Published on Feb 05, 2025 06:06 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Segregation of broken rice : Centre’s pilot project to improve foodgrain quality
Also, ethanol producers might get cheaper raw material as in the wake of short supply of maize, industry has been demanding rice as an alternative source. Four states, Punjab, Haryana, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have been asked to mill 10,000 tonnes of paddy each and segregate broken rice.
Published on Feb 03, 2025 06:44 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
SAD asks Dhami-led Takht panel to supervise membership drive
Confirming the development party spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema said: “The party has given all rights to (SGPC chief) Dhami to take decisions and take forward the work of supervising the membership drive.”
Published on Feb 01, 2025 08:06 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Gurdwara elections body likely to hold SGPC polls in June
The Gurdwara Elections Commission has set April 16 as the date for finalising the electoral rolls, after which it would write to the union ministry for home to announce the election.
Published on Jan 30, 2025 10:51 PM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Crackdown on illegal immigrants: US agents’ visit to gurdwaras sparks concern
Sikh organisations have also flagged their concerns terming such actions as a threat to the sanctity of their faith.
Updated on Jan 28, 2025 06:35 AM IST
Wheat flour rates soar to ₹40- ₹60/kg in Punjab due to grain shortage
The rise in wheat flour rates has led to a rise of ₹10-15/kg in the rates of other byproducts, with refined wheat flour (maida) costing ₹45/kg in the retail market. If the situation prevails, the prices of other food items, including bread, may also see a rise.
Updated on Jan 25, 2025 07:26 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Wadala included in committee to oversee SAD’s membership drive
Shiromani Akali Dal includes rebel leader Gurpartap Singh Wadala in membership drive committee, but he calls it a “farce” undermining Akal Takht's authority.
Updated on Jan 24, 2025 08:08 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Centre’s open market scheme to ease Punjab’s storage pangs
Punjab’s storage woes may soon ease with the Union ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution, announcing an open market sale scheme (OMSS) to offer subsidised rice to stakeholders, including ethanol producers, traders and cooperatives
Updated on Jan 23, 2025 08:20 AM IST
Punjab stares at storage pangs ahead of wheat procurement
At least 145 lakh tonnes of foodgrain is already stored in state godowns and around 115 lakh tonnes of freshly shelled rice is ready to find its way into granaries
Updated on Jan 22, 2025 05:36 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
Sukhbir gets first membership as SAD launches drive
SAD’s working president Bhundar inaugurated the drive by handing over membership copies to Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Suchha Singh Langah. The membership drive started across the state.
Updated on Jan 21, 2025 06:18 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
MLA Ayali to seek jathedar directions before joining Akali Dal’s membership drive
Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali is part of Akal Takht’s 7-member committee formed to supervise SAD’s re-organisation
Updated on Jan 14, 2025 06:46 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh
SAD working panel accepts Sukhbir’s resignation
Second-most senior leader Balwinder Singh Bhundar to be acting president until the election of new chief on March 1; party’s membership drive to start from Jan 20
Updated on Jan 11, 2025 08:50 AM IST
Gurpreet Singh Nibber, Chandigarh