Today in Punjab, the news cycle is dominated by escalating farmer protests in Chandigarh, a worsening sanitation crisis across major cities, and political heat over a recent fuel price hike.
Top 10 Punjab News Headlines: Friday, May 15, 2026
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Clashes at Chandigarh Border: Police Use Tear Gas on Farmers Tensions boiled over at the Mohali-Chandigarh border as Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) protesters clashed with police during a march toward the Governor’s house. Reports indicate a lathi charge and the use of water cannons to disperse the crowds.
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Farmers to Burn Effigies of Governor and BJP Leaders Tomorrow Following today’s confrontation, farmer unions have announced a statewide escalation for Saturday, May 16, pledging to burn effigies of the Punjab Governor and BJP leadership in every district to protest the “central government’s anti-farmer policies.”
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Garbage Crisis Deepens as Safai Sewak Strike Enters 10th Day Residents in Sangrur and other major towns have petitioned the Chief Secretary as heaps of waste pile up in public spaces. The ongoing strike by municipal sanitation workers has triggered fears of a public health emergency.
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AAP Slams Central Fuel Hike as “Anti-Punjab” Punjab Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal held a press conference today condemning the ₹3.11/litre hike in diesel prices. He argued the timing is devastating for farmers as paddy sowing begins across the state.
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High Court Stays Kharar Municipal Corporation Elections In a significant legal development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has put a stay on the upcoming Kharar MC polls. The decision follows petitions alleging irregularities in the electoral process.
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Heatwave Surge: ₹73 Lakh Spent on Treatments Under MMSY As temperatures soar, the state has seen a massive spike in gastroenteritis and dehydration cases. The government reported that the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana has provided cashless treatment to thousands, primarily senior citizens, this month.
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Punjab Risks Losing Central Grants Over Finance Commission Delay Reports emerged today that the state government is yet to constitute the Seventh State Finance Commission. This delay reportedly puts over ₹16,000 crore in local body grants from the Center at risk for the 2026-27 period.
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CM Mann Meets Agri Minister Chouhan on Crop Diversification Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in Delhi. The high-level talks focused on finding a roadmap for water conservation and moving farmers away from the paddy-wheat cycle toward oilseeds and pulses.
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Punjab Roadways Workers Announce Strike for Late May The Contract Workers’ Union of Punjab Roadways has opened a new front against the government, announcing a complete “chakka jam” (strike) from May 25 to 27 over long-standing demands for regularisation.
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Ludhiana Cyber Fraud Ring Busted: 132 Arrested In a massive crackdown, Ludhiana police dismantled a major cybercrime network. Authorities arrested 132 individuals allegedly involved in a sophisticated operation targeting citizens through various digital scams.
