A political confrontation erupted in the Punjab assembly after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dismissed opposition allegations that he attended the session under the influence of alcohol, calling the claims baseless and politically motivated.

The controversy began when opposition leaders, including Congress members, demanded that the chief minister undergo an alcohol test, alleging that he appeared intoxicated during proceedings. Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa questioned the purpose of continuing assembly business under such circumstances and called for testing of all members.

Responding to the accusations, Mann said the opposition had “no real issues” to raise and was resorting to distractions. He questioned the demand for testing and rejected the allegations outright.

The issue led to heated exchanges inside the House, with both sides engaging in a war of words. Leaders from the BJP also criticised the chief minister, calling the allegations serious and raising concerns over governance.

AAP counters with land case allegation

Amid the controversy, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party shifted the focus by accusing the opposition of diverting attention from a separate issue. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema alleged that the uproar was linked to a land encroachment case involving Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira.

According to Cheema, a report related to the case had triggered the opposition’s reaction, leading to disruptions and a walkout in the assembly. He claimed the episode highlighted deeper issues within the Congress.

Political tensions escalate

The developments have intensified political tensions in Punjab, with both the ruling party and opposition trading sharp accusations. While the opposition continues to press for accountability over the allegations against the chief minister, the AAP maintains that the claims are an attempt to deflect attention from other controversies.

The allegations against Mann remain unproven, but the episode has added to the ongoing friction between the state’s major political parties.

The Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab has passed a confidence motion in the state assembly, reaffirming its majority in the House.

The motion was moved by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann during a special session of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. The move came amid recent political speculation regarding the stability of the ruling party.

With a strong numerical position in the 117-member assembly, AAP demonstrated that it continues to command the support of a majority of legislators. The outcome of the vote reinforced the party’s dominance in the House.

Addressing the assembly, Mann said the confidence motion was brought to put an end to rumours about any instability within the government. He asserted that the party remains united and committed to governance in the state.

The trust vote was passed with the backing of AAP legislators, underlining internal cohesion despite ongoing political discussions at the broader level.

The result is expected to strengthen the Mann-led government’s position and provide stability as it moves forward with its policy agenda in Punjab.

India has begun testing a new nationwide disaster alert system that sends emergency messages directly to mobile phones, often accompanied by loud beeps or vibrations. The initiative is being implemented by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in coordination with the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to improve public safety during emergencies.

The alerts many users are receiving are part of a trial phase, and authorities have clarified that these are test messages that do not require any action.

What is the NDMA alert SMS system

The system is designed to warn citizens about disasters such as earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, lightning strikes, and even man-made emergencies like gas leaks.

It uses a mix of traditional SMS and Cell Broadcast (CB) technology, which allows alerts to be sent to all mobile phones within a specific geographic area simultaneously.

Unlike regular SMS, which are sent individually, cell broadcast messages are delivered instantly to multiple users at once, making them faster and more effective during critical situations.

Why you may hear loud alert sounds

Many users have reported sudden loud alarm-like sounds when receiving these alerts. This happens because the system is designed to override silent mode on phones to ensure the message gets immediate attention.

Such alerts are especially useful during time-sensitive emergencies when quick response can save lives.

Nationwide testing underway

The government is currently conducting pan-India trials of the system before its official rollout. Citizens across different states may receive these messages multiple times during the testing period.

Officials have urged people not to panic and to ignore the alerts during this phase, as they are only meant to check system performance and reach.

How the system will help in real emergencies

Once fully operational, the system will:

• Deliver alerts in multiple Indian languages
• Reach users instantly, even during network congestion
• Target specific geographic areas for precise warnings
• Work alongside existing disaster platforms like the Sachet portal

The goal is to ensure real-time communication during disasters, reducing response time and improving public safety.