{
  "id": 11685147,
  "title": "Do you support anti-sacrilege bill or not: AAP leader Cheema asks Pargat Singh",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/do-you-support-anti-sacrilege-bill-or-not-aap-leader-cheema-asks",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T12:54:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/punjab/do-you-support-anti-sacrilege-bill-or-not-aap-leader-cheema-asks-pargat-singh/article71540711.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema questioned newly appointed Congress chief Pargat Singh about his support for the anti-sacrilege bill and his silence on the issues of drug abuse and sacrilege during his time in the Shiromani Akali Dal. Cheema further criticized Singh's performance as Sports and Education Minister during the previous Congress regime, citing issues such as the flawed recruitment process of 1,158 assistant professors and the minimal sports budget. The Congress appointed Singh as the president of the Punjab Congress following the resignation of Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who left office due to internal party conflicts. Cheema asked Singh which faction of the Congress he now supported, as he had claimed to represent both factions during his time in the Akali Dal.",
  "summary": "Drugs and ‘beadbi’ (sacrilege) were among the biggest political issues in Punjab during the Akali Dal (Badal)-BJP rule, yet Pargat Singh did not publicly raise his voice against either issue while he was part of the Akali Dal, said Harpal Singh Cheema",
  "key_points": [
    "Punjab Minister Harpal Singh Cheema questioned Pargat Singh on anti-sacrilege bill support.",
    "Cheema criticized Singh's performance as Sports and Education Minister.",
    "Singh appointed as Punjab Congress president following Amrinder Singh's resignation."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Hindu",
        "title": "Punjab Congress chief Pargat Singh pitches ‘team spirit’ to faction-ridden unit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/punjab-congress-chief-pargat-singh-pitches-team-spirit-to-faction",
        "published": "2026-10-03T14:36:20.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}