Indian Updates 17 Mar 2026 - Bengal Purge & Nitish RS

Tuesday 17 March 2026 — Ranjodh Singh and senior journalist Pritam Singh Rupal bring you deep analysis of six major stories shaping India and Punjab today on Radio Haanji Indian Updates. The Election Commission has removed five of West Bengal's most senior officials — including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and DGP — within hours of announcing the state's 2026 assembly election schedule. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has responded furiously, writing to the Chief Election Commissioner and accusing the ECI of acting at the BJP's direction. Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been elected to the Rajya Sabha alongside BJP president Nitin Nabin, signalling his departure from the Chief Minister's post. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha has passed a formal resolution demanding the Bharat Ratna for Manyavar Kanshi Ram. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has warned that a BJP win in Punjab 2027 could trigger religious conflict. And following the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk after six months of NSA detention, tens of thousands of Ladakhis took to the streets in Leh and Kargil demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule constitutional protections. Indian Updates is Radio Haanji 1674 AM's daily programme for deep analysis of India and Punjab news — not just headlines, but the context and significance that matters to the Punjabi community in Australia, Singapore and worldwide. New episodes every Monday to Friday. All episodes free on demand. Listen free at haanji.com.au Radio Haanji App: iOS and Android Tuesday 17 March 2026 — Ranjodh Singh and senior journalist Pritam Singh Rupal bring you deep analysis of six major stories shaping India and Punjab today on Radio Haanji Indian Updates. The Election Commission has removed five of West Bengal's most senior officials — including the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and DGP — within hours of announcing the state's 2026 assembly election schedule. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has responded furiously, writing to the Chief Election Commissioner and accusing the ECI of acting at the BJP's direction. Bihar's longest-serving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has been elected to the Rajya Sabha alongside BJP president Nitin Nabin, signalling his departure from the Chief Minister's post. The Punjab Vidhan Sabha has passed a formal resolution demanding the Bharat Ratna for Manyavar Kanshi Ram. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has warned that a BJP win in Punjab 2027 could trigger religious conflict. And following the release of climate activist Sonam Wangchuk after six months of NSA detention, tens of thousands of Ladakhis took to the streets in Leh and Kargil demanding statehood and Sixth Schedule constitutional protections. Indian Updates is Radio Haanji 1674 AM's daily programme for deep analysis of India and Punjab news — not just headlines, but the context and significance that matters to the Punjabi community in Australia, Singapore and worldwide. New episodes every Monday to Friday. All episodes free on demand. Listen free at haanji.com.au Radio Haanji App: iOS and Android   #IndianUpdates #RadioHaanji #PunjabiNews #WestBengalElections2026 #MamataBanerjee #NitishKumar #RajyaSabha2026 #SonamWangchuk #LadakhRally #KanshiRamBharatRatna #PunjabVidhanSabha #BhagwantMann #PunjabNews #PritamSinghRupal #RanjodhSingh #PunjabiPodcast #RadioHaanji1674AM #IndiaElections2026 #MelbournePunjabi #SingaporePunjabi