India
Aam Aadmi Party announces second list of 31 candidates for 2027 Punjab Assembly polls
The Aam Aadmi Party has released its second list of 31 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, bringing the total to 71 nominees. The list was decided after a meeting led by national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, based on ground surveys and public feedback. Eight sitting legislators were replaced, and two Members of Parliament included. The focus remains on 21 constituencies lost in 2022, prioritising grassroots party workers and contesting key opposition areas.
'We Need A Separate Ministry To Combat Air Pollution': Dr Sanjeev BagaiSenior consultant pediatrician and Chairman of Nephron Clinic, Professor Dr Sanjeev Bagai, warned that severe air pollution is causing irreparable multi-generational damage to public health in India. He highlighted that ultrafine particulate matter, toxic gases, carcinogens, and micro-nanoplastics penetrate deep into the bloodstream, crossing the blood-brain barrier and damaging DNA chromosomes.
Dr Bagai noted severe health outcomes, including stillbirths, congenital heart defects, childhood leukemia, stunting, and increased cancer risks. He stressed that preconception exposure for prospective parents alters genetic material, impacting future generations.
Calling for urgent policy measures, Dr Bagai asserted: 'We need a separate ministry to combat air pollution.' He demanded an iron-fisted five-year implementation plan led by doctors, scientists, and environmentalists to eliminate road dust, establish no-traffic zones, regulate construction, and improve public transit.