Page 13 - Punjab Government

Punjab Cabinet led by Mann approves special Assembly session on Jun 19-20

The Punjab Cabinet on Saturday approved the summoning of a special session of the state Assembly on June 19 and 20. A decision in this regard was taken in the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann here. Mann said the state government will introduce several important legislations in the ensuing Vidhan Sabha session. The business for the assembly session will be decided by the Business advisory committee, he added. It is a special session of the Vidhan Sabha, said Mann, and the Monsoon session will follow in due course of time. In the business advisory committee, any other issue that comes up will be approved and if any resolution is needed to bring in that will also be decided, said Mann. Asked if the special session has been called over the issue of pending funds under the Rural Development Fund (RDF) and the national health mission, Mann said the Centre has withheld the release of funds. During the session, the AAP government may raise the issue of pending RDF

Punjab expresses gratitude to Canada for postponing student deportation

Keeping in view that most of the students are from Punjab, Dhaliwal had earlier announced free legal assistance to the students while talking to students virtually

Punjab Cabinet led by Mann approves job regularisation of 14,239 teachers

In a major pro-people decision aimed at strengthening the education sector, the Punjab Cabinet led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday approved to regularise the services of 14,239 teachers

Punjab govt to provide 277,000 private job to youth in state: CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday said that after giving more than 29,000 government jobs to youths in the last one year, the state government will now ensure 2.77 lakh jobs to them in the private sector. Mann said it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that the AAP government has so far provided more than 29,000 jobs to the youths in various departments of the state government. He claimed that it is a record as none of the previous governments have given so many jobs to youths, especially in the first year of their tenure. According to an official statement, Mann said that merit and transparency have been the twin pillars on the basis of which job opportunities have been given to the youths across the state. With this, the state government is making strenuous efforts to generate new jobs in the private sector also, he said. "So far, due to the massive efforts made by the state government, an investment worth around Rs 48,000 crore has been roped in for Punjab,

Punjab's excise dept recovers 17,000 kg 'lahan', 320 litres illicit liquor

Punjab government recovered 17,000 kg of 'lahan', used in making illicit liquor, during searches carried out in the last two days in Dasuya area of Hoshiarpur district, an official statement said here on Friday. The excise department also seized 320 litres of illicit liquor and equipment used in the distillation of moonshine, it said. The statement, quoting an official spokesperson of the department, said the teams of excise enforcement, excise officers, and police personnel were deputed to conduct the checking of illicit distillation in Dasuya along the bank of Beas river. A police dog squad, specially trained to detect 'lahan' was also put into service, he said. He said the teams covered an area of about 7 km on foot as well as boats in a well-coordinated operation and Terkiana, Kethana, Badaiyan, Dhanoa, Saidpur, and Bhikhowal villages in Dasuya were extensively mapped and searched. During the searches, it was discovered that the bootleggers had designed a camouflaged modus ...

Kejriwal wanted Navjot Singh Sidhu to lead Punjab, claims Sidhu's wife

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu's wife Navjot Kaur on Friday said her husband gifted the chief minister's chair to Bhagwant Mann, claiming that Arvind Kejriwal once wanted the former cricketer to lead Punjab but he chose not to betray his party. Her claims came in the backdrop of a war of words between Mann and Navjot Sidhu. In a series of tweets, Kaur said, "CM, Bhagwant Mann; let me today open out a hidden secret from your treasure hunt. You should know that the very honourable chair you are occupying has been gifted to you by your big brother, Mr Navjot Sidhu. Your very own senior most leader had desired Navjot to lead Punjab". She claimed that AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal had approached Sidhu through various channels to lead the state. Punjab went to polls in February 2022 and after the AAP's landslide win Bhagwant Mann became the chief minister. "Mr Kejriwal through various channels approached him to lead Punjab knowing about his passion for our

Punjab CM denies affiliation of Haryana colleges with Panjab University

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said he has rejected a proposal of affiliation of Haryana colleges with Panjab University, saying the Chandigarh-based university has always been connected with Punjab's legacy and heritage. He was speaking after holding a meeting with his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar over the matter. The meeting was also attended by Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit. Panjab University (PU), Chandigarh has always been connected with Punjab's legacy, heritage, emotions, culture and literature, Mann said while addressing media after the meeting. We have told them that it is a no from our side, he said. The chief minister recalled that the PU was shifted from Lahore, the then capital of Punjab, to Hoshiarpur and then to Chandigarh, the present capital of Punjab. He said at present, 175 colleges of Punjab and 30 colleges of Union Territory Chandigarh are affiliated with the PU. The first meeting in this regard was held on June 1 in which Punjab

Security tightened ahead of Operation Bluestar anniversary in Punjab

Security was beefed up across Punjab on Thursday with the state police carrying out flag marches and deploying adequate number of security personnel at crucial places ahead of Operation Bluestar anniversary on June 6. The army had carried out Operation Blue Star in June 1984 to flush out hiding militants from Golden Temple in Amritsar. The Punjab Police on Thursday carried out flag marches in sensitive and vulnerable areas as a measure to instill confidence among the general public. As many as 110 flag marches were conducted covering 192 vulnerable areas across the state, an official statement said. The exercise was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. Special DGP (law and order) Arpit Shukla said commissioners of police and senior superintendents of police were directed to conduct flag marches in their respective districts. Police also apprehended 368 suspicious people during these flag marches. He said the exercise was aimed to boost the

CM Mann congratulates newly-inducted ministers as they get portfolios

The Rural Development was earlier with Kuldip Singh Dhaliwal. He now has NRI Affairs and Administrative Reforms Departments

Inderbir Nijjar resigns from Punjab cabinet, two new MLAs to be sworn in

"The Chief Minister has proposed the names of Balkar Singh, MLA from Kartarpur, and Gurmeet Singh Khudian, MLA from Lambi, for being inducted as cabinet ministers," said an official

Punjab govt's anti-corruption helpline receives close to 8,000 complaints

The Punjab government's 'anti-corruption action line' has received close to 8,000 complaints since March 2022, an official statement said on Sunday. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann launched the helpline number in March 2022 that allows people to upload video/audio proof of officials asking for bribes or indulging in malpractices. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), in its relentless pursuit of eradicating corruption, has made remarkable progress in its recent anti-corruption campaign, said an official statement. "From March 23, 2022, to the present date, the chief minister's anti-corruption action line (ACAL) has received a staggering 7,939 complaints accompanied by necessary evidence, signifying the unwavering commitment of the Punjab government to promote transparency and accountability in public administration," said the statement issued here. A spokesperson of the bureau said it is fully dedicated to its mission of eradicating corruption and encourages citizens to continue utilising

Delhi excise policy: ED uncovers misuse of power by Punjab govt's machinery

The Enforcement Directorate during its investigation into the Delhi excise policy scam has unearthed a shocking case of 'misuse of power' by the Punjab government's machinery

Punjab CM to skip NITI Aayog meet amid AAP's ongoing tussle with Centre

Amid the bickering between the AAP and the Centre, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has decided to skip the Governing Council of NITI Aayog on Saturday as a mark of protest

Punjab to release pending 6% dearness allowance installment to employees

The Punjab government Wednesday said it will release the pending installment of 6 per cent dearness allowance (DA), from July 2015 to December 31, 2015, to employees. A spokesperson of the chief minister's office said it will entail an additional financial liability of Rs 356 crore to the state exchequer. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said the government employees were a critical segment of the state administration and safeguarding their interests was the government's top priority.

Rahul Gandhi takes a late-night truck ride to speak to drivers; see video

After his long drive from Delhi to Chandigarh in a truck, Rahul Gandhi also visited a Gurudwara

AAP government gave jobs to 29,237 youths in one year: Punjab CM Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said the AAP government has given jobs to 29,237 youths so far in the state. He said the jobs were given purely on the basis of merit. The chief minister was addressing a gathering here after handing over appointment letters to 144 civilian support staff in various cadres of the Bureau of Investigation in Punjab Police. Mann said to overcome major challenges faced by society today, it is imperative that the police force is updated as per requirements in the field of investigation, science and technology. He said it is a matter of pride and satisfaction that Punjab Police is considered as the best force in the country. Mann said the state police has already undertaken several operations in the last one year, which are being hailed across the country. "Punjab will be soon joining hands with Google to update the state police on scientific lines," a statement quoted him as saying. Mann said a comprehensive blueprint has been already pr

Many states reduce excise duty on mild beer, make retailing easier

Beer to be allowed in certain offices in Haryana, other states allow its sale in stores and malls

Australian varsities put curbs on Indian students as fraud cases rise

India is second only to China when it comes to sending students to Australian Universities

Another explosion near Amritsar's Golden Temple, no injury reported

An explosion took place on a heritage street near the Golden Temple here on Monday morning close to the spot where a blast was reported on May 6, police said. No one was injured or any damage reported in Monday's blast. The cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained, they said. The explosion occurred near the same spot on the heritage street leading to the Golden Temple where the one on Saturday took place, the police said. According to an eyewitness, the explosion was reported around 6:30 am. Police and forensic teams reached the spot soon after and started collecting samples for investigation. Locals called for a thorough probe into the two explosions. Jasbir Singh Patti, a daily visitor to the Golden Temple for the last 20 years, said the explosions have created panic among the devotees and the police should thoroughly investigate these incidents. One person was injured and glass facades of some buildings were damaged in Saturday's blast.

Punjab scaling new heights of development under AAP govt: Kejriwal

Punjab was scaling new "heights of development" under the Bhagwant Mann government, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal said on Sunday as he sought votes for his party's candidate for the May 10 Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll. Addressing a roadshow along with Chief Minister Mann on the second day of his visit to Punjab, Kejriwal also referred to the 300 units of free electricity being provided to people in the state. The Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary in January. AAP has fielded former MLA Sushil Rinku for the contest. Campaigning in Shahkot, Kejriwal told people that they have voted for the Congress for 60 years and asked them to give AAP a chance now, saying if they do not like his party's work, then "do not vote for us in the 2024 general elections". Praising the AAP dispensation for the work done in Punjab in the last year, Kejriwal claimed several people have told him that they have not seen such a governme