Page 15 - Punjab Government

Amritpal had cosmetic surgery done to resemble Bhindranwale, says report

Amritpal Singh has been on the run since March 18. The police so far have arrested eight of his close aides

No leaves for Punjab police till Apr 14 as Amritpal calls for Sarbat Khalsa

In the wake of this, the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav has sent out a message to the officers canceling all previously sanctioned leaves

'Don't spread rumours': Punjab Police denies news of Amritpal's surrender

The Punjab Police on Friday urged people not to believe rumours and fake news of the surrender of radical preacher and pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh.Responding to a media report on Friday, Punjab Police, in a tweet, said, "This is a fake news and factually incorrect. Please fact-check news before sharing. Don't spread rumours and fake news."Waris Punjab De chief, Amritpal, has been on the run since March 18, the day Punjab Police launched a massive manhunt for him.Amid speculations that the radical preacher is likely to surrender at Amritsar's Golden Temple, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Law and Order, Parminder Singh Bhandal said last Saturday that if the fugitive Khalistani leader wants to surrender, they will facilitate the same in accordance with the law."We are continuously working to ensure the safety and security of people in Amritsar. Right now, we are more focused on managing traffic as Baisakhi is around the corner. If Amritpal wants to surrender, we are ready to ...

Pb govt introduces millets in menu of State Institute of Sports centres

The Punjab government has introduced millets in the menu for players at all centres of Punjab State Institute of Sports to provide them with a balanced and nutritious diet. "Millets will be provided thrice a week in the form of Ragi porridge (Dalia), mixed millet chapatis and Bajra-Dal Khichdi. Trainees will be made aware of the benefits of the consumption of millet through online and offline classes periodically," Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said on Wednesday. He said this initiative is part of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's motto of a healthy and prosperous Punjab. Principal Secretary, Sports Department, Rakhee Gupta Bhandari said the department has made full preparations to implement this new initiative. The year 2023 has been declared as International Year of Millets by the United Nations. Trainees are being made aware of the benefits of coarse grains, including millets, in their diet, she said.

Fully geared up to deal with Covid-19: Punjab health minister Balbir Singh

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh on Wednesday said the government is prepared to deal with any situation arising out of a rise in Covid cases. Currently, there was no Covid patient in ICU or on ventilator support in the state, Singh said and assured that the situation was under control. "Our oxygen plants are functional. Our staff, wards, emergency system, all are active," he said and asserted that "our entire system is fully geared up". The minister advised people to wear masks while going out, particularly in crowded places. He advised immunocompromised patients not to go out and asked those showing symptoms of cough and fever to get themselves tested for Covid. Singh also reviewed the arrangements at the government-run Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. Punjab on Tuesday had reported 73 fresh cases of coronavirus with the highest (22) in Mohali followed by 14 in Jalandhar and 11 in Ludhiana. There were 396 active cases in the state as on April 4 and the positivity rate was 3.27

Kejriwal, Mann to jointly launch Punjab's 'CM di Yogshala' on Apr 5

AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will launch 'CM di Yogshala' programme in Punjab on Wednesday, the party said in a statement here. The statement came a day after Mann said his government will initially start 'CM di Yogshala' initiative in four cities -- Amritsar, Ludhiana, Phagwara and Patiala. Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh Tuesday said they have launched a helpline 7669400500 where people can give a missed call to seek a free yoga teacher from the state government. People will be able to get all kinds of information about diet and yoga exercise, he said. "Today, so many people are suffering from diseases related to the respiratory system, blood pressure, sugar levels and heart issues. Therapeutic yoga can help all these patients a great deal," Singh said. He said 60 people have been trained at Guru Ravidas University to teach yoga under the 'CM di Yogshala' initiative. "With 'CM di Yogshala', people will lead a healthier life, they wi

Pak top Court rejects election commission's decision delaying Punjab polls

Pakistan's Supreme Court on Tuesday termed as "unconstitutional" the election commission's decision to postpone polls in the Punjab province till October 8, in a blow to the federal government that has been trying to delay the provincial election citing security issues and the economic crisis. The apex court also fixed May 14 as the date for polls in the province.

Editors Guild concerned over social media suspension of Punjab journalists

The Editors Guild of India expressed its "deep concern" over the "arbitrary suspension" of social media accounts of several journalists and media organisations in Punjab

90% cattle vaccinated against lumpy skin disease in Punjab, says minister

Punjab's animal husbandry department is close to achieving 100 per cent vaccination of the 25 lakh cattle in the state against lumpy skin disease (LSD) and has inoculated more than 22 lakh of them. In an official statement issued on Saturday, Animal Husbandry Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar said the vaccination drive is nearing completion ahead of the April 30 deadline. "The vaccination drive for early protection of cattle from LSD was initiated on a war footing on February 15, 2023 with 773 dedicated veterinary teams of the animal husbandry department," he said. "We have completed 90 per cent vaccination till date, with more than 22,58,300 cattle already vaccinated," the minister said, adding the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government has set a target of vaccinating all the 25 lakh cattle in the state under this mega campaign. Principal Secretary, Animal Husbandry, Vikas Pratap said the department had set a daily target of administering 40,000 vaccine doses and has achieved it

Punjab exploring possibility of moving court against Centre over dues: CM

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday said his government was exploring the possibility of moving court to seek the Rural Development Fund dues of Rs 3,000 crore from the Centre. He stated this after announcing the closure of a toll plaza on the Kiratpur Sahib-Nangal-Una road, according to an official release. Mann said the state government was exploring the possibility of moving court to seek the dues from the Centre. He alleged that the Union government was "unnecessarily harassing" the state by stalling the release of Rs 3,000 crore dues under the Rural Development Fund (RDF). Mann said the state government had completed all the formalities but the Centre was deliberately stalling the release of the amount. Last month, the chief minister had raised the issue of the release of RDF dues with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu out from Patiala jail after 10 months

Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu walked free on Saturday after spending nearly 10 months in Patiala central jail in a 1988 road rage death case. He was wearing a sky blue jacket when he came out of jail. There were expectations that he would be released by afternoon but he came out of jail at 5:53 pm. The 59-year-old's supporters had assembled since morning outside the prison to accord him a grand welcome upon his release and they could be heard chanting 'Navjot Sidhu zindabad'. Several Congress leaders including Amritsar MP Gurjit Aujla, former Punjab Congress chiefs Shamsher Singh Dullo, Mohinder Singh Kaypee and Lal Singh, former MLA Navtej Singh Cheema, other leaders Ashwani Sekhri, Sukhwinder Singh Danny were also waiting for the return of Sidhu. The former state Congress chief was jailed on May 20 last year after being sentenced to one-year rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court over the death of the 65-year-old Gurnam Singh in a road rage case in 1988.

Punjab govt sets up panel for alternative crops to paddy to save water

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday said he has formed a committee under the chief secretary to look at alternative crops that require less water compared to paddy. Mann said sowing of the paddy crop over the years has led to several problems including depletion of underground water table and issues related to stubble burning. He said he has formed a committee under the chief secretary which will meet farmers in different villages and see which crops consume less water and bring more income to farmers as a replacement of paddy. The committee will submit the report to him, he said in a video message. The CM said his government was taking steps to promote basmati, cotton, moong and pulses. He said his government wanted to increase the area under the cotton crop. The CM said from April 1, canal water will be made available for irrigating cotton crop up to tail ends. He said 33 per cent subsidy was being given on cotton seeds which are certified by the Punjab Agricultura

348 held during Amritpal crackdown freed, Punjab govt tells Akal Takht

The Punjab government has informed the Akal Takht that 348 of the 360 people taken into preventive custody during a police crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh have now been freed. The Akal Takht Jathedar's personal secretary Jaspal Singh on Thursday said a message was received from the state government that the rest would also be released soon. Earlier this week, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh had given an ultimatum to the state government to release all Sikh youths held during the police crackdown against Amritpal Singh and his aides. The Jathedar had also condemned the state government for invoking the National Security Act against a few people during the police crackdown. A few days prior to the Jathedar's ultimatum, the Punjab Police had said that out of those detained, nearly 30 were hardcore criminals. The rest would be released after verification, a senior police official had said. Meanwhile, police have stepped up security in and around Amritsar and

Punjab govt has given 27,042 govt jobs to youth, says Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday said 27,042 government jobs have been given to the youth during past one year. "Idle hands (mind) are devil's workshop. So we are trying our best to ensure that maximum youth get jobs so that they do not fall prey to the social menaces," said the chief minister as he handed over job letters here during a function here. A state government statement said Mann handed over job letters to 219 clerks and 26 youngsters on compassionate grounds. The chief minister said unemployment is the root cause of several social problems due to which the state government is focussing on eradicating this malady. He said so far 27,042 government jobs have been given to the youth within one year of his party coming to power. Mann said the state government is laying major thrust on providing jobs to the youth. He said the newly recruited youth should ensure maximum welfare of the public so that every section of society is benefited from it. The chief min

Unseasonal rains: Punjab, Madhya Pradesh offer succor to affected farmers

FCI stops wheat sale through open market operations as procurement draws near

Nine states may surpass national nominal GDP growth of 10.5%: Report

According to data available with the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Uttar Pradesh, under the leadership of CM Yogi Adityanath, expects to be the top performer

BJP accuses AAP govt of misleading people with cheap publicity in Punjab

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Tarun Chugh on Wednesday hit out at the AAP-led Punjab government accusing it of indulging in cheap publicity by misleading the people

Punjab Congress chief comes down heavily on AAP govt over Amritpal issue

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday slammed the AAP government for alleged botched up police operation to nab radical preacher Amritpal Singh. In a statement, he said people's trust and confidence in the state government was at its lowest ebb ever in history. "It won't be any exaggeration that Bhagwant Mann is spearheading the most inept state government in the country which hurtles towards a new embarrassment every new day," Warring said, adding that the absence of governance in Punjab is a matter of concern for every Punjabi. He said there are tell tale signs that the state government's intelligence failed miserably in catching the Khalistan sympathiser even after such 'meticulous' planning as is being claimed by the state government. Notably, the Punjab Police on Wednesday reiterated that they are making all-out efforts to trace Amritpal against whom a lookout circular and a non-bailable warrant had been issued. "Our efforts are on to arrest him," he

NSA invoked against Amritpal Singh, HC calls out govt intelligence failure

The stringent National Security Act has been invoked against Amritpal Singh, the Punjab government on Tuesday told the high court which rapped it over the intelligence failure that led to pro-Khalistan preacher giving police the slip. The Punjab and Haryana High Court was hearing the habeas corpus petition filed by advocate Imaan Singh Khara, seeking the release of Amritpal Singh from alleged police custody. Justice N S Shekhawat asked Punjab Advocate General Vinod Ghai how Amritpal Singh gave police the slip when the whole operation was meticulously planned, and called it an intelligence failure, a lawyer said. Police on Saturday had launched a major crackdown against Amritpal Singh and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De.' The elusive preacher himself, however, gave the police a slip and escaped their dragnet when his cavalcade was intercepted in Jalandhar district. In his petition, Khara sought the production of Amritpal Singh from alleged police custody. Khara is the legal .

Punj police arrests 4 for aiding Amritpal escape, releases fugitive's pics

Punjab Police arrested four people on Tuesday for allegedly helping radical preacher Amritpal Singh escape their net and released seven photographs of the Khalistan sympathiser, including some in which he is not wearing a turban, to seek public help to nab the fugitive. The self-styled Sikh preacher managed to give police a slip after changing his vehicle on Saturday when police had launched a crackdown against him and his outfit 'Waris Punjab De'. He was initially in his Mercedes vehicle but later switched to Brezza sports utility vehicle during police action against him on Saturday. In a new photo that appeared on social media, Amritpal Singh could be seen riding pillion on a bike wearing a pink turban and black goggles, suggesting that he tried to change his appearance to get away from the eyes of police. In a CCTV footage, he could be seen sitting on the bike. In another CCTV footage of the Jalandhar toll plaza, which appeared on social media on Tuesday, showed Amritpal Singh ..