Page 3 - Punjab Government

Dallewal continues indefinite fast despite drinking water, says farm leader

Punjab farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal has not ended his indefinite fast even though he drank a glass of water after farmers detained last week by the state police were released from different jails, farmer leader Abhimanyu Kohar said on Saturday. The Punjab government on Friday told the Supreme Court that Dallewal accepted water and broke his fast. Countering the Punjab government's claims, Kohar said on Saturday Dallewal had made it clear he would take water only after all the farmers are released. "And Dallewal drank a glass of water after farmer leaders were released," said Kohar, a close aide of Dallewal. "We want to make it clear that a false impression was being given that Dallewal has ended his indefinite fast. His hunger strike continues." Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh told the apex court on Friday they dispersed on March 19 the farmers protesting at Khanauri and Shambhu border points with Haryana, and opened the roads and highways that were blocked due to th

Farmer leader Dallewal ends fast, accepts water: Punjab govt tells SC

Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who was on an indefinite hunger strike in support of various demands, accepted water and broke his fast on Friday morning, the Punjab government told the Supreme Court. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was told by advocate general Gurminder Singh for Punjab that they have dispersed the protesting farmers at Khanauri and Shambhu borders, and opened all blocked roads and highways. The bench lauded the efforts of Dallewal, and said he is a genuine farmer leader without any political agenda. "We know some people did not want settlement of grievances of farmers. We are not sitting in an ivory tower. We know everything," the bench said as it asked the Punjab and Haryana government to file a status report about the prevailing situation on the ground. The top court also asked the high powered committee headed by former high court judge to look into the grievances of farmers, to also file a supplementary status report. It also dropped

Punjab govt unveils ₹2.36 trn Budget, announces first-ever 'drug census'

Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday presented a Rs 2.36 lakh crore FY26 Budget for the state, focussing on tackling drug menace, and the health sector. During his budget speech, Cheema talked about AAP-led Punjab government's anti-drug campaign to check drug scourge. Cheema said the Punjab government is going to carry out the first-ever "drug census" in Punjab to understand the prevalence of drugs, usage of de-addiction centres etc. He said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's visionary leadership has been the driving force behind Punjab's remarkable progress over the past three years. Cheema proposed total budget expenditure of Rs 2,36,080 crore for FY 2025-26. He said the state government will establish a second line of defence at border by deploying 5,000 home guards alongside BSF. Cheema said, for the first time in Punjab's history, the Bhagwant Mann government has decided to extend the state health insurance scheme in the coming fiscal year to make it universal

'People coming together to make Badalta Punjab,' says Arvind Kejriwal

As part of the ongoing war against drugs 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign was launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Director General of Police

Army colonel assault: HC orders Punjab govt to submit reply by March 28

Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday directed the Punjab government to file a detailed reply by March 28, asking it to explain the delay in the registration of an FIR in the army colonel assault case. The high court asked the government to name the officer who was informed by the petitioner about the incident and the reasons for the officer's refusal to take action and register an FIR. "An explanation for the delay in registering the FIR, despite the availability of medico-legal reports on record, along with detailed statement of the petitioner dated March 14, 2025, as well as comprehensive text message to Nanak Singh, senior superintendent of police, Patiala...," a bench of Justice Sandeep Moudgil said and directed the Punjab government to file a detailed reply by Friday, the next date of hearing. Colonel Bath, who has accused 12 Punjab Police personnel of assaulting him and his son over a parking dispute, on Monday filed a plea in the high court, seeking transfer of the probe

Women should join politics for change, says CM Mann at college convocation

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday exhorted young women to join politics and be a part of the decision-making process of the country to bring about much-needed change. Addressing the annual convocation of the Government College for Girls, Ludhiana, the chief minister said women have outnumbered men in every other field but politics is still an exception. While politics has been traditionally dominated by men, Mann said, now the time has come for women to excel in it too. Women's participation is imperative to creating an egalitarian society and cementing democracy at the grassroots, he said. Mann said women must exercise their franchise carefully so that their vote makes a difference by sending the right type of leaders to the state assembly and Parliament. This will help in making Punjab a progressive and prosperous state in the country, he said. The state government has made concerted efforts to empower women in the state, the chief minister said. He said that his

Punjab govt mulls resuming traditional bullock cart races in Kila Raipur

Formulations of the 'Punjab Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Rules, 2024' is under consideration to resume the traditional annual bullock cart races at the Kila Raipur sports event in Ludhiana, the state assembly was informed on Tuesday. Replying to a question of AAP MLA Jaswant Singh Gajjanmajra in the ongoing budget session in the assembly here, Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian said the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Punjab Amendment) Act, 2019 has been notified by the government of Punjab for bullock cart races at Kila Raipur village of Punjab in the event of Kila Raipur Rural Sports. "Now to restart bullock cart races in this event, formulation of 'The Punjab Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Conduct of Kila Raipur Rural Sports Event and Fair) Rules, 2024' is under consideration," the minister said. Khudian further said that his department has issued extensive guidelines to all the deputy commissioners for dog races keeping in view the legal position and the ...

'State of Punjab means absent': SC raps govt over non-appearance of counsel

The Supreme Court on Monday censured the Punjab government over the absenteeism of its advocates in cases and asked the state's advocate general to ensure their attendance. A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar made the observation while hearing the plea filed by the state government's plea against the Punjab and Haryana High Court order of bail to former minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on August 10, 2022. "Mr Advocate General of Punjab, we have already called you in one case. In your state, even after service of notice, your panel advocates in the Supreme Court are not appearing. We have already referred in two orders. This is everyday drama. State of Punjab means absent. It is happening not only in criminal cases but civil cases also. Nobody is appearing," the bench said. The top court adjourned by two weeks the plea filed by the Punjab government after it sought time. During the hearing, Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh .

Mann will complete 5 years as Punjab CM, says AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal

AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday asserted that Bhagwant Mann would complete his five-year term as the chief minister of Punjab, trashing opposition parties' claims that he would be removed from the post. However, Kejriwal also said drugs and corruption were the biggest problems in Punjab where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) under Mann has been in power for the last three years. Kejriwal and Mann offered prayers at the Golden Temple on the completion of three years of the party's government in the state on Sunday. Kejriwal, the former Delhi chief minister, arrived in Amritsar on Saturday after completing a 10-day Vipassana meditation session in Punjab's Hoshiarpur. During the Golden Temple visit, Kejriwal was accompanied by his wife Sunita Kejriwal, and AAP leaders, including minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) formed the government in Punjab in 2022 after winning 92 of the total 117 assembly seats. Speaking to reporters in Amritsar, Kejriwal said, "On March

'Many attempts to disturb peace in state': Punjab CM after Amritsar blast

A blast occurred at Thakurdwara Temple in Khandwala, Amritsar, late last night after two bike-borne men lobbed an object, suspected to be an explosive, at the temple

Punjab police foils target killing plot, arrests 3 linked to Babbar Khalsa

The terror module was being handled by US-based gangster Gurpreet Singh alias Gopi Nawashehria, who is a close aide of Pakistan-based terrorist Harwinder Singh Rinda

'Shameless': Supreme Court tears into Punjab govt in pension scheme case

Supreme Court slams Punjab govt as 'shameless' for disowning counsel's statements and issues contempt notices to Chief Secretary and another official over the pension case

SKM slams Punjab CM for police action on farmers before Chandigarh protest

The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) on Tuesday slammed the Punjab government and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann after several farmer leaders were detained or put under house arrest in early morning raids at their residences by the state police a day ahead of their planned protest in Chandigarh. In a statement, the SKM said they had a meeting with Mann on Monday. However, instead of listening to the farmers and their demands, the chief minister asked them to call off the protest, it said. Though the SKM leaders explained the importance of the protracted mass protest against the Union government for farmers' rights, the chief minister got provoked and quit the meeting, it said. Condemning the action, the SKM appealed to the farmers across Punjab to join the week-long protests at Chandigarh and organise widespread campaigns in the villages. "The SKM strongly protests against the dictatorial step by the Bhagwant Singh Mann government of Punjab to suppress the democratic rights of farmer

Police detain SKM leaders ahead protest; Punjab CM warns farm unions

In Ludhiana, SKM leaders including Harjit Singh Giaspura, Balwant Singh Khirnia, Avtar Singh Mahlo, Manmohan Singh Deol and Dilbag Singh were allegedly detained

Punjab to deploy anti-drone tech to check drug inflow from across border

The Punjab government will take the help of anti-drone technology to check smuggling of narcotics and arms and ammunition from across the border, Cabinet minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Tuesday. Finance Minister Cheema, who is leading a cabinet sub-committee to monitor action against the drug menace and Cabinet minister Aman Arora on Tuesday witnessed the demonstration of the anti-drone technology by three companies in Mohali. Speaking to reporters, Arora said drugs, arms and ammunition are coming from Pakistan as he stressed upon the use of anti-drone technology to check the inflow from across the border. "It is the primary responsibility of the government of India and the BSF to check smuggling of narcotics and arms and ammunition from across the border," Arora said, adding the Border Security Force (BSF) has 50 km of jurisdiction. "But we have been seeing over the past many years that the BSF is not getting 100 per success (in checking smuggling from across the border)," he

Punjab Police launches massive anti-drugs op across state, Cong takes dig

Punjab Police has launched a statewide operation against drugs, conducting raids at 750 locations as the cabinet sub-committee on the drug menace held its first meeting on Saturday, officials said. Around 12,000 police personnel were involved in the operation being carried out as part of an anti-drug campaign. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday set a deadline of three months to make the state drug-free. As part of the state government's renewed push against the drug problem, action is being taken against drug peddlers and in some places, their properties were also demolished. Cabinet Minister Aman Arora on Saturday appealed to all political parties that instead of playing politics, they should extend their support to the state government's anti-drug campaign to save Punjab. The meeting of the cabinet sub-committee was also attended by Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav. Addressing the media after the meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Si

Ghost department in Punjab? Minister held fake portfolio for 20 months

AAP minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal managed a non-existent department for 20 months, a Punjab govt notification reveals, sparking sharp criticism from the Opposition

BJP slams AAP after minister ran non-existent dept for 20 months in Punjab

According to a Punjab government Gazette notification, Dhaliwal who oversees NRI Affairs dept was allocated the charge of the Department of Administrative Reforms, which they now says does not exist

Punjab govt launches career counselling initiative for class 12 students

The Punjab government has come out with an initiative to reach out to class 12 students to assist them in their academic and professional endeavours. The initiative is aimed at supporting the aspirations of students passing out from government schools in Punjab, School Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains said, adding the government would reach out to class 12 students with questions about their future plans to understand and nurture their dreams. Bains said the department has circulated a 'Google Form' to all the students appearing for class 12 board examinations. According to an official statement, the form, accompanied by a message from Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, invites students to share their immediate plans and long-term goals -- ?be it higher education, entrepreneurship, or competitive exams. The data collected will enable the state government to develop suitable support mechanisms to assist students in their academic and professional endeavours, Bains said. "This

Planes with deportees landing in Amritsar: Bid to defame Punjab, asks CM

I strictly oppose this and demand to the MEA and the MHA that the plane is still onboard, change the route and make it land in Delhi, Hindon or Ahmedabad, Bhagwant Mann said