Punjab Government
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
Punjab approves disbursal of Rs 14,000 cr arrears for employees, pensioners
The Punjab Cabinet on Thursday accorded consent to disburse pending arrears of government employees and pensioners worth Rs 14,000 crore. A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting of the Council of Ministers held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, said an official release. A spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said the Cabinet gave the approval to release arrears of revised pay and pensions and leave encashment from the period of January 1, 2016, to June 30, 202,2 and that dearness allowance from July 1, 2021, to March 31, 2024, for pensioners and employees. This sum worth Rs 14,000 crore will be released in stages and will give much-needed relief to the employees and pensioners. There are three lakh government employees and three lakh pensioners who will directly benefit from this move, said the release. To provide houses to the economically weaker section, the Cabinet gave a nod to a policy for 'Optimum utilisation of land reserved for
Will AAP survive in Punjab? BJP and Congress claim party in crisis
AAP's Punjab government faces turbulence as BJP sees its fall coming and Congress accuses Kejriwal of consolidating power amid widening internal rifts
NAPA urges Punjab govt to set up fund for rehabilitation of deported youths
The North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) on Wednesday urged the Punjab government to establish a rehabilitation fund to support young boys and girls being deported from the United States. In a statement, NAPA Executive Director Satnam Singh Chahal said lack of support and resources for these returnees could lead to severe social and economic challenges for the state. He warned the Punjab government that negligence in addressing this growing crisis would only create more problems for the state, exacerbating unemployment, mental health issues and potential involvement in illegal activities. This comes amid reports that a US military plane carrying 205 illegal immigrants hailing from Punjab and neighbouring states is likely to land at the Amritsar airport on Wednesday afternoon. "Many of these young individuals leave their homes with dreams of a better future but find themselves deported due to immigration challenges. They return with shattered hopes, financial distress, and ...
Stubble burning: SC asks CAQM to hold meeting with Punjab, Haryana, UP
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Commission for Air Quality Management to hold a meeting with Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh governments on the proposed action plans to tackle the issue of stubble burning. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan asked CAQM to consult the states and come out with its own views on the issue and submit suggestions by March 17. Senior advocate Rahul Mehra, representing the Punjab government, submitted farmers need to be convinced that crop diversification was a viable option. "There is a minimum support price (MSP) that has to be given and minimum assured procurement. In paddy produce 100 per cent produce is assured that it will be picked up by the Food Corporation of India -- which undertakes paddy cultivation. For maize and others, that procurement policy is not there," he said. Punjab advocate general Gurminder Singh said the state government supported steps for eradicating stubble burning but other factors that added to pollutio
Want package for industries, crop diversification for Punjab: AAP MP Kang
Kang pointed out the rising inflation and stagnant salaries for employees, while calling for a special package to support industries, crop diversification, and Punjab's farmers in the upcoming budget
Punjab registered vehicle row: AAP's Sanjay Singh calls it 'dirty politics'
According to the Delhi Police, the vehicle was standing near Punjab Bhavan on Delhi's Copernicus Marg with "Punjab Sarkar" written on it
Sandeep Dikshit slams AAP for Punjab vehicles in Delhi during elections
Dikshit said that he has been raising the issue of vehicles from Punjab coming to Delhi with Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena
Delhi Police seize 'Punjab govt' vehicle, AAP calls it 'planted stunt'
Delhi Police registered a case after a vehicle labelled "Punjab government" was on Wednesday intercepted with cash, liquor and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) pamphlets, an official said. The vehicle bearing a Punjab number plate was caught by the Flying Squad team in the New Delhi district, the official said. The Flying Squad attends to all Model Code of Conduct violations and all complaints related to liquor, arms and cash used for elections. The Punjab government dismissed claims that it owned the car intercepted in Delhi. The vehicle's number plate was forged and fake as it can be tracked to a different car not owned by the Punjab government, it said. The AAP, too, released a statement, saying the car seizure was a "planted stunt, ?poorly executed and utterly bogus". Delhi Police said officials have initiated legal proceedings in the matter, and a case is being registered at Tilak Marg police station. "Upon searching (the car), we discovered cash, multiple liquor bottles, and Aam Aadmi .
2022 PM security breach: Arrest warrants issued against 25 farmers
The Bharti Kisan Union (Krantikari) Thursday slammed the Punjab government for the arrest warrants issued against 25 farmers and insertion of an attempt to murder charge in the FIR in connection with the 2022 prime minister security breach matter in the state. Leaders of the farmers' body said they came to know about the insertion of Section 307 (attempt to murder charge) of the Indian Penal Code in the FIR after the bail plea of one of the protesting farmers was rejected by a court in Ferozepur. On January 5, 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Punajb's Ferozepur after which he returned from the state without attending any event, including a rally. Later, the Supreme Court appointed a five-member committee, headed by former apex court judge Indu Malhotra to probe the security breach incident. Police had then lodged an FIR in the matter. Initially, police had registered an FIR against 150 unidentified people at ..
AAP's Ludhiana West MLA Gurpreet Gogi accidentally shoots himself, dead
The incident occurred around midnight, and the MLA was declared dead upon arrival at the DMC hospital, as per officials
Punjab govt rejects Centre's agricultural marketing policy blueprint
Further concerns were raised about the policy's focus on promoting direct purchase from farms by exporters and bulk buyers, which could bypass the established mandi system and commission agents
Punjab govt rejects Centre's draft policy on agricultural marketing
The Punjab government has formally rejected the Centre's draft policy on agricultural marketing, asserting that it is an attempt to bring back the "contentious" provisions of the three farms laws repealed in 2021 after a year-long protest by farmers. The state government noted that since agriculture marketing is a state subject, the government of India should not come up with any such policy and should leave it to the wisdom of the state to frame suitable policies on the subject as per their concerns and requirements. The Centre had last year shared the draft of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing with the state government for its views on it. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had already said the Centre was trying to "bring back" the now-repealed farm laws, referring to the draft of the National Policy Framework on Agricultural Marketing. The AAP-led Punjab government had termed the draft policy as an attempt to reintroduce the three central agricultural laws
SC panel meets farmer leader Dallewal amid hunger strike, seeks medical aid
After the Punjab government informed the Supreme Court about a scheduled meeting with septuagenarian farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, a SC-appointed panel met him at around 3.30 pm on Monday. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was informed by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the Punjab government, that the protesting farmers had been persuaded to meet Justice (retd) Nawab Singh, who chairs the apex court-appointed committee. "Some of us have been able to persuade those people under protest to meet Justice (retd) Nawab Singh led committee today at 3 pm. We are hopeful that there will be a breakthrough. Kindly take it up after a couple of days," Sibal said. On hearing this, the bench said, "Let us hope and pray that better sense prevails on everyone." The apex court asked Sibal to prepare a brief note of the deliberations and posted the hearing on January 10. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, said the committee would file a brief
Punjab govt sacks DSP Sandhu for facilitating Lawrence Bishnoi interview
The government invoked Article 311 of the Constitution to dismiss the DSP who has been under suspension since October 25, 2024
Dallewal will take medical aid if Centre invites for talks: Punjab to SC
The top court gives Punjab government three more days to persuade farmer leader Dallewal, who is on hunger strike since November 26, to accept medical help
