Chandigarh, May 29

The Cabinet Sub Committee, led by Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema today convened a series of crucial meetings with representatives from various employees’ unions. The discussions aimed at finding swift and amicable resolutions to their legitimate issues.

The unions that participated in today’s extensive deliberations included the Powercom and Transco Contract Employees Union, Home Guard Association, Punjab Police Corona Warriors Union, Government ITI Contract Employees Union, Sarva Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (Mid-Day Meal) Office Employees Union, Murh Bahal Katche Adhiyapak Union, Vishesh Adhiyapak (I.E.R.T) Union, and the Master Cadre Union.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema engaged in in-depth discussions with the union representatives, providing them with a platform to articulate their concerns and demands comprehensively. Senior officers from the concerned departments were also present during the meetings to facilitate a thorough understanding of the issues at hand.

Following the meetings, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema reiterated the unwavering commitment of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government to address the grievances of its employees. He said that the AAP Government has proactively engaged with numerous employees’ unions who have been struggling for over a decade, and significant progress has been made in resolving their issues. He assured the union representatives that the state government is actively working on their legitimate demands with determination to find just and equitable solutions.

President Balihar Singh from Powercom and Transco contract employees Union, President Gurdeep Singh from Home Guard Association, President Gurbaz Singh from Punjab Police Corona Warriors, President Sewa Singh from Government ITI Contract Employees Union, President Kuldeep Singh from Sarva Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (Mid-Day Meal) Office Employees Union, President Vishal Sahni from Murh Bahal Katche Adhiyapak Union, President Ramesh Kumar from Vishesh Adhiyapak (I.E.R.T) Union, and President Washington Singh from Master Cadre Union presented the case of their unions.

Chandigarh: The Chandigarh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) commemorated the 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Punyashlok Devi Ahilyabai Holkar with reverence and devotion at the party office in Sector 33 on Thursday.

Former BJP National Secretary Sunil Deodhar was the keynote speaker at the event and addressed party workers on the remarkable life, legacy, and contributions of Ahilyabai Holkar. The program began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp and floral tributes.

Deodhar, in his address, said, “Ahilyabai Holkar was not just a ruler but a symbol of social justice, devotion, and women empowerment. The way she led with wisdom, compassion, and spiritual strength in the 18th century remains an inspiration even today. She considered governance as service to God and saw herself as a humble trustee of the state.”

Prominent leaders present at the event included State BJP President Jitender Pal Malhotra, Former State Presidents Sanjay Tandon and Arun Sood, program convener Rambir Bhatti, and co-convener Heera Negi, along with several senior party officials and workers.

Speakers highlighted Ahilyabai’s contributions, such as the reconstruction of temples like Kashi Vishwanath, Ayodhya, Dwarka, Rameshwaram, and many others that had been desecrated. She also built dharamshalas, stepwells, tanks, and roads across the country and initiated welfare measures for the common people. Her governance model emphasized service over power.

State President Jitender Pal Malhotra called Ahilyabai’s life a beacon of selfless service and national pride, urging party workers to follow in her footsteps and serve the community with dedication.

All attendees paid floral tributes to the revered queen and resolved to draw inspiration from her life and ideals.

Chandigarh, May 28

The Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s pioneering programme— “Ek Din, DC/SSP De Sang” on Wednesday saw Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police from seven districts dedicating a day to hosting top-performing students from government schools, offering them an invaluable firsthand experience into the intricacies of public administration, leadership, and governance.

Sharing details of this unique endeavor, Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains said that the primary objective of this initiative is to inspire and motivate young minds to aim for excellence, while simultaneously acknowledging and rewarding their academic achievements in a meaningful way.

Highlighting specific engagements, Education Minister S. Bains informed that six meritorious students from Class 10th Muskan, Santosh & Jagriti and class 12th Priya, Harmandeep Kaur and Anudeep had the opportunity to spend a day with the Deputy Commissioner of Fazilka, Ms. Amarpreet Kaur Sandhu. During this immersive experience, the students gained insights into the workings of district administration, visited various government offices, and actively participated in anti-drug awareness events held in villages Bhagsar and Kular. Ms. Sandhu further encouraged the students by honouring them with books and tablet devices, said the Minister.

Adding further, the Minister informed that  the Deputy Commissioner Faridkot, Ms. Poonamdeep Kaur, engaged with the Class 12th district toppers Diljeet Kaur, Navpreet Kaur and Kuldeep Sharma, providing them with a comprehensive tour of the DC office. Concurrently, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Dr. Pragya Jain, spent the day with Class 10th topper students Akshnoor Kaur, Jashanpreet Kaur, and Gurleen Kaur, offering them valuable insights into the realm of law enforcement and the critical role of the police in maintaining public order.

The Deputy Commissioner of Pathankot, Sh. Aditya Uppal, interacted closely with the district’s top-performing students of Class 12th (medical and non medical stream) – Kamini Sharma (98.2%),  Heena (97.2%)- and 10th Class topper Mansi Devi (97.07%) and provided them with a detailed tour of the Deputy Commissioner’s office, familiarizing them with its various functions.

In Ludhiana district, the top three students, Amandeep Kaur, Taranveer Singh and Niharika Gujral, spent an insightful day with SSP Khanna Dr. Jyoti Yadav Bains. They gained firsthand knowledge of police operations and various initiatives, including visits to the Integrated Command Centre and the Traffic Cell. The students also learned about the Punjab Police’s Mahila Mitra initiative and Digital Map. SSP Bains also shared her inspiring journey as an IPS officer, motivating the students to pursue their aspirations with unwavering determination.

Furthermore, the SSP of Sri Muktsar Sahib, Dr. Akhil Chaudhary, engaged with the district’s top-performing students from Class 10th and 12th, including Sakshi, Ritika, Ruhani, Gurleen Kaur, Sakina Khatun, and Asnat. He offered them a glimpse into his daily routine and the multifaceted experiences of policing. The students gained practical insights into police operations during their visit to the Police Control Room and various branches of the SSP office. A subsequent brainstorming session saw Dr. Chaudhary encouraging the students to strive for academic excellence alongside active participation in co-curricular activities to foster their holistic development.

DC Fatehgarh Sahib, Dr. Sona Thind, hosted district toppers Parneet Kaur (99%), Shehnaz Khan (98.40%), Meenal (97.20%), and Lovish Kumar (96.8%) for an insightful visit to government offices. They explored the District Administrative Complex, rural library, and gained valuable knowledge on governance. Dr. Thind shared her inspiring journey, motivating the students to chase their dreams. The toppers were honored with gifts and encouraged to excel further.

Olympian and SSP Gagan Ajit Singh hosted toppers of 10th-grade from Malerkotla district. The SSP shared his inspiring journey from hockey to IPS, motivating the students to work hard and pursue their dreams. The students were also felicitated.

“This unique initiative underscores the Punjab Government’s commitment to nurturing young minds and providing them with real-world exposure to inspire future leaders”, stated Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains.

Chandigarh, May 28:

          The 2nd Civil Defence Exercise “Operation Shield” will be held on 03.06.2025 at 1930 hrs. in Punjab State. Earlier it was scheduled for May 29 but the Nodal Officers of the concerned department are undergoing Training  for Civil Defence being conducted by NDRF. Hence, the 2nd Civil Defence Exercise “Operation Shield” will be held on June 3 at 1930 in Punjab.

          A spokesperson informed that in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 19 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India has decided to hold 2nd Civil Defence Exercise “Operation Shield” in all the districts of States/UTs, adjoining Western border of the country.  These drills follow the directive issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. The 1st Civil Defence Exercise was held on 07.05.2025.

          He said that complete blackout measures would be taken in adjoining civilian VA/VPs excluding emergency / critical services and Air Raid Sirens would be operated.  He requested to plan and organize the Civil Defence Exercise “Operation Shield” by involving all local administration and stakeholders.

CHANDIGARH, May 28:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 88th day, Punjab Police on Wednesday conducted a cordon and search operation (CASO) at 126 Railway Stations across the state.

          The operation was carried out in all the 28 Police districts on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav.

          Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who was personally monitoring this state-level operation, said that all the CPs/SSPs were asked to ensure heavy deployment of police force under the supervision of Superintendent of Police (SP) rank officers to make this operation successful.

          He said that around 1332 people were checked during the operation conducted at around 126 railway stations in the state. Nine suspicious persons were also rounded up for questioning during the operation, he added.

          Apart from this, Police teams have continued its drive against drugs and conducted raids at 530 locations on Wednesday leading to the arrest of 141 drug smugglers after registration of 90 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 14099 within 88 days.

          The Special DGP said that the raids have resulted in recovery of 959 grams heroin, 2 Kg opium and Rs 3.4 lakhs drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          He informed that over 368 Police teams, comprising over 1500 police personnel, under the supervision of 85 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 592 suspicious persons during the day long operation.

          He said that Punjab Police has devised a comprehensive strategy and such operations will be continued till the scourge of drugs eradicated from the state.

          The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced 76 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.

Chandigarh, May 28

Punjab’s Public Works and Power Minister S. Harbhajan Singh ETO expressed profound sorrow over the passing of  senior Akali leader S. Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa. 

Extending his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, the Cabinet Minister prayed for the departed soul to attain eternal peace. He also wished for strength and fortitude for the family to endure this irreparable loss.

Chandigarh, May 28:

On the third day of nominations for the 64-Ludhiana West seat of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, one candidate has filed his nomination papers.

Punjab’s Chief Electoral Officer, Sibin C, informed that today an independent candidate, Eng. Baldev Raj Katna (Debi), submitted his nomination for the 64-Ludhiana West seat.

It is noteworthy that the last date for filing nominations is June 2, and the scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on June 3. The final date for withdrawal of nominations is June 5, 2025. Voting will take place on June 19, and the results will be declared on June 23, 2025, after the counting of votes.

Chandigarh, May 28:

The Punjab State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited (PUNSUP) today got a new Chairman in the form of Prabhbir Singh Brar who assumed charge of his post amid the presence of Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.

Expressing gratitude to the AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for the responsibility entrusted to him, the new incumbent vowed to prove true to the faith reposed in him.

Notably, PUNSUP primarily focuses on procuring, storing, and distributing foodgrains and essential commodities in Punjab. It is one of the five state foodgrains procurement agencies for the central pool.

On the occasion MLA Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar and other dignitaries were also present.

Chandigarh, May 28:

Punjab Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) Inder Pal Singh Dhanna today called upon the newly appointed Chief Information Commissioner of Haryana TVSN Prasad, IAS (Retd.), Former Chief Secretary, Haryana at his residence in Chandigarh.

CIC Inder Pal Singh Dhanna, who was accompanied by State Information Commissioners Sandeep Singh Dhaliwal, Virinderjit Singh Billing, Harpreet Singh Sandhu, Dr. Bhupinder Singh Batth and Pooja Gupta, presented the pictorial art on National Bird of India to his Haryana counterpart as a symbol of good luck gesture. this pictorial art has been crafted by Harpreet Sandhu.

Punjab and Haryana Chief Information Commissioners also showed their importance of mutual learning and exchange of meaningful practices to improve service delivery and reduce pendency in RTI cases.

Chandigarh, May 28

Two-time MLA, Pawan Kumar Tinu, on Wednesday formally assumed his office as Chairman of the Punjab State Cooperative Agricultural Development Bank. The event was graced by the presence of Punjab Cabinet Ministers Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, Aman Arora, Barinder Kumar Goyal, and Member Parliament Malvinder Singh Kang.

The Cabinet Ministers and the Member Parliament extended their heartfelt congratulations to Pawan Kumar Tinu on his appointment. They expressed confidence that his extensive experience of service to public would be instrumental in fulfilling his responsibilities as Chairman. The Ministers emphasized the crucial role of the Punjab State Cooperative Agricultural Development Bank in supporting the backbone of Punjab’s agriculture- its farmers and laborers, and conveyed their belief that Chairman Tinu would prioritize their welfare.

Upon assuming office, Pawan Kumar Tinu expressed his sincere gratitude to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and AAP Supremo Arvind Kejriwal for entrusting him with this significant responsibility. He pledged to discharge his duties with utmost dedication and commitment, striving to meet the expectations placed upon him. He thanked the Cabinet Ministers and Member Parliament for gracing the occasion.

Prominent amongst others, Advisor to the Punjab Tourism and Cultural Affairs Department Deepak Bali, Chairman, Punjab Safai Karamcharis Commission Chandan Grewal, Senior Deputy Mayor of Jalandhar Balvir Singh Dhillon, Chairperson, Jalandhar Improvement Trust Rajwinder Kaur Thiara and Gurcharan Singh Channi also congratulated him on this occasion.