Chandigarh, April 1:

          The Election Commission of India (ECI) conducted a series of structured engagements with political parties at the level of Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), District Election Officer (DEO), and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) across the country. In a span of 25 days and as of 31st March 2025, a total of 4,719 meetings were conducted, with 40 meetings by CEOs, 800 by DEOs, and 3,879 by EROs, engaging over 28,000 representatives of political parties nationwide.

          These meetings were held in accordance with the directives issued by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Shri Gyanesh Kumar along with ECs Dr Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr Vivek Joshi, during the Chief Electoral Officers’ conference held on March 4-5 2025, at IIIDEM, New Delhi.

          The engagements are aimed to resolve any pending issues by the concerned competent authority i.e. ERO or DEO or CEO within the existing legal framework of the Representation of the People Act 1950 and 1951; the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960; the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961 and the manuals, guidelines, and instructions issued by ECI from time to time. An action taken report has been sought from all State/UT CEOs for further assessment and any issue, if unresolved within the existing legal framework, will be taken up by the Commission.

          These engagements have been well-received by political parties, with active and enthusiastic participation across Assembly Constituencies, districts, and States/UTs.

Chandigarh, April 1:

Continuing Mission Rozgar, the Punjab government led by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday set a new benchmark by giving government jobs to more than 55,000 youth in the state in around 36 months of its tenure.  

Addressing the gathering in a function to mark handing of appointment letters to more than 700 teachers, the Chief Minister congratulated all the newly recruited teachers on this historic occasion and expressed hope that they will discharge their duty sincerely. He said that youth have got the job after a lot of hard work and dedication as his government has laid major thrust on ensuring jobs to youth in a transparent manner. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that an era of Education Revolution has been heralded in the state as major infrastructure revamp has been introduced in the schools.

Likewise, the Chief Minister said that focus has been laid on imparting quality education to the youth due to which several path breaking initiatives have been taken. He reiterated that the state government fills all the posts as soon as they are vacant in the department. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a foolproof mechanism has been adopted for the entire recruitment process due to which not even a single appointment out of these more than 55,000 jobs have been challenged so far in any court.

The Chief Minister said that it is a proud moment for the government of Punjab that these youth have been given government jobs completely on the basis of merit. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that transparent recruitment has increased the faith of youth in working for the state government due to which they have shunned the idea of moving abroad and are preparing for government jobs here. He said that it is on record that contrary to the earlier trend of moving abroad, the educational institutions in the state are witnessing a huge surge in admissions by the youth.

The Chief Minister bemoaned that the previous governments had deprived the youth of the state from jobs during their long rule. However, he said that those who had denied jobs to the youth were then ousted by the people of the state for their anti-people stance. Bhagwant Singh Mann quipped that it is ironic that now youths are getting jobs but those who have ruined their future are unemployed and sitting out of power.

The Chief Minister said that the previous rulers had plundered the state mercilessly besides bruising the psyche of Punjabis emotionally and patronizing several mafias in the state. He said that the state government is cleaning the mess created by the previous regimes and now the focus is on carving out a Rangla Punjab for which no stone is being left unturned. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a complete overhaul is being witnessed in all the sectors of the state so as to give a major push to development of Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has been sending the teachers abroad and even to prestigious national institutes to upscale their teaching skills. He said that the well trained staff has helped in enhancing the rate of admissions in the government schools of the state adding that Punjab is witnessing education revolution across the state as the state government has laid major thrust on it. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that now the teachers and Principals are focusing only on education as for all the rest of work, the required staff has been recruited by the state government.

Exhorting the teachers to play a major role in ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ by making the students aware about the menace of drugs, the Chief Minister said that the teachers are the nation builders and they must inspire the youth to channelize their unbounded energy to fight against drugs. He said that it is imperative to save the generations of the state from scourge of drugs as Punjab has already suffered a huge loss of manpower due to this menace. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has already snapped the supply line of drugs and big fishes involved in this heinous crime have been put behind the bars adding that the property of the drug smugglers are being destroyed/ confiscated.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is organizing Parents Teachers Meeting (PTM) in the government schools across the state. He said that lakhs of parents across the state are enquiring about the studies, atmosphere, curriculum and other things being offered to their kids. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it will also provide an opportunity to teachers for explaining the performance of students in the schools.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against corruption and none of the corrupt officers is being tolerated. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that every corrupt officer will be nailed and strict action will be taken against them. He said that the state government is working zealously to bring transparency, effectiveness and responsiveness by providing citizen centric services to people at their doorsteps.

The Chief Minister said that now these youth have become integral part of the government adding that now should serve the people with missionary zeal. Bhagwant Mann hoped that the new recruits will use their pen for helping the needy and underprivileged sections of society. He said that the newly recruited youth should ensure maximum welfare of the public so that every section of society is benefited from it.

Earlier, Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains welcomed the Chief Minister and other dignitaries on the occasion.

Chandigarh, April 1:

          The newly recruited teachers in the Education department on Tuesday hailed the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for providing them jobs completely on the basis of merit.

Simranjit Sharma from Sangrur thanked the Chief Minister and said that her husband had got the appointment letter in 2023 and now she has realized the dream of her grandfather by getting this job. She said that entire credit goes to the Chief Minister, who has ensured the recruitment in a complete transparent way.

Gagandeep Singh from Mansa said that he was working privately and had been trying for the job since long. He said that prior to this none of his family members had government jobs for which he will ever remain indebted to the Chief Minister and the state government.

Ram Phal Singh Virdi said that he and his friend had lost hope of government jobs during previous regimes but due to the Chief Minister he has got a job today. However, he said that during the current government he has got a third job which is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction for him.   

Sandeep Kaur from Rupnagar said that it was her parents’ dream that she should get a government job. She said that this dream has been fulfilled because of the Chief Minister as earlier her husband has also got a job during this regime.

Harpreet Singh from Mansa said that he got a job in Punjab Police during the current regime only but now he has again got the job as teacher. He said that the entire credit for it goes to the Chief Minister.

Golo Kaur from Sangrur thanked the Chief Minister for giving jobs to the youth by creating new ones and illuminating the lives of the common man. She said that she, along with many others, has got second jobs within ten days which is a remarkable and unprecedented achievement.

Ravneet Kaur from Patiala thanked the Chief Minister for realizing the dream of the millions of Punjabis. She said that she will ever remain indebted to the Chief Minister and his government for giving her this job.

Chandigarh, April 1

Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise, and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday announced that the state’s Excise and Taxation Department has reported a record-breaking Excise revenue of Rs 10,743.72 crore for the financial year 2024-25, marking an impressive annual growth rate of 16.36 percent compared to the previous fiscal year. He said that the state’s total revenue collection from VAT, CST, GST, PSDT, and Excise during FY 2024-25 stood at Rs 42289.97 crore, showcasing a growth rate of 12.47 percent crossing the Rs 40,000 crore threshold for the first time in the state’s history.

Disclosing this in In a press communiqué issued here, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema attributed the remarkable growth in Excise collection to the successful excise policies implemented by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government. He said that the state witnessed a notable rise of Rs 598.72 crore in Excise revenue, surpassing the target of Rs 10145 crore for FY 2024-25. In March 2025, Punjab achieved a remarkable 30.67 percent growth rate in Excise revenue, collecting Rs 1477.04 crore, a significant increase from Rs 1130.37 crore in March 2024. He said that this achievement marks the first time the state has crossed the five-digit mark in Excise revenue.

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema further revealed that the state has also witnessed a net annual growth rate of 12.99 percent in Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections, with a net annual collection of Rs 23,642.15 crore compared to Rs 20,923.37 crore in the previous fiscal year. “In March 2025, the state recorded a net GST collection of Rs 1,913.82 crore, reflecting an 8.63 percent growth compared to Rs 1,761.70 crore in March 2024”, said the Finance Minister while adding that Punjab has also achieved an annual collection of Rs 7,353.32 crore from Value Added Tax (VAT), up from Rs 6,975.3 crore in the previous fiscal year, registering a growth rate of 5.42 percent.

Finance Minister Cheema attributed these achievements to the transparent excise policies implemented by the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government, and the enforcement activities of the Excise and Taxation Department which successfully curbed liquor smuggling from neighboring states. He said that the department has also enhanced GST revenue by promoting tax compliance through initiatives such as the “Bill Liayo Inam Pao” scheme and by leveraging technological solutions, the Tax Intelligence Unit, and strengthened enforcement activities.  He said that the department has adopted a two-pronged strategy, which encompasses providing unwavering support to honest taxpayers while simultaneously cracking down on tax evaders, thereby ensuring a fair and transparent taxation system.

The Finance Minister emphasized that these efforts to boost the state’s tax revenue have enabled the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government to present a historic “Badlda Punjab” budget, aimed at ushering in an era of economic and social development for the state. He said that the state government would continue to opt for new initiatives to further improve the tax revenue without imposing any new tax burden on the people of the state.

CHANDIGARH/FEROZEPUR, April 1: 

          Amidst the ongoing war against drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Counter Intelligence (CI) Ferozepur has busted a cross-border drug smuggling racket with the arrest of a drug smuggler and recovered 3.5 kg heroin from his possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Tuesday.

          The arrested accused has been identified as Sukhdev Singh alias Sukhi, a resident of Mohan Ke Uttar in Ferozepur. Apart from recovering heroin, police teams have also impounded his Hero Splendor motorcycle (PB-05-AM-5620), which he was riding. 

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation revealed that the arrested accused was in direct contact with the Pakistan-based smuggler, who was using drones to drop the drug consignments from across the border. Further investigation is underway to trace the forward and backward linkages in this case, he added. 

          Sharing operation details, AIG Counter Intelligence Ferozepur Gursewak Singh Brar said that following a reliable input about involvement of accused Sukhdev Sukhi in smuggling activities, police teams from CI Ferozepur launched an intelligence-based operation in the area of Village Lakho Ke Behram in Ferozepur and apprehended him along with seven packets of heroin, weighing 500 grams each, kept in a plastic bag.

          He said that the accused was going to deliver the consignment to someone, when police teams apprehended him. Efforts are being made to uncover the entire network of suppliers, dealers, and buyers, as well as to identify the person to whom accused Sukhdev Sukhi was to deliver the drug consignment, he said, while adding that more recoveries and arrests are likely in the coming days.

          In this regard, a case FIR No. 10 dated 31.03.2025 has been registered under section 21-C of the NDPS Act at Police Station State Special Operation Cell (SSOC), Fazilka. The accused will be produced before the Hon’ble Court to obtain police remand for further investigation.