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Chandigarh, Punjab

DON’T REST UNTIL A SINGLE OUNCE OF DRUG IS PRESENT IN PUNJAB: KEJRIWAL TO YOUTH

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Ludhiana, April 2-

National Convener of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called upon the youth of the state to support a decisive war against drug menace until Punjab is made drug free.  

Addressing the gathering before flagging off the awareness march against drugs, the former Chief Minister of Delhi said that the youth has a huge role to play in wiping out the menace of drugs from the state. He said that if this curse is not wiped out then it will transform into a major evil and result in major damage to the state and its generations. Arvind Kejriwal urged the youth to say no to drugs as this menace will ruin their life and that of the family.

The National Convener of AAP said that in Punjab the previous governments had patronized drug cartels in the state and even their top leaders were involved in it. He said that for the sake of minting illegal money these greedy leaders had patronized the drug menace in the state thereby ruining our generations. Arvind Kejriwal said that God and people of the state will never forgive these political leaders for this sin and they will be punished for this misdeed.

The former Delhi Chief Minister said that the state government has done exemplary work in the last 30 days adding that even the huge palaces built from drug money amassed by these smugglers are being destroyed. He said that none of the drug smugglers will be spared and they will be put behind the bars adding that severest of severe action will be taken against them. Arvind Kejriwal said that security agencies are playing a laudable role by cracking down heavily on the drug peddlers by nabbing them and cutting the supply line of drugs.

The National Convener of Aam Aadmi Party further said that properties of the drug peddlers are being confiscated/ demolished to ensure that people involved in this heinous crime get exemplary punishment. Arvind Kejriwal said that the state government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against drugs and a crusade has been launched against this menace. Striking an emotional chord with the youth, he said that if any friend or family member of the youth is taking drugs then it should be reported to authorities for timely prevention.

The former Delhi Chief Minister said that it is imperative to check the spread of drugs amongst the youth and save our future generations. He asked the youth to take the responsibility of their respective village and locality to check the menace of drugs by calling on Whatsapp helpline number 9779100200, to inform about any movement of drug smugglers in their area. Arvind Kejriwal asked the youth to pledge that they will not take drugs, they will not allow anyone to sell drugs and they will support the campaign against drugs.  

The former Chief Minister of Delhi said that in order to treat drug victims, the government is running an OutPatient Opioid Assisted Treatment Program (OOAT) for drug de-addiction services at the OPD level. He said that rehabilitation centres are being established across the state to rehabilitate the drug victims. Arvind Kejriwal said that in order to wean away youth from the menace of drugs, playgrounds and gyms are being opened in every village of the state.

Chandigarh, Punjab

State information Commissioner Harpreet  Sandhu presents Pictorial Art to UT Chief Secretary

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Chandigarh, April 2:

Punjab State Information Commissioner Mr. Harpreet  Sandhu today Presented his Art Work to Chief secretary U T Chandigarh Sh. Rajeev  Verma at UT Secretariat.

This Pictorial art paid remarkable tribute to India’s rich cultural heritage and natural splendor,  symbolizing the “Pride of Peacock – Glory of India” this artistic masterpiece prepared by Sh. Harpreet Sandhu, serves as a creative endeavor to emphasize the significance of the National Bird of India and foster an intrinsic bond between humanity and nature.

The initiative aims to promote cultural exchange among different States- Union Territories of the Nation, underscoring the collective responsibility to preserve the natural heritage that binds the diverse tapestry of India.

On this occasion, Sh. Rajeev Verma acknowledged the artistic contribution of Harpreet Sandhu and stated the work as a visual representation of India’s ecological and cultural ethos. He further emphasized the relevance of such initiatives in instilling a sense of environmental consciousness and appreciation for national symbols.

On this occasion State Information Commissioners of Punjab Mr Sandeep S Dhaliwal & Mrs Pooja Gupta were also present.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Mohinder Bhagat Directs Senior Officers to Study Horticulture Sector in Neighbouring States

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Chandigarh, April 2

Punjab Horticulture Minister Mohinder Bhagat on Tuesday directed senior officers to study the horticulture sector in neighbouring states to adopt best practices for boosting horticulture in Punjab. He was presiding over a meeting in Chandigarh to review various welfare schemes being implemented by the Horticulture Department for the benefit of farmers.

During the meeting, Horticulture Secretary Mohammad Tayyab and Director Shailender Kaur apprised the Minister of the subsidies and incentives being provided to farmers under different schemes. Bhagat emphasized the need for effective execution of these initiatives to maximize their impact.

The Minister also discussed the plantation of fruit trees on Panchayat lands, highlighting the importance of promoting agroforestry to enhance green cover and provide additional income to farmers. He stressed that such efforts would not only benefit farmers economically but also contribute to environmental sustainability. In the meeting, Additional Director Rural Development Sandeep Singh provided details about the availability and utilization of Panchayati lands for these initiatives.Deputy Director Harmail Singh was also present at the meeting.

Recognizing the dedication of officials, Bhagat honored several employees of the department for their excellent work in implementing horticulture schemes. Those awarded include HDO Balwinderjit Kaur, ACFA Gurpreet Kaur, Senior Assistants Sumeet Kapoor and Rajinder Kumar, Steno Navjit Kumar, Clerks Harpreet Singh Rupinderjit Singh and other staff Mahadev Gupta and Tula Ram.

The Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening Punjab’s horticulture sector through progressive policies and innovative strategies.

Chandigarh, Punjab

‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’: ON DAY 33, PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS 59 DRUG SMUGGLERS; 1.6KG HEROIN, ₹5.53L DRUG MONEY RECOVERED

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CHANDIGARH, April 2:

          With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 33rd day, Punjab Police on Wednesday arrested 59 drug smugglers and recovered 1.6 kg heroin and ₹5.53 lakh drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 4765 in just 33 days.

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

          Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

          Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1400 police personnel, under the supervision of 91 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 497 locations across the state leading to the registration of 36 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 546 suspicious persons during the day long operation, he added.

          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 four persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.

Chandigarh, Punjab

Meet Hayer strongly opposes the Waqf Bill in Parliament

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Chandigarh/New Delhi, April 2

Aam Aadmi Party Lok Sabha member from Sangrur Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer today strongly opposed the Waqf Bill in Parliament. With his strong and logical arguments, he termed it as the bill that paves the way for the BJP government to loot and interfere in Affairs of minority religions. This bill has been brought to grab Waqf properties, said Meet Hayer.

He also said that with this bill, the gateway has been opened to loot minority religions. Today, there is an attack on Waqf, in future, there may be tinkering with matters of other minority religions like Sikhs, Buddhists etc. With this bill, Article 14 has been directly violated.

According to the law, how will we find out whether a person is worshipping in his private life?

Meet Hayer said that the BJP’s politics of dividing the country is clearly visible in this bill. He said that the attitude of the central government towards Muslims has been visible in the last 11 years from actions and rhetorical speeches. The Home Minister calls the government serious towards Muslims, but not a single BJP Lok Sabha member is a Muslim and neither is there a Muslim MLA in Uttar Pradesh from BJP. 

The MP said that the government has talked about implementing the recommendations of the Sachar Committee, but the Sachar Committee report also says that 70 percent of the Waqf Board properties in the country have been occupied and 355 are in the possession of the government. What has the government done about this? He said that many historical buildings, mosques, and educational institutions in the country are hundreds of years old, from where will they get the necessary papers?

Meet Hayer, giving an example of Malerkotla’s, which is part of his parliamentary constituency, mutual brotherhood and unity of all religions from the time of Nawab Sher Mohammad Khan’s slogan of “Haa the Naara” also cautioned the central government against creating divisions on the basis of religion. He said that he would do his best to fulfil the promise made to the residents of Malerkotla and oppose this bill.

The AAP Lok Sabha member said that the Constitution of the country has been attacked by this bill. Under Article 26, they can form and run their own organization and today this very right has been attacked.

Chandigarh, Haryana

PUNJAB POLICE INTRODUCES QR CODE AUTHENTICATION FOR POLICE CLEARANCE CERTIFICATES 

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CHANDIGARH, April 2:

          In a significant move to prevent document fraud and enhance security as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police has launched a QR code-based authentication system for Police Clearance Certificates (PCCs). The initiative aims to provide a secure and reliable method for verifying the authenticity of PCCs, which are often required for employment, visas, and other official purposes.

          Divulging details, Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) Community Affairs Division said that under the new system, each Police Clearance Certificate issued will feature a unique QR code. When scanned, this code will direct users to a secure online copy of the certificate, hosted on official Punjab Police servers (https://certificate.ppsaanjh.in), enabling instant and accurate authentication. This added layer of security eliminates the risk of counterfeit PCCs, ensuring that only legitimate certificates are recognised by employers and authorities.

          The police have also issued a cautionary note, advising users to verify that official website (https://certificate.ppsaanjh.in) is connected for downloading the PCC upon scanning the QR code.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Haryana Excise & Taxation Department surpasses revenue target for FY 2024-25

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Chandigarh, April 2 – Haryana Excise and Taxation Department has achieved a significant milestone in revenue collection for the Financial Year 2024-25, surpassing its budget target. Against the allocated target of Rs 61,950 Crore, the Department successfully collected Rs 63,371 Crore, achieving 102.3% of the set target.

Sharing the information here today, an official spokesperson informed that SGST collections reached Rs 39,153 Crore, exceeding the budget target of Rs 37,500 Crore and registering an impressive 13.77% growth over the previous year (excluding cess). Similarly, Excise Duty collections stood at Rs 12,701 Crore, surpassing the budget target of Rs 12,650 Crore and marking a 12% increase from the previous year.

Meanwhile, VAT and CST collections amounted to Rs 11,517 Cr, reflecting a 1.6% increase over last year’s figures. This outstanding performance in revenue generation underscores the department’s commitment to efficient tax administration, policy reforms, and economic growth, he added.

Chandigarh, Haryana

6300 km of roads will be repaired in next 6 months: Ranbir Gangwa

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Chandigarh, April 2 – Haryana Public Health Engineering and Public Works Minister Sh. Ranbir Gangwa said the department has made a special plan for the repair of Haryana’s roads. Special action will be taken on this issue in the next 6 months and along with this, the network of roads in the state will be strengthened so that the public can travel better and easier.

While talking to the media, Sh. Ranbir Gangwa said an action plan has been made to repair about 6300 km of roads under the Public Works Department (PWD). The work will be done through special tenders.

It is noteworthy that during the budget session, Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini had announced in the House that within the next 6 months, all the roads will be repaired as per the requirement. Sh. Gangwa gave instructions to the department officials to prepare a special plan to implement the Chief Minister’s announcement on the ground.

He said the government is working keeping in mind the convenience of the general public and the department is trying to provide better and high quality roads to commuters. Special instructions have been given to department officials that there will be no compromise on quality. Regarding the preparations to be made for drinking water in the summer season, he said all arrangements have been completed for this, and instructions have also been given to the officials of the concerned department to make alternative arrangements.

Sh. Gangwa said a triple engine government is working in the state under the leadership of the Chief Minister and the government’s effort is to make such schemes which benefit the public.

Important decisions taken in meeting of High Powered Purchase Committee

A meeting of the High Powered Purchase Committee for Public Health Engineering Department was held at the Chandigarh Secretariat on Wednesday. Three agendas were placed in the meeting of the Departmental High Powered Purchase Committee (DHPPC) chaired by Sh. Ranbir Gangwa and Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda.

During the meeting, the committee interacted with the companies involved in the process regarding the purchase of bleaching powder, poly aluminum chloride and stainless steel skin. During this, two agendas worth Rs 4.41 crore for poly aluminum chloride and stainless steel skin were approved. Sh. Ranbir Gangwa said the objective of the government is that the public should get high quality facilities.

Chandigarh, Chandigarh, Haryana

Haryana Chief Secretary Emphasizes 100% Aadhaar Coverage

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Chandigarh, April 2 – Haryana Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi chaired a crucial meeting of the Unique Identification Implementation Committee (UIDIC) here today, stressing the need for 100% Aadhaar penetration across the state.

To accelerate Aadhaar registration, Sh. Rastogi directed all departments including bankers and Department of Post to ensure the full activation of Aadhaar enrollment kits at the earliest. He emphasized the optimal utilization of available resources to make Aadhaar services more accessible.

He further directed that special enrollment camps be conducted in both government and private schools to facilitate Aadhaar registration for students. Additionally, he urged the promotion of the M-Aadhaar App and My-Aadhaar Portal to enhance digital access for citizens.

Highlighting the importance of Aadhaar-linked authentication, he asked the School Education Department to run awareness campaigns urging parents to complete Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) for their children at the ages of 5 and 15. He also directed all the departments of Haryana to ensure Aadhaar based authentication of beneficiaries of various services offered at Aadhaar Centers and other offices. He further directed that Aadhaar-based face authentication attendance system to be deployed across all government departments.

During the meeting, Smt. Bhawna Garg, Deputy Director General, UIDAI Regional Office, Chandigarh, highlighted the need to increase Aadhaar enrollment among children aged 0-5 years. She proposed deploying Aadhaar kits at immunization centers, with collaboration between the Health Department and the Department of Women and Child Development (WCD) to ensure full coverage for young children.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from various departments, including banking and postal representatives.

Chandigarh, Haryana

Haryana Yuva Samvad Samaroh: A Laboratory for Shaping Future Policies

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Chandigarh, April 2:  Deputy Speaker of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Dr. Krishan Lal Middha, expressed his gratitude to all the representatives of the organization for organizing the Haryana Yuva Samvad 2025 program in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. He also appreciated the Rajdhani Yuva Sansad for selecting Haryana as the host state for this program.

In his address after inaugurating the two-day Haryana Yuva Samvad, Dr. Middha expressed that it is a matter of great fortune for him, as the Deputy Speaker of Haryana Vidhan Sabha, to have the opportunity to engage with the talented youth selected from all corners of the country in this August house. He emphasized that this platform is not only a space for discussion but also a laboratory for shaping future policies. Dr. Middha further highlighted that the venue of this conference is not just an ordinary platform but a confluence of the Constitution, dialogue, and sensitivity—a place where the vision for building the future of the state is conceived and brought to fruition.

He mentioned that more than 60 youths, selected through three phases, are participating in the Haryana Yuva Samvad. These young participants will not only share their views but also offer insights into the direction society should take and express what the youth envision for the future. This platform will provide an opportunity to hear their perspectives.

Dr. Middha expressed happiness that two important topics have been chosen for discussion—Development and Expansion in Haryana through digital medium and Women Empowerment in Haryana. He emphasized that when we talk about a digital Haryana, we must recognize an important point: for the world to change, not only must we embrace technology, but our way of thinking must also evolve. He further stated that today’s India is a young India, with enthusiastic youth eager to make a difference. He pointed out that if we reverse the word youth (Yuva), it becomes air (Vayu), and as we all know, air moves swiftly.

He stated that the youth must aim to become job creators, not just job seekers. Dr. Middha emphasized that the 21st century is defined by our approach to technology. Today, farmers are able to test the soil of their fields online, students in remote villages can study online from world-renowned universities, and women entrepreneurs are managing their businesses through apps. He pointed out that we now need technical, digital, and administrative skills, as well as policies that are inclusive, equitable, and visionary. A new form of Haryana will emerge from the balance of these elements. He further added that social media should be used as a tool for solving societal problems, not creating fear. This vision of a digital Haryana can become a reality if youth like those present on this platform become the carriers of this change.

Dr. Middha highlighted that the second topic of the Haryana Samvad, Women Empowerment in Haryana, is a very important and specific subject. He stressed that when we talk about women empowerment, we must remember that when women are given opportunities, it empowers not just the home but the entire nation. He further stated that the progress of a nation is not possible unless its women are educated, safe, and empowered. Dr. Middha emphasized that while laws are important, what we truly need is a mental revolution to bring about meaningful change.

Congress MLA Smt Geeta Bhukkal, who was the key speaker in the Haryana Yuva Samvad program, said that youth is the bright future of the country. There was a time when literacy mission was run to increase literacy and knowledge.  Today we are in the era of e-governance. She said that the National Education Policy 2020 is being implemented. She said that today the subject matter is available in the form of e-content. We should stay updated with it, she added.