Chandigarh, December 15 – Haryana Chief Minister Sh Nayab Singh Saini said that the state’s mandis must be transformed into models of excellence by placing farmer service at the highest priority, so that they can be emulated across the country. He emphasized the need for complete honesty and transparency in the collection of market fees and for strengthening trust among farmers. The objective, he said, is to develop Haryana’s mandis into the most modern, transparent and farmer-friendly market system in India.

The Chief Minister was presiding over a meeting with the newly appointed office-bearers of the Marketing Board here today. The meeting was attended by the chairmen and vice-chairmen of market committees, State President Sh Mohan Lal Badoli, General Secretary (Organisation) Sh Phanindra Nath Sharma, State General Secretary Sh Surender Punia, Dr. Archana Gupta, Chief Minister’s OSD Sh B.B. Bharti and several senior officials.

The Chief Minister said that the foundation of the Marketing Board’s functioning lies in ensuring the prosperity of farmers and strengthening the state’s economy. He said that the mandi system is the most effective mechanism for ensuring fair prices and safeguarding farmers’ hard-earned income. When farmers are empowered, he added, Haryana becomes stronger.

He further remarked that market committees are not merely government offices, but vital power centers of the rural economy. Therefore, their efficient management is of utmost importance. At the same time, it is essential to strengthen trust and reliability between farmers and traders. He said that the aim is to create a system in the mandis where farmers receive accurate measurements, fair prices, and timely payments as soon as they bring their produce, and traders get quality products and a better environment for doing business.

Sh Nayab Singh Saini appreciated the commendable progress made by market committees in adopting digital reforms over the past few years. He noted the successful implementation of e-procurement and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), which ensures that payments for farmers’ crops are credited directly to their bank accounts on time. By eliminating the role of middlemen, farmers are now receiving the full value of their hard work.

The Chief Minister emphasized that every process—from issuing gate passes to the collection of market fees—must be made fully digital to enhance transparency and eliminate corruption. Greater use of technology, he said, is essential for strengthening the system.

He informed that all 24 crops are being procured from farmers at the Minimum Support Price (MSP). So far, Rs 1.64 lakh crore has been deposited into the accounts of nearly 12 lakh farmers for crop procurement. From the Kharif season of 2024, farmers have been receiving payment within 48 hours of the issuance of the gate pass through DBT. He also said that work is being accelerated to improve basic facilities such as sheds, drinking water, toilets, and rest houses in mandis across the state.

The Chief Minister stated that providing cold storage facilities near farm gates for fruit and vegetable growers is a top priority of the government. He directed market committee officials to prioritize proposals for establishing cold storage units under the PPP model in their respective areas. He also stressed the need to improve road connectivity and carry out timely repairs of roads leading to mandis so that farmers can bring their produce without difficulty.

He said that the working style and conduct of market committee employees reflect the true image of the mandi system. Therefore, employees must remain sensitive to farmers’ needs. Proper training should be provided on the latest government policies, use of e-portals, and courteous communication with farmers.

The Chief Minister proposed launching a new initiative titled “Harit Mandi, Khushaal Farmer.” Under this initiative, separate and strengthened sections for fruits and vegetables should be developed alongside traditional crop markets. He also called for the establishment of farmer assistance centers in every mandi, where grievances are registered immediately and resolved promptly, ensuring that farmers do not have to make repeated visits to offices.

He further directed market committees to adopt solar energy to meet their electricity requirements, which would reduce power costs and contribute to environmental conservation. He also emphasized promoting green energy and making rainwater harvesting structures mandatory in mandis to prevent water wastage.

The Chief Minister said that farmers practicing natural farming should be given special space and priority in mandis to sell their produce, as this form of farming represents the future and should be actively encouraged. He also stressed the need to ensure safe and dedicated spaces for women farmers and women traders, and to promote greater participation of women in the economic system.

He said that maintaining cleanliness in the mandis is a collective responsibility. Regular cleanliness drives should be conducted, and strict action must be taken against those who litter. A clean market is beneficial for both business and public health, he added.

Chandigarh, December 15: Large-scale irregularities have come to light in the Chandigarh Tourism Department following a question raised in the Lok Sabha by Member of Parliament and former Union Minister Manish Tewari.

MP Tewari revealed that expenditure shown in the name of tourism-related activities in Chandigarh is highly startling. Over the last three financial years, an amount of ₹33.26 crore was reportedly spent on tourism activities. Of this total, nearly one-third—₹11.84 crore—was paid to artists and other vendors, while there is no clear accounting for the remaining approximately ₹22 crore.

He alleged that both the Central Government and the Chandigarh Administration deliberately avoided giving a direct answer to his question seeking details of payments made—specifically, which artist was paid, for which event, and how much. No explanation was provided regarding the utilisation of the remaining ₹22 crore-plus amount after payments to artists and vendors. It remains unclear as to which activities this substantial sum was spent on.

In this regard, MP Tewari has demanded a comprehensive and detailed account of the entire expenditure from the Tourism Sub-Committee of the Chandigarh Administration’s Advisory Committee. He also called for an investigation into whether any such tourism activities were actually conducted in Chandigarh that could justify such massive expenditure.

Emphasising accountability, Tewari stated that this is public money and its utilisation must be transparent.

It is noteworthy that MP Tewari had raised a question in the Lok Sabha regarding expenditure on tourism-related activities in Chandigarh and their audit. In response, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat clarified that the Central Government does not directly allocate any budget to the Chandigarh Administration’s Tourism Department. However, financial assistance is provided for organising fairs and festivals. Under this head, a budget of ₹33.26 crore was earmarked over a three-year period. The Minister further stated that all such expenditures are regularly audited by the Central Audit Office under the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

Chandigarh, December 15, 2025

The National Gatka Refresher Course concluded on a high note with the successful conduct of a written examination by the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI), marking a decisive step towards professionalising officiating standards in the traditional martial sport. The test formed the basis for grading and certification of Gatka officials, a process that will now determine their eligibility to officiate national level competitions.
Addressing the gathering at the valedictory session, NGAI president Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal said the certification exercise was aimed at ensuring uniform interpretation of rules, strengthening technical competence and reinforcing discipline and fairness during tournaments. “Only certified referees and judges, assessed through structured theory and practical evaluation, will henceforth be entrusted with officiating responsibilities at national championships and major events” he added.
Gatka promoter Grewal said the refresher course and examination were part of a long-term roadmap to elevate Gatka officiating to international benchmarks. He announced that the next National Gatka Refresher Course will be organised in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh in January in association with the New Gatka Sports Association Chhattisgarh. Grewal further revealed that similar Gatka programmes would be rolled out in other parts of the country to widen the pool of trained and certified officials.
In another key announcement, Grewal informed that the amended fifth edition of the World Gatka Federation International Rules Book would be published shortly. The updated edition, he said, reflects recent reforms and practical insights gained from national and international competitions and will serve as the authoritative reference for players, officials and organisers.
Participants from different states lauded the initiative, describing the course as a rare and valuable learning experience. Aman Singh of Chhattisgarh, Pandurang Ambhure from Maharashtra, Gurwinder Singh Ghanouli of Punjab and Harnam Singh from Haryana said the blend of detailed theoretical inputs and hands-on practical sessions had significantly enhanced their understanding of officiating protocols, competition management and decision making on the field.
Sukhchain Singh Kalsani, Vice Chairman of the International Sikh Martial Art Council said the NGAI has signalled a clear shift towards structured governance, accountability and professionalism in Gatka, setting the stage for more disciplined and globally aligned competitions in the years ahead.
Harjinder Kumar, NGAI General Secretary and Baljit Singh, Joint Secretary of the Gatka Association of Punjab collectively underlined the need for continuous capacity building to keep pace with Gatka’s growing national and international footprint.

New Delhi / Chandigarh, 14th, December.

The General Secretary of All India Congress Committee, former Union Minister and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja said that in Haryana, paddy was sold in mandis without actually arriving there by issuing fake gate passes. Paddy was brought from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh and sold in the names of local farmers. This paddy scam has raised serious questions over the transparency and accountability of the BJP government in the state, even as it continues to claim corruption-free governance and administration. Kumari Selja said the government must bring the truth to light in this entire matter, take strict action against those responsible, and immediately provide farmers with their rightful dues and relief. The Congress party stands firmly with farmers and will continue to raise its voice to protect their rights.

In a statement released to the media, Kumari Selja said that serious allegations concerning Haryana’s grain procurement system and government financial management have caused deep concern among the farming community across the state. Reports of widespread irregularities in the government procurement of paddy and other crops, unusually inflated figures of paper-based purchases, and possible collusion between middlemen and officials have put major question marks on the government’s transparency and accountability. The purpose of the government procurement system is to provide security and dignity to farmers, not to ignore their rights and push them into financial loss and mental distress. Kumari Selja said that allegations of a sharp rise in paper procurement despite crop losses due to floods also point towards misuse of the state’s financial resources, which is extremely alarming. Under such circumstances, it becomes essential for the government to ensure an independent and impartial investigation into the entire matter, without any attempt at a cover-up, so that it is clearly established who is actually responsible for these irregularities. The investigation should not be limited to lower-level officials but must also include all decision-makers and those at higher levels whose roles led to this situation. She further demanded that the truth of MSP promises made to farmers and the actual procurement figures be made public in a transparent manner, so that farmers can have confidence that the government is honestly working to protect their interests. Kumari Selja has said protecting the dignity, security and rights of farmers is not merely a political issue, but essential for the social and economic stability of the state. Farmers in Haryana are today expecting justice. She asserted that any attempt to conceal corruption or exploitation will not be acceptable. The government must bring the truth before the public, take strict action against the guilty, and immediately provide farmers with their rightful dues and relief. The Congress party stands with farmers and will continue to raise its voice for the protection of their rights.

Kumari Selja said paddy scam has proved that the government has failed to curb corruption, and instead it is flourishing under the protection of officials. In Haryana, paddy was sold in mandis without its arrival by issuing fake gate passes. Paddy brought from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh was sold in the names of Haryana farmers. The paddy scam has reportedly reached around ₹80 crore in Yamunanagar and up to ₹20 crore in Karnal. She reiterated that the government must bring out the truth in the entire episode, take strict action against the guilty, and immediately provide farmers with their rightful dues and relief. The Congress party stands with farmers and will continue to raise its voice to protect their rights.

Chandigarh/New Delhi, December 14:

          Exemplary efforts of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government in the arena of energy efficiency and conservation has earned national recognition to the Punjab with the state bagging second Award in the State Performance Category of the National Energy Conservation Awards -2025.

          Punjab New and Renewable Energy Resources Minister Mr. Aman Arora received the coveted award from the President of India Droupadi Murmu at the National Energy Conservation Awards 2025 ceremony held today at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

          Interacting with media after the award ceremony, Mr. Arora said that with the winning of this prestigious award the state of Punjab has stood among the top performers in the country in the field of energy efficiency. Pointing out towards the initiatives and steps taken by the state government led by Punjab Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann for upgrading the infrastructure, he added, “We have installed 18000 solar tube-well pumps in the agriculture sector and efforts are on to increase the numbers. Besides these 185 Energy efficient motors have also been installed in MSME sector including Verka Plants. Stepping further the state government has also successfully installed rooftop projects of 35MW capacity in the Government buildings in the state.”

          Mr Aman Arora stated that energy efficiency in the buildings is one of the key areas to save energy in commercial sector by adopting energy efficient design, building material and using Energy Conservation Building Code.

          He added that apart from this, Punjab has taken the lead to develop and notify Punjab Energy Conservation Building Code by amending National Energy Conservation Building Code for the composite climate zone applicable in the state. The implementation has started by incorporating the building bye‑laws. So far 850 buildings have been put under compliance of the ECBC rules.

          Appreciating the efforts of PEDA authorities and officials for taking initiatives in the field of Energy Conservation & Energy Efficiency, Mr. Arora revealed that due to all these efforts 12000 million units have been saved so far.

          Emphasising that with the expansion of industry and need of more infrastructure, the demand of power is on the rise and shifting from conventional power generation to renewal energy sources such as solar, hydel and biomass is the need of the time that will pay in many ways for energy efficiency and conservation and most importantly to save our environment.

          On the occasion CEO PEDA Ms. Neelima, Administrative Secretary New and Renewable Resources Dr. Basant Garg, Additional Director PEDA Jaspal Singh and Project Engineer Sharad Sharma were also present.

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, December 14:

          Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar has busted a drug supply module linked to foreign-based smuggles with the arrest of four operatives and recovered 4 Kg Heroin, ₹3.90 lakh drug money and one .32 bore pistol along with magazine and five live cartridges from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Sunday.

          Those arrested have been identified as Yuvraj Singh, a resident of Roriwal in Amritsar; Varinder Singh, a resident of Dhaul Kalan in Amritsar; Jagroop Singh, a resident of Sangna in Amritsar and Jugraj Singh, a resident of Sarkaria Enclave in Amritsar. Police team have also impounded their black-coloured Hero Splendor motorcycle (PB-02-EE-0627) and white-coloured Honda Activa (PB-02-EX-2265), which they were using to deliver the consignments.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that police teams from CI Amritsar had received reliable inputs that associates— Yuvraj and Varinder— of foreign-based handler Lakhwinder Singh alias Baba Lakha had retrieved a heroin consignment from Ajnala sector and were expected to deliver it to suspect Jagroop Singh near gurudwara Morcha Sahib in Amritsar. Acting swiftly, Police teams laid a trap and arrested trio accused persons after recovering drug consignment and pistol from their posession, he said.

          He said that during questioning arrested person Jagroop Singh revealed that he has been working on the directions of one Daya Singh alias Preet Sekhon, who is presently lodged at Central Jail at Sri Muktsar Sahib, and the latter directed him to receive the heroin consignment from near Gurdwara Morcha Sahib.

          The DGP said that during further questioning, arrested persons— Yuvraj and Varinder— revealed about their one more associate identified as Jugraj Singh, who was also apprehended Amritsar city and Rs 3.90 lakhs drug money was recovered from his possession. Further investigations are ongoing, he added.

          In this regard, a case FIR no. 73 dated 13.12.25 has been registered under sections 21, 25 and 29 of the NDPS Act and section 25 of the Arms Act at Police Station SSOC Amritsar.

Chandigarh, December 14, 2025 : The 3rd National Gatka Refresher Course commenced at Gurdwara Babe Ke, Chandigarh bringing together officials from several states for a three-day upgrade in technical training sessions. The programme features theory sessions, practical demonstrations and evaluations aimed at standardising officiating practices across the country.

Throughout the day experts led modules on competition planning, scoring norms, foul assessment, tournament discipline and field-of-play management. Participants also undertook practical exercises designed to strengthen their on-ground decision making.

Speaking at the inaugural session World Gatka Federation (WGF) president Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal announced a significant move in maintaining the discipline protocol of the sport. Gatka promoter Grewal, who is also serving as president of National Gatka Association of India (NGAI), informed that the WGF has introduced the ‘Black Card’ as a fourth foul category card in the international Gatka rules book. “This measure reinforces the dignity of technical officials, smooth conduct of bouts and ensuring to maintain discipline in players during competitions. This punitive card will be used in cases of unruly, indisciplined, unwanted or unholy behaviour,” he stated.

Sukhchain Singh Kalsani, vice chairman of the International Sikh Martial Art Council, emphasised that ongoing capacity-building is essential to uphold fairness and integrity in competitive Gatka. Speaking on the occasion President, Gatka Association of Chandigarh Hardeep Singh Butrela, Municipal Councillor Chandigarh said structured refresher courses not only sharpen the proficiency of officials but also help preserve uniformity in the rapidly developing sport.

Offering a global perspective, Phool Raj Singh, Chairman of the International Affairs Directorate, shared the WGF’s plans to accelerate international expansion. He disclosed that national Gatka federations would soon be constituted in multiple countries accompanied by enhanced training programmes for referees and judges abroad. He added that the coming years would see more international level tournaments aimed at strengthening Gatka’s presence on the world sports stage.

The refresher course will continue over the weekend with specialised workshops, mock bouts and assessments designed to prepare certified officials for national and international roles.

Also present on the occasion were Harjinder Kumar, General Secretary of the National Gatka Association, Baljit Singh Saini, Joint Secretary of the Gatka Association of Punjab, National Coordinator Harsimran Singh and State Coordinator Sherry Singh, Narinderpal Singh senior Referee, Narinderpal Singh joint secretary Haryanvi Gatka Association and Shiv Kumar.

Chandigarh, December 13:

 Reaffirming the commitment of the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab government to support aspirations of young women, Mai Bhago Armed Forces Preparatory Institute (AFPI) for Girls in SAS Nagar (Mohali) has added another remarkable achievement to its illustrious history, with two of its distinguished alumni, Charanpreet Kaur and Mehak Dahiya, being commissioned as Flying Officers in the Indian Air Force. They successfully passed out from the Air Force Academy, Dundigal (Hyderabad) on Saturday, bringing pride and glory to their alma mater.

 They were commissioned in an impressive passing out parade, that was reviewed by Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM.

 Flying Officer Charanpreet Kaur is daughter of S. Harminder Singh Banwait, who is a driver by profession and hails from Kurali in SAS Nagar, whereas Flying Officer Mehak Dahiya is daughter of Sh. Anil Kumar Dahiya, who is a Government Teacher and also hails from SAS Nagar.

Flying Officer Charanpreet Kaur has been commissioned in the Administrative Branch, while Flying Officer Mahak Dahiya has been commissioned in the Accounts Branch of the Air Force.

Punjab Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training Minister Aman Arora congratulated Flying Officers Charanpreet Kaur and Mehak Dahiya on their remarkable achievement, stating their success will inspire more young women from Punjab to pursue careers in the defence services.

Notably, the Punjab Government has also established an NDA Preparatory Wing for Girls at Mai Bhago AFPI in July 2023, with the third batch currently undergoing training. It also is worth mentioning that a new block, which has been named after Field Marshal SHFJ Manekshaw, was inaugurated in November 2025.

Director of Mai Bhago AFPI, Major General Jasbir Singh Sandhu, AVSM (Retd), expressed delight over the commissioning of the two alumni as Flying Officers, stating that this achievement will further energise the state government’s efforts to encourage more girls to join the armed forces. He extended his warm wishes to the newly commissioned Lady Officers for a bright future in the Indian Air Force.

CHANDIGARH, December 13:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 287th day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 178 locations on Saturday leading to the arrest of 27 drug smugglers after registration of 25 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 40,209 in 287 days.

          The raids have resulted in recovery of 725 grams heroin, 500 grams opium and 75 intoxicant pills from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          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.

          Over 80 Police teams, comprising over 500 police personnel, under the supervision of 36 gazetted officers have conducted 178 raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 186 suspicious persons during the day-long operation.

          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 15 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Panchkula: A large number of people visited the second day of Ayurveda Mahotsav 2025 being held at Indradhanush Auditorium, Sector 5, Panchkula. Visitors came in large numbers to gain information related to Ayurveda and were seen purchasing Ayurvedic products from the exhibition stalls. A deep interest and growing awareness about Ayurveda was clearly visible among the public.

On the second day of the festival, former BJP MLA from Panchkula, Gyan Chand Gupta, attended the event as the chief guest. He congratulated the organizers for hosting such an Ayurvedic exhibition in Panchkula and appreciated their efforts to promote Ayurveda. Acharya Manish was present as the special guest on the occasion.

The program began with the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by chief guest Gyan Chand Gupta, Acharya Manish, BJP leader Ranjita Mehta, and Om Prakash Devi Nagar. Thereafter, the organizers honored the chief guest and other dignitaries by presenting shawls and mementos.

Acharya Manish inspected various stalls set up at the exhibition and gathered detailed information from institutions selling Ayurvedic medicines and products about their benefits, usage, and precautions. He also addressed the gathering in a special session, highlighting the advantages of Ayurveda. He said that amid changing lifestyles and increasing diseases, Ayurveda is emerging as the most effective and reliable system of medicine, and that the future belongs to Ayurveda.

During the event, Rajesh Goyal, North Zone Convener of Swadeshi Jagran Manch, also visited the festival. He gathered information about Ayurvedic products and emphasized the importance of the Swadeshi movement.

Festival organizer Dr. Rishabh Dixit stated that this event would prove to be a significant milestone in the field of holistic medicine. According to him, experts from across the country are sharing their research, experiences, and modern perspectives, which will further strengthen the scientific foundation of Ayurveda.

Prominent experts present at the event included Ajit Pal Singh, Sanchit Sharma, Taranjit Singh Bharna, Rampal Somani, and Hitesh Jani. These experts shared their views on the modern direction of Ayurveda, technological advancements, and global possibilities, adding further prestige to the program.

The organizing team played a key role in the successful execution of the festival, including Rishabh Dixit, Jai Soni, Manya Dixit, Yogita Bhati, and Siddhi Mishra. Due to their planned approach and effective coordination, the festival has been well-organized and impactful since the very first day.

More than 4,000 doctors, Ayurvedic practitioners from across the country, and over 100 medicine manufacturers are showcasing their research-based medicines and modern technologies at the exhibition. In addition, free health camps, yoga sessions, consultation centers, and medicine distribution stalls witnessed heavy footfall throughout the day, providing direct benefits to the general public.

Experts from Ayurvedic institutions stated that several of their products are receiving an excellent response from visitors. Meanwhile, a representative of a Mumbai-based company said that their Ayurvedic products are selling well, with particularly strong interest in their “Cool Lip” product.

Overall, this Ayurveda Mahotsav in Panchkula is not only spreading awareness about the scientific foundation of Ayurveda among the masses, but is also instilling renewed trust and awareness in natural healthcare practices.