IEP Chandigarh, August 27

          The Punjab Government, which is constantly striving to create a sports and sportsmen-friendly atmosphere, will be awarding the players with cash prizes, who were earlier deprived of the cash prize money of the last five years on the occasion of the National Sports Day.

          On the instructions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the sports department has prepared a list of 1807 medal winners from Punjab who have been deprived of cash prize money since 2017. The Chief Minister will felicitate these 1807 players with a total prize money of Rs 5.94 Cr at the opening ceremony of the season-2 of ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Day’ at Bathinda on August 29.

          In a press communiqué released here today, Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer said that it had cone to the notice of the Punjab Government that there were many sportsmen in the state, who despite winning medals, did not receive cash prize money for the last five years. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann directed that the sports department to prepare a list of these players and give them their due rights. The sports department has prepared a list of 1807 such players from the year 2017 till now, whose total prize money is Rs 5,94,45,400 (5.94 Cr). These players have brought glory to the state by winning medals in state, national and international competitions.

          The Sports Minister said that now the Chief Minister will award cash prizes to these players at the opening ceremony of the season-2 of ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ at Bathinda on August 29 on the occasion of National Sports Day. He said that a new sports policy has been made by the sports department and in the coming years any sportsperson will be given their due respect immediately.

          Divulging the details of cash prize winning 1807 players, Meet Hayer said that 997 players of the year 2017-18 will get Rs 1.58 Cr, 135 players of 2018-19 will get Rs 47.96 lakh, 287 players of 2019-20 will receive Rs 1.75 Cr, 51 players of 2020-21 will honour with Rs.19.05 lakhs, 203 players of 2021-22 will get Rs.1.32 Cr and 10 players who won medals from services in the 36th National Games held last year will honour with Rs.41 lakh. Thus a total of 1807 players will be awarded with Rs. 5,94,45,400 (5.94 Cr)

IEP Chandigarh, August 27

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday handed over cheques worth Rs 1 crore each as financial assistance to the distressed family members of the two brave hearts who had attained martyrdom on August 19 in a road accident at Leh (Ladakh).

          After visiting the native houses of these martyrs, the Chief Minister said that nine valiant heroes have attained martyrdom while discharging their duty to safeguard the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country at leh. He said that unfortunately out of these martyrs, two sons from Punjab including Ramesh Lal of Village Sarsiri (Faridkot) and Taran Deep Singh from Bassi Pathana had also attained martyrdom. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is an irreparable loss for the country in general and for the distressed families in particular.

          During his visit, the Chief Minister offered his condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed to Almighty for granting eternal peace to the departed soul. Handing over cheques worth Rs 1 crore to the distressed families as a mark of respect for the unprecedented sacrifice made by these heroes for the country, he said that the entire country is indebted to these martyrs who had sacrificed their lives for the sake of the country and its people.

          The Chief Minister said that this humble initiative of the state government is in recognition of the immense contribution of these sons of soil towards preserving the unity, integrity and sovereignty of the country. Reiterating the firm commitment of the state government to help the families of the soldiers who sacrifice their life at the altar of the motherland, he said that it is the bounden duty of the Punjab government. Bhagwant Mann said that financial assistance to these families of martyrs is in consonance with the commitment of the state government to ensure the well being of the soldiers and their families who attained martyrdom during the duty.

          The Chief Minister also announced suitable jobs for the kin of the Martyrs on compassionate grounds according to the policy. He said that the supreme sacrifice of these martyrs will ever inspire their fellow soldiers and youngsters to perform their duties with far more devotion and commitment. Bhagwant Mann expressed hope that this healing touch of the state will go a long way in helping the aggrieved family on one hand and securing their future on the other. Likewise, he envisioned that it will also encourage the youth to join the Armed forces to serve their motherland in a selfless manner.

          Meanwhile, at Antim Ardass of Martyr Taran deep Singh at Bassi Pathana in Fatehgarh Sahib, the Chief Minister while giving the cheque of the financial help, announced job for his sister after due verification of certificates and construct a stadium equipped with synthetic track and other ultra modern facilities after the name of the Martyr so that other youngsters could be motivated and qualified for the recruitment of Armed Forces.

          However, at village Sarsiri (Faridkot), the Chief Minister announced a job for wife of the Martyr Ramesh Lal and construct a stadium in the village apart from the monetary support, besides revamping the dispensary of the village and Panjgrain to Nangal road to be renamed after the martyr.

IEP Chandigarh, August 27:

In view of the increasing cases of religious intolerance in the country, School Education Minister Punjab Harjot Singh Bains has ordered to educate Students about mutual brotherhood in daily morning assembly in the schools of the state to strengthen the ethos of communal harmony, brotherhood and peace in the young minds.

          Terming the incident in a private school in Uttar Pradesh as unfortunate, Mr. Bains said that this threatens the unity and integrity of the country. He said that Punjab is already following the path of communalism shown by the Gurus, but still due to the influence of social media and other means of communication, to prevent arise of religious intolerance in our Students, schools in the state of Punjab.To prevent arise of religious intolerance in our Students, schools in the state of Punjab. The students should have educate  about religious harmony in  uring the morning assembly  prayers .

          In its orders Mr. Bains said that teachers should educate the students about the good things of different religions and teach them to respect all religions. He said that this decision will prove helpful in increasing religious harmony and communal unity in the state.

          He has also ordered departmental officials to issue instructions in this regard.

IEP Kharar/Chandigarh, August 27

On the orders of Cabinet Minister Anmol Gagan Mann, a case has been registered against Udham Singh, a policeman posted at Sadar Kharar police station, on the charge of demanding bribe.

          According to the information received in this regard, policeman Udham Singh was indirectly demanding bribe from Paramjit Singh, a resident of Khijrabad. Paramjit Singh made a video in this regard and made it viral.

          The  viral video  came to the attention of Kharar Constituency MLA and Cabinet Minister Anmol Gagan Maan. Acting on that immediately, She ordered to  Senior superintendent of police    Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar to take immediate action in this regard.

          Acting on that, an FIR was filed against Policeman Udham Singh at Police Station Sadar Kharar and he was suspended from government services.

          Cabinet Minister Anmol Gagan Maan said that bribery will not be tolerated and the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is committed to provide corruption free governance to the people of the state. She said that in order to stop corruption, the Punjab government has issued WhatsApp number 95012 00200 on which people can also register their complaints regarding corruption.

IEP Chandigarh, August 26

Former Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda has said that minister Sandeep Singh, accused of molestation, should resign immediately on moral grounds. He said the Chief Minister should seek his resignation if he does not do so.

Addressing a press conference at his residence, Hooda spoke on the issues to be raised in the assembly session. He said the government has deliberately kept the duration of the session short as it does not want to answer important issues. 

“It seems that the government is in a hurry. That is why the Adjournment Motions given by the Congress regarding flood and compensation was converted into Calling Attention motion. Congress has also proposed to discuss Nuh violence in law and order, but the Speaker sent that too to the government for comment,” he said.

Hooda said that the government did not give a clear answer even on the issue of blatant problems in in Family Identity Cards. “The government could not explain how millionaires are being shown as poor, and the poor as rich. There are innumerable flaws in the Government’s Property ID and Family Identity Card, which could not be rectified even after so long. Despite this, no legal action was taken against the company that had the contract to execute the project,” he said.

On the question of taking out religious Yatras again in Mewat, Hooda said it is everyone’s right to hold Yatras. “No one should have any objection to the Yatras, but the government should take precaution in each case, considering its seriousness. Despite knowing everything last time, the government did not take proper steps regarding the safety of the Yatra and the government did not take cognizance of the provocative statements, which led to the violence,” he noted.

Hooda said that religious yatras were taken out even during the Congress tenure, but there was never any violence, while such incidents have become common in the BJP government because this is a government of riots. 

“According to the Social Progress Index released by the Central Government, Haryana has become the most unsafe state in the country. The law & order system has completely collapsed in the state because the BJP-JJP is not paying any attention to it. The Home Minister himself does not have the CID department, which is supposed to be his eyes and ears,” he stated.

Hooda said the Congress is demanding a judicial inquiry into the Nuh violence under the supervision of the sitting judge of the High Court so that is established on why the violence happened, and who was responsible for it. He said the government is running away from investigation.

Speaking about the upcoming programs of the party, Hooda said that a ‘Jan Milan’ programme is going to be held in Karnal on September 10. Apart from this, after the Vipaksh Aapke Samaksh meetings in 9 Lok Sabha constituencies, the party will hold outreach programmes in districts and assembly segments across the state.