IEP Hoshiarpur, February 15  

In a major reprieve to the people, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today announced to shut down three more toll plazas in the state thereby exposing the connivance of these plazas with the Akali-BJP alliance and Congress party to loot the people. Interacting with the media after closing three toll plazas at Majari (SBS Nagar), Nangal Shaheedan and Mangarh (Hoshiarpur), the Chief Minister said that with the closing of these toll plazas, daily Rs 10.52 lakh of the general public will be saved. He said that these toll plazas should have been closed around ten years back as their term had expired but instead of closing them the erstwhile government connived with them to mint the money illegally. Bhagwant Mann said that it is unfortunate that the politicians of the state backstabbed the people for their vested interests. The Chief Minister said that the previous governments of SAD-BJP alliance and Congress didn’t bother about the interests of the people and looted the state exchequer. He said that this is evident from the fact that the PWD Ministers of that including Partap Singh Bajwa (now leader of opposition) and Parminder Singh Dhindsa along with Sukhbir Singh Badal plundered the public money mercilessly. Bhagwant Mann said that the party which had chanted ‘Raaj Nahin Sewa’rather indulged in the service of the companies running the toll plazas.         The Chief Minister dared these leaders to explain why they had ditched the people of state for their personal interests. He said that under this project of Rs 123.64 crore Rajdeep Tollways company had to construct 104.96 kilometre long road, the agreement for which was inked by Bajwa on December 6, 2005. Bhagwant Mann said that the Captain government extended a largesse worth Rs 49.45 crore in form of subsidy to the company out of a total project of Rs 123.64 crore. The Chief Minister said that the company had operated all the three toll plazas on March 6, 2007 before the formation of a new government. He said that the company had to complete the project of laying bitumen on road by March 5, 2013 which was accomplished on April 30, 2015 with a delay of 786 days. Bhagwant Mann said that for this delay the company could have been charged a fine of Rs 61.60 crore but instead of recovering this fine the SAD-BJP alliance government in a treacherous move waived it off. The Chief Minister said that this was a clear and unpardonable fraud with the people of the state. He said that for the second time the work of laying bitumen was to be completed by March 5, 2018 but was completed on November 9, 2020 with a delay of 979 days. However, Bhagwant Mann said that this time even notice of delay was not issued to the company adding that for a third time the work of laying bitumen was to be completed by January 2023, but it was never accomplished. The Chief Minister further said that the toll plaza company has sought extension of contract from his government for 533 days by citing 101 days of Covid and 432 days of farmers agitation. However, he said that his government has outrightly rejected this unjustified demand. Bhagwant Mann said that these toll plazas should have been completed by September 21, 2013 but the Akali-BJP government didn’t do that. Likewise, the Chief Minister said that these toll plazas could have been shut from September 21, 2018 but ignoring the interests of the people of the state, the Captain government continued it. He said that today also if the Akali or Congress government was there then these toll plazas would have never been closed. Bhagwant Mann said that such deep rootedness was the connivance of these parties with the toll company that they had put it in the agreement that in case of any flouting of norms the fine to be imposed on the company will not be more than Rs. 6.12 crore. “But we will take legal action against the company and issue notices for violating the norms” he added. On the occasion Cabinet Ministers Brahm Shankar Jimpa and Harbhajan Singh ETO, Deputy Speaker of Punjab Assembly Jai Krishan Rouri and others were also present.

IEP Chandigarh, February 15

          Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, while addressing valedictory ceremony of the 2-day orientation program held for the MLAs of the state, expressed hope that after this program, the performance of the MLAs, especially new ones, will be improved during the upcoming session of Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

          S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Delhi Vidhan Sabha Speaker Mr. Ram Niwas Goel, Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Speaker Mr. Satish Mahana, Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Mr. Gian Chand Gupta and other legislative experts shared their valuable experience with the MLAs on the last day of the orientation program being organised to acquaint Punjab MLAs about the legislative business, discipline during sessions and meetings, coordination between the opposition and the government and the methods of finding solutions to people’s problems in an appropriate manner.

          Earlier, speaking on the topic “Discipline and decorum in the House” during the first session, Speaker of Delhi Legislative Assembly Mr. Ram Niwas Goel said that awareness about the legislative rules and positive attitude are the keys for MLAs to live up to the expectations of the people.

          Mr. Goel said that MLAs should be punctual. Arriving in the House before the first bell rings during the session and attending public functions on time sends a good message among the people. Apart from this, in order to increase his knowledge on each and every subject, a MLA must participate in all the proceedings of the House, besides sitting on his allotted seat so that the proceedings of the House are not disturbed.

          He said that starred questions are the lifeblood of the Legislative Assembly and bureaucrats fear these questions because they are bound to answer these questions including supplementary questions in the House and resolve the problem raised in the question. Therefore, study the subject thoroughly to enlist the starred questions in the house. For this purpose, the previous decisions of the legislative committees and the debates, kept in the Library of the Legislative Assembly, held in the House should be examined. This study leads to constructive transformation in MLA.

          Highlighting the need to maintain decorum by ruling and opposition MLAs in the House, the Speaker of the Delhi Vidhan Sabha said that frequent attempts to go into the Well of the House are merely a waste of time. He suggested that district MLAs should sit together to deliberate on common problems at the district level and concerned officials should be made accountable.

          Addressing the gathering, Speaker of Uttar Pradesh Vidhan Sabha Mr. Satish Mahana said that Vidhan Sabha is the strongest platform to resolve the people’s issues and the MLAs should ideally use this tool.

          Mr. Mahana further added, MLAs have given the biggest responsibility by the people, thus MLAs should have to perform accordingly to fulfill the aspirations of the voters. MLAs are much more aware of the ground realities as compared to bureaucrats thereby it is necessary to take guidance from the decisions of the various Legislative Committees and study the books of the Vidhan Sabha Library to run the bureaucracy through the legislative system.

          Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Mr. Gian Chand Gupta said that not picking up the phone by any government officials amounts to violation of privilege of representatives of the people. He said that MLAs should work more effectively and aggressively to fix the accountability of the officials.

          Speaking on the theme ‘Legislators and Social Contracts’, Seasoned Journalist and Editor Dr. Swarajbir Singh exhorted that Legislators have the unwritten declaration with the society that he is accountable to the people. Enlightening on the chronicles of accountability, he described the struggle from the beginning of humanity to the period of monarchy and then to the establishment of democracy in detail. He also gave considerable insights on women-hood struggle to attain the right to vote. “If the legislators are attend the meetings of the Gram Sabha regularly, then a bustling of positivity would be created among the bureaucracy, said Dr. Singh, exhorted the legislators to protect the truth inside the pious house.

          Sharing his views on “Committee system in Legislature-Soul of Parliamentary Democracy”, Lok Sabha Secretariat Director Mr. Arvind Sharma apprised about the functioning of various committees of the House, saying that if people’s representatives read the reports of various committees, they would be able to take up the issues of their people in a better way.

          Former Secretary General of Lok Sabha and Adviser to Delhi Vidhan Sabha Mr. PDT Achary said, most of the members do not read the confidential documents provided by the Vidhan Sabha during the meetings of the Vidhan Sabha Committees, due to which questions are not asked in the committee meeting. He said that the chairmen of the committees must discuss the matter with the committee members before questioning the officials in the evidence meeting, and should make a strategy for asking appropriate questions in a planned way.

          Similarly, Mr. Ram Narayan Yadav, former Adviser to Speaker Punjab Vidhan Sabha and former Additional Secretary, Haryana Vidhan Sabha highlighted the topic “Role of Legislature in 21st Century-Challenges, Privileges and Immunities of Legislator.” Deputy Commissioner of Tarn Taran Dr. Rishi Pal Singh shared his views on centrally sponsored schemes (MNREGA) as well as state sponsored schemes.

IEP CHANDIGARH, February 15

          A 2005-batch IAS officer, Sibin C on Wednesday assumed charge as the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Punjab. He has previously served as Additional CEO, Punjab during Vidhan Sabha Elections– 2017 and Lok Sabha Elections— 2019.

          After assuming charge, the newly appointed CEO Punjab said that he is honored to have been given the responsibility to lead the democratic institution in the State of Punjab. A lot has been done during the last seventy years by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure the conduct of free and fair elections and enhance the purity of the electoral roll, he added.

          “The office of Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab will work determinedly to uphold the democratic spirit and ensure ease of electoral processes for the voters right from voter registration till voting,” he said.

          CEO Sibin C also said that technology will further be made the major instrument for bringing transparency and ensuring ease of voter services for better election management and operation.

IEP Chandigarh, February 14

          Akashdeep Singh, an athlete from Kahneke village in Barnala district, qualified for the Olympic Games, World Championships and Asian Games by setting a new national record in the 20 km walk with a time of 1.19.55. This is India’s first quota in athletics for the Paris Olympic Games-2024 and the fourth Indian athlete overall to qualify for the Olympics.

          Sports Minister Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer congratulated Akashdeep Singh on this proud achievement and said that this is the result of his hard work. He said that Akashdeep Singh is the first Indian athlete to qualify for the Olympic Games in athletics which is a proud moment for the entire state. He said that the sports department is making continuous efforts under the commitments made by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to make the state a leader in sports. He attributed this achievement to Akashdeep Singh, his parents and coaches.

          Akashdeep Singh who is preparing under the supervision of the coaches of the sports department at Baba Kala Mehar Stadium Barnala, set a new national record of 1.19.55 in the 10th Indian Open Race Walking competition at Ranchi (Jharkhand) and won Gold Medal in the 20 km walk.