Chandigarh, December 19- The Congress-led no-confidence motion against the Haryana Government was decisively defeated in the  Haryana Vidhan Sabha on Friday, with Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini delivered a wide-ranging, data-driven response that dismantled the Opposition’s allegations and presented the government’s eleven-year governance record as the true measure of public trust.

Participating in the discussion, the Chief Minister said the Opposition failed to make out any serious or credible case against the government. He remarked that the motion was drafted in haste merely for political optics, lacking preparation, depth and factual grounding. Even a cursory reading, he said, made it evident that the proposal was moved out of frustration rather than conviction.

‘Tantralok’ Remark Shows Congress’ Intellectual Bankruptcy- CM

Responding to the allegation that the government had turned democracy into a “tantra-lok”, Sh. Saini said that the Opposition appeared unaware of the meaning and cultural context of the words it used. Tantralok, he explained, is a revered philosophical text of Kashmir Shaivism authored in the 10th century by Acharya Abhinav Gupta, one of India’s greatest philosophers, scholars and spiritual thinkers.

In a pointed remark, he asked whether Congress legislators had forgotten both linguistic meaning and intellectual context. Quoting poetically, he said, “When words lose their meaning, dialogue degenerates into noise.”

Government’s Vision Not Narrow, But Focused Like Arjuna’s Aim-CM

Countering the charge of “tunnel vision”, the Chief Minister said the government’s vision is sharply focused on outcomes and public welfare. Guided by Prime Minister Modi’s resolve of Viksit Bharat @ 2047, and inspired by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya’s Antyodaya philosophy, the government is committed to Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas. He said that the motion cited only one numerical figure and deliberately avoided mentioning inflation. This omission, he said, was an implicit admission that inflation has declined across the country under the leadership of Prime Minister,  Sh. Narendra Modi, reflecting sound economic management.

Haryana to Become a Developed State Before 2047, assures CM

 The Chief Minister asserted that Haryana will achieve the status of a developed state even before 2047. A developed Haryana, he said, would ensure prosperity for every family and reflect Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore’s vision of a fearless society where knowledge is free and dignity is protected. He said that the last 11 years of the BJP government are undoubtedly dedicated to Last-Mile Empowerment.  He said that over the past eleven years, the government has consistently worked to raise the standard of living of the poorest, double farmers’ incomes, ensure safety and dignity for daughters, empower women economically, and provide transparent employment to youth without bribes or recommendations. True development, he added, is achieved when the person standing at the last rung of society smiles, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.

Unprecedented Infrastructure Growth Across the Country

Highlighting infrastructure achievements, Highlighting infrastructure growth, Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that over the past eleven years, India has witnessed historic expansion of roads, highways and tunnels. Around 2,500 kilometres of tunnels have been constructed nationwide, including 460 kilometres of railway tunnels alone.

He said that projects such as the Dr. Syama Prasad Mukherjee Tunnel connecting Kashmir with the rest of India and the Banihal–Qazigund Tunnel stand as symbols of India’s engineering capability and political will. He recalled that the inauguration of key railway tunnels in 2017 proved that geography and harsh climate can no longer obstruct India’s progress. In 2024, the 12.7-kilometre T-50 railway tunnel under the USBRL project firmly integrated Jammu and Kashmir into the national rail network.

Major Connectivity Boost in Haryana

The Chief Minister said that in Haryana, the tunnel connecting the state border to Delhi Airport has emerged as a symbol of commuter convenience, time savings and technical efficiency. Additionally, a tunnel exceeding one kilometre is under construction under the Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor along the KMP route. He also referred to the 9-kilometre Atal Tunnel, the world’s highest highway tunnel, inaugurated in 2020 and named after Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, whose vision laid the foundation for India’s modern road network.

Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s Vision Continues to Guide Development

Recalling Vajpayee’s tenure, the Chief Minister said that the Golden Quadrilateral project created over 14,000 kilometres of national highways, while the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana brought roads to remote rural areas, including nearly 3,500 kilometres in Haryana. The Delhi Metro, major irrigation projects such as the Sardar Sarovar Dam and the India Shining vision all originated during Vajpayee’s leadership and continue to inspire development under Prime Minister Modi.

Criminals Must Reform or Leave Haryana: Zero Tolerance Policy

On law and order, the Chief Minister reiterated that criminals have no place in Haryana. Since assuming office, seven criminals who had fled abroad have been extradited from Thailand, the Philippines, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Cambodia and the United States and lodged in Haryana’s prisons.

He said that the crime rates have declined sharply as compared to the Congress  eara. Divulging the data, Sh.  Nayab Singh Saini said that  compared to the Congress regime, murders have declined by 12.75 percent , dacoity by 49.41 percent , riots by 20.78 percent  and robberies by 10.52 percent, while these crimes had increased significantly during the Congress regime from 2004 to 2014.

He further shared that operations such as Clean, Prahari, Track Town and Hotspot Domination have yielded concrete results. Between November 5 and November 27, 7,587 criminals were arrested and 322 illegal weapons seized. Under Operation Hotspot Domination, over 2,200 criminals were arrested. This year alone, 3,320 NDPS cases have been registered, 6,018 drug traffickers jailed, including nearly 1,500 from other states, and properties worth over  Rs. 12 crore confiscated, shared the Chief Minister.

Merit-Based Jobs End Congress-Era Corruption

Rejecting claims on unemployment, the Chief Minister said nearly two lakh youth have received permanent government jobs purely on merit under the BJP government, compared to 86,000 during Congress’ ten-year rule, when recruitment was marred by nepotism and scams.

Citing RBI data, he said Haryana’s rural unemployment stands at 3.1 percent , the lowest in northern India, while urban unemployment is just 4 percent. He said that he also exposed attempts by a so-called “recruitment-stop gang” that seeks to derail transparent recruitment through litigation.

He said that through the Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam, over 1.22 lakh youth have received employment, with job security ensured up to 58 years, protecting them from contractor exploitation.

Massive Expansion of Education Infrastructure

Rejecting allegations of illiteracy, the Chief Minister said over 80 percent of Haryana’s population is literate. Government colleges increased from 105 in 2014 to 185, including 30 girls’ colleges. Universities rose from 43 to 56, medical colleges from 6 to 17, and MBBS seats from 700 to 2,435. He further shared that Polytechnic institutes increased from 28 to 43, with intake capacity rising from 11,985 to 16,434.

He further highlighted the establishment of 80 new colleges, 13 universities, expansion of medical colleges and polytechnics, along with nearly Rs. 989 crore spent on sports infrastructure and over ₹641 crore awarded to athletes.

Poverty and Inequality Reduced Through Targeted Welfare

Citing a World Bank report, Sh. Nayab Singh  Saini said India’s poverty rate declined from 16.2 percent  to 2.3 percent  over the past eleven years, lifting 17 crore 10 lakh  people out of poverty through schemes like Jan Dhan, DBT, Ayushman Bharat, PM Vishwakarma and PM Garib Kalyan Yojana. Clarifying allegations on BPL ration cards, Sh. Nayab Singh  Saini said cards were verified online in a transparent manner. Only ineligible beneficiaries were removed, while deserving families were supported to rise above poverty.

Haryana’s Sports Policy Strengthens ‘Land of Players’ Identity, says CM

Defending the government’s sports policy, the Chief Minister said nearly Rs. 989 crore has been spent on sports infrastructure, the sports budget increased from Rs. 275 crore to Rs. 590 crore, a Sports University was established in 2022, and athletes received over Rs. 641 crore in awards. Reservation in government jobs has benefited 231 sportspersons.

* Amit Shah to Unveil Vajpayee Statue; Vision 2047 Document to be released-CM*

The Chief Minister announced that on December 24, Union Home Minister Sh. Amit Shah will unveil Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s statue in Panchkula. On the same occasion, the Haryana Government’s Vision 2047 document will be released at Indradhanush Auditorium. December 25 will be observed nationwide as Good Governance Day.

Congress has Forgotten Public Welfare-CM

The Chief Minister said  that the opposition has even accused the government of seizing power through unconstitutional means and vote manipulation. In a democracy, everyone has the right to express their views, but misusing this right to make baseless allegations is irresponsible. Congress, however, has already forgotten the welfare of the people. The internal state of democracy within the party is visible to everyone. Even after almost a year since the assembly elections, the party could not elect a leader of opposition, depriving the Haryana Assembly of this position for a long period, he said.

Sh. Nayab Singh Saini further said that Congress members are solely engaged in spreading misleading propaganda. Questioning the opposition, he asked why they fail to recall the electoral manipulations they themselves were involved in. For instance, in the 2009 assembly elections, the case of bogus voting involving Sukhbir Kataria gained widespread attention. The allegations mainly concerned manipulating the voter list using fake voter ID cards and forged documents. In 2009, an NGO called Voter Awareness Forum filed a petition alleging that Kataria and others were involved in creating and using fake voter IDs to influence election results in Gurugram. Following this, in 2013, a district court ordered two new FIRs against Kataria, he said.

The Chief Minister said that during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections in Nuh, Firozpur Jhirka, and Punhana, allegations of bogus voting and booth-capturing surfaced. While the voter turnout was recorded at 78 percent  in the region, especially in the Nuh district headquarters including areas like Raina village, ink marks on voters’ fingers were barely visible. Before the 2014 assembly elections, Paras Mittal from Kaithal filed a case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, alleging votes were being registered for non-residents of Kaithal, and that several individuals had voting rights in both Kaithal and Narwana constituencies, where Congress leader Randeep Surjewala contested elections. On May 6, 2014, Paras Mittal submitted a list of 10,000 fake voters to the election officer; following verification, 7,447 were removed from the voter list. He questioned the morality and electoral integrity of Congress during this period, citing that in the 2024 assembly elections, Congress MLA Jassi Petwad of Narnaul allegedly urged people to cast multiple votes in public meetings, said Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.

Fair Compensation  ensured for Farmers-CM

The Chief Minister  informed the House that farmers remain at the core of the government’s pro-agriculture policies. In August-September, heavy rains caused waterlogging in several districts of Haryana. The government conducted inspections of affected areas, and to compensate for crop losses, the e-compensation portal was kept open until September 15. On December 10, 53,821 farmers received compensation of Rs. 116.51 crore directly in their bank accounts. Earlier, in November, Rs. 4.72 crore had been released to cover losses due to livestock, house damage, and other essential items caused by floods.

During the Kharif season, 57,394 farmers filed claims for crop damage due to natural calamities. Out of these, 33,390 farmers will soon receive Rs. 78.22 crore as compensation. Over the past 11 years, including through the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, the state has disbursed a total of Rs. 15,448 crore to farmers for crop losses.

World Bank approves ‘Haryana Clean Air Project’ with $305 Million Funding-CM

The Chief Minister  remarked that the opposition now remembers environmental issues only after being rejected by farmers in the last election. During their tenure, they did little to protect the environment. The current government has made substantial efforts to reduce pollution, aiming to make Haryana pollution-free by 2030. Recently, the World Bank approved $305 million (approximately Rs. 2,600 crore) for the ‘Haryana Clean Air Project,’ which aims to improve air quality across transport, industry, agriculture, urban management, and scientific monitoring sectors. Of this, Rs. 746 crore will be spent in the agriculture sector through the Agriculture & Development and Panchayati Raj departments, including Rs. 280 crore to end stubble burning by 2030, Rs. 52 crore for research on bio-decomposer technology, Rs. 151 crore to establish a secondary emission monitoring center, and Rs. 263 crore for developing a clean manure management system to reduce emissions from animal waste.

State Debt Situation Remains Sustainable-CM

Addressing Congress’s criticism of poor financial management, he said that during their 10-year rule (2004-05 to 2014-15), debt liabilities grew by 458.30 percent, while under the current government (2014-15 to 2024-25), the increase was only 227.49 percent, less than half of the previous period. According to the 2025-26 budget estimates, the state’s fiscal deficit is projected at 2.67 percent of GSDP, below the 3 percent limit prescribed by the FRBM Act. Over the past decade, Rs. 3,66,016 crore has been paid towards debt servicing, including Rs. 1,61,796 crore in interest and Rs. 2,04,220 crore as principal, all on schedule with no defaults, indicating a sustainable debt position.

No-Confidence Motion Reflects Opposition’s Desperation- CM

The Chief Minister questioned whether the no-confidence motion reflects the public’s lack of trust or the opposition’s own lost ground. He said that when the public trusts the government, such motions remain merely procedural. The state government has upheld public trust and continues to do so. The motion merely documents the opposition’s frustration. He highlighted that in 13 months, the government has completed 54 of the 217 promises in its manifesto, with progress underway on the remaining 163. He urged the Assembly to reject the no-confidence motion based on facts, actions, and public interest, and to strengthen the ongoing journey towards a developed and progressive Haryana.

Chandigarh:

The General Secretary of All India Congress Committee, former Union Minister, and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja said that changing the name of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) has deeply hurt its original character and constitutional spirit. However, Congress will not allow this government to take away the rights of millions of poor people, labourers, and workers.

In a statement released to the media, MP Kumari Selja said the MNREGA is not an ordinary welfare scheme, but a statutory right passed by Parliament in 2005, aimed at providing livelihood security to rural households through guaranteed employment. However, due to recent administrative changes, there is chaos in the allocation of work, delays in payments, and thousands of rural workers are being deprived of their legitimate employment rights. This situation is not only against the core spirit of the MNREGA Act, but is also a clear violation of Articles 14, 21, and 41 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality, the right to live with dignity, and the right to work.

Selja demanded that MNREGA be immediately implemented in its original form, as it existed before 2024, so that rural workers are ensured timely, fair, and dignified employment. Kumari Selja said this is not merely a matter of changing the name of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), but that only a government hostile to the rights of the poor would attack MNREGA. The Congress Party will strongly oppose on the streets any anti-poor and anti-worker decision of this arrogant government by taking the issue directly to the people. Congress will not allow this government to snatch away the rights of millions of poor people, labourers, and workers.

MP Selja questioned the government’s intention behind removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name, a leader regarded as one of the greatest not only in India but across the world. Selja said whenever the name of a scheme is changed, extensive changes are required in offices and stationery, which involves additional expenditure so what is the benefit of this exercise?

:-Who will guarantee the safety of the common citizen?:-Kumari Selja

The daylight abduction and brutal murder of a four-year-old innocent girl from Rampura Bishnoiyan village in Sirsa district is a heart-wrenching proof that law and order have completely collapsed under the BJP government’s rule. This raises a very serious question: when even such a young child is not safe, who will guarantee the safety of the common citizen? The kidnapping of a child in broad daylight shows that the police administration and the government have utterly failed. How have criminals become so emboldened that they have no fear of the law at all? This is not just the pain of one family, but of the entire society. The BJP government must answer why its claims regarding women’s and children’s safety are proving hollow on the ground. The culprits of this heinous crime must be arrested without any delay and the strictest possible action must be ensured against them. Any delay in justice is an injustice to the victim’s family and cannot be accepted under any circumstances.

Chandigarh, 19 December – Haryana Energy,Transport and Labour Minister Anil Vij said that Congress has nothing to say, and the no-confidence motion brought by Congress during the Winter Session of the Haryana Legislative Assembly will fall flat in the House.

 Vij was responding to questions from media persons today.

Responding to a question regarding Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge’s warning of protests over the renaming of MGNREGA, Sh. Vij said that Congress is now idle, having lost everywhere, and therefore has to give its workers some program or the other to keep them busy. He said, what problem do they have with renaming it? The problem is that the name of Lord Ram has been added, and that troubles them. Congress has had a problem with Lord Ram from day one. When the Ram Temple was being built, they were troubled; now that it has been built, they are troubled; now devotees are visiting the temple, and again they are troubled. Their problem is with Ram and Lord Ram.

 Reacting sharply to the statement made by former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan that not a single Rafale aircraft flew in Operation Sindoor, Energy Minister Anil Vij said that Prithviraj Chavan is a traitor to the country who is insulting our brave soldiers, for which he has no right. A case should be registered against him to determine how he has knowledge of confidential intelligence matters and with whom he is coordinating. Sh.Vij said that the language he is using cannot be that of an Indian; it appears as if he is speaking at the behest of someone from Pakistan. An investigation should also be conducted to find out which Pakistani individuals he is in contact with.

Chandigarh

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday said that the opposition has been left unsettled after being decisively rejected by the people. Having lost public confidence and political credibility, opposition leaders are now resorting to allegations like “vote theft” out of sheer frustration, he added.

The Chief Minister asserted that the mandate of the people is clear and decisive, and it reflects total rejection of the Congress’s policies and past governance. This rejection, he said, has left the opposition frustrated, prompting them to make irresponsible and unfounded statements.

The Chief Minister was responding during Question Hour on the second day of the Winter Session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha on Friday to a question raised by MLA BB Batra regarding the number of BPL cards.

 Saini said that he had already given a detailed reply on this matter in the House during the previous session. He explained that the government introduced a transparent process under which people were asked to self-declare their economic status and fill out the forms themselves if they fell below the poverty line. He pointed out that under earlier governments, the income limit was Rs. 1.20 lakh, whereas the present government increased it to Rs. 1.80 lakh, after which people applied for BPL status.

The Chief Minister recalled that he had clearly informed the House at that time that verification would be carried out after the elections and that ineligible names would be removed. Questioning the opposition’s allegations, he asked how this could be termed a “scandal.”

Referring to the figures quoted by MLA BB Batra, the Chief Minister, said that the claim of eight lakh cards was misleading, as the number of ration cards in 2022 exceeded 30 lakh. He questioned the source of such data and, in a sharp remark,  he said that during the Congress regime, even eligible beneficiaries were deprived of essential supplies, while others wrongfully availed benefits meant for the poor.

 Taking a strong dig at the opposition, the Chief Minister said it was ironic that they were accusing others of vote theft. Voting, he emphasized, is a democratic right of the people, and through their mandate, the public has unequivocally rejected Congress and its policies.

Mohali, December 18,2025 Janta Land Promoter Private Limited, which has always been at the forefront of real estate business and social service work, has made the patient waiting room of the government hospital located in Phase-6 of Mohali ultra-modern at a cost of Rs 30 lakh, including the necessary equipment, it is worth mentioning here that in this -patient waiting room – where more than 100 patients can sit daily, an air conditioner, an LED. Equipment worth a total cost of Rs 30 lakh was also provided.  In this waiting hall, about 100 chairs were installed for the patients to sit, four fans for relief from the heat and 2 ACs were also installed, so that the patients coming for treatment could get a comfortable environment. During the brief but impressive function held on this occasion, MLA Kulwant Singh dedicated this – patient waiting house – built by the company to the patients.

  In his address on this occasion, MLA Kulwant Singh said that under the leadership of Bhagwant Singh Mann, continuous efforts are being made by the Aam Aadmi Party to improve the health services of Punjab and now, compared to before, most of the patients are giving priority to getting their treatment in government hospitals instead of private hospitals. He said that whenever they need it, they get their treatment done in the government hospital.

MLA Kulwant Singh also said that Janata Land Promoter Private Limited has been continuously working in the field of education along with health services, for which the students who are not good in studies are provided with fees and necessary materials to pursue higher education, so that those students can stand on their own feet when they grow up and bring glory to their parents and the state. On this occasion, almost everyone present on behalf of JLPL Company gave a strong shout-out to this public welfare initiative.  And said that such initiatives prove to be a big relief for the patients in government hospitals. On this occasion, apart from Dr. Satinder Singh Bhavra Paramjit Singh Chauhan, Dr. Bhavneet Bharti Principal Medical College, Dr. Sangeeta Jain- Civil Surgeon Mohali, Dr. H. S. Cheema SMO.  Dr. Parminder Singh SMO, Sukhwinder Singh Sandhu- Chief Engineer, Kuldeep Singh Samana, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Harpal Singh Channa, Avtar Singh Mauli, Rajinder Prasad Sharma, Gurinder Singh Billa, Bikram Singh Sandhu, Pargat Singh Councilor Gurmeet Kaur, Harmeet Singh Mohali, Satwinder Singh, Hardeep Singh JLPL, Akwinder Singh Gosal, Manpreet Singh Mani, Rajinder Singh Raju, Sarpanch Barmajra Malkit Singh Block President Raipur, Jaspal Singh Mataur, Gurvinder Singh Pinky, Harpal Singh Brar, Sukhwinder Singh Gogi, Vicky Mohali, Harmesh Singh Kumbhra, Swaran Singh, Astra Balongi, Rita Balongi, Neha Bajaj, Gurpreet Singh Chahal Bariali, Dharampreet Singh Panch, Bhupinder Singh Panch, Mauli were also present, 

Chandigarh: Allegations of corruption, financial irregularities and administrative failures have surfaced in the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) as fellow members have accused President Jagdish Singh Jhinda of misusing donations from the Guru’s Golak (donation boxes), mismanaging gurdwaras and undermining religious, educational and social initiatives. The members demanded Jhinda’s immediate resignation during a press conference held at Chandigarh Press Club on Thursday, 

Present at the conference were senior and junior vice presidents, interim members, committee chairpersons and representatives including Gurmeet Singh Ramsar, Gurbir Singh Talakour, Jagtar Singh Maan, Tajinderpal Singh Narnaul, Jathedar Baljit Singh Daduwal, Diddar Singh Nalvi, Rajinder Singh Barada, Gurtej Singh Ambala, Mayor Bhupinder Singh Panipat, Swarn Singh Bunga Tibbi, Sarpanch Bhupinder Singh Ladi Saunkra, Bhupinder Singh Saini, Captain Dilbag Singh Saini and Sukhvinder Singh Mandebar.

Members stated that none of the promises made by Jhinda at the time of his election including opening a university school, banning misuse of gurdwara vehicles, abolishing VIP culture and fair treatment of staff have been fulfilled. Instead, allegations include distributing honorary awards to unworthy individuals, personal use of committee vehicles and staff, misappropriation of funds collected in the name of Black Day, flood relief and the 350-year celebration.

Members further claimed that honest staff are being removed due to personal biases, arbitrary transfers are rampant and some employees are colluding in financial misuse. In education, irregular transfers in the Nursing College and Tilokewala School have reportedly disrupted the system.

Jhinda is accused of authoritarian conduct with two general house and three executive meetings failing so far. Former colleague Bhupinder Singh Ladi’s serious allegations remain unaddressed. Members also criticized the inefficiency of the Gurdwara election system and judicial commission, stating that Jhinda’s election violated the Gurdwara Act 2014, challenged before the Election Commissioner. The no justice has been served in eight months. Orders from the Judicial Commissioner to halt arbitrary transfers and provide monthly accounts have allegedly been ignored while illegal fund approvals point to collusion between the commission and the president.

Committee members demanded the immediate removal of the commissioners and appointment of impartial authorities. 

Chandigarh, December 18

Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee President Rao Narender Singh strongly criticized the policies of the Central Government and BJP-ruled state governments regarding the recent redefinition of the Aravalli mountain range. He described it as disastrous for the environment and a grave threat to the future of coming generations.

Rao Narender Singh stated that the Aravalli range is a natural heritage of North India and functions as a strong “green wall” that prevents the expansion of the Thar Desert. This region plays a crucial role in water conservation, maintaining biodiversity, and preserving air quality. However, under the recent definition, hills below 100 meters in height are no longer being considered part of the Aravalli range, which will push the entire region toward large-scale destruction.

He alleged that the BJP government is deliberately manipulating the definition of the Aravalli to promote mining, real estate, and industrial activities. This will severely disrupt ecological balance, leading to declining groundwater levels, increased air pollution, and loss of biodiversity. If the Aravalli is not protected, the threat of desertification will rapidly increase in Delhi-NCR and surrounding regions, the consequences of which will be borne by future generations.

Rao Narender Singh warned that this anti-environment policy not only weakens the natural protective shield but also reflects an anti-people mindset. The Congress Party will fight at every level to protect the Aravalli and will not tolerate any compromise with the environment. He demanded that the Central Government immediately reconsider this definition.

Ropar:

Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, Director, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar welcomed Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India, to the institute and briefed him on IIT Ropar’s expanding research, innovation and technology-driven initiatives. Prof. Sood is also the Chief Guest of the ongoing International Conference on Physics Education (ICPE) 2025 being hosted at IIT Ropar.

During the interaction, the Prof. Rajeev Ahuja highlighted IIT Ropar’s growing contributions in frontier areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced materials, clean energy, agriculture technology and education innovation, supported by strong industry partnerships and national missions. Prof. Sood appreciated IIT Ropar’s integrated approach to research, innovation and societal impact, and underscored the importance of aligning academic research with national priorities.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Rajeev Ahuja said, “It was an honour to welcome Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood to IIT Ropar. As a premier institution committed to cutting-edge research and innovation, we are continuously strengthening our capabilities in physics and interdisciplinary sciences to address national and global challenges. ICPE 2025 reflects our commitment to advancing physics education through research-driven pedagogy and international collaboration.”

Prof. Rajeev Ahuja, himself a distinguished physicist with an extensive research career, discussed the institute’s strong emphasis on fundamental and applied physics research. He is one of the most highly cited researchers as well as top 5 materials Scientist in Sweden & India. He outlined ongoing work in experimental and theoretical physics, interdisciplinary collaborations and the institute’s commitment to strengthening physics education through research-led teaching and global engagement.

Prof. Sood also interacted with faculty members and conference participants, sharing insights on strengthening India’s science ecosystem through modern pedagogy, translational research and innovation-led growth.

ICPE 2025 saw strong academic engagement on December 17 and 18, with plenary and invited talks on active learning, physics education research, quantum education, AI-enabled learning and gender equity, including a key panel discussion on inclusivity in Indian physics education. A major highlight on December 18 was Padma Shri Prof. H.C. Verma’s candid interaction with Mr. Prateek Shukla, MASAI School, Prof. Shilpi Chaudhary, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh and students which drew an enthusiastic response from participants and sparked deep discussions on experiential learning, conceptual clarity and the future of physics education in India.

ICPE 2025, a five-day international conference being held from December 16 to 20, has brought together over 3000 students. With two more days remaining, the conference will continue to host major discussions on emerging trends in physics education, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, industry-academia linkages and future-ready curriculum.

Through ICPE 2025 and high-level engagements such as the visit of the Principal Scientific Adviser, IIT Ropar continues to strengthen its position as a leading hub for innovation-driven research, global academic collaboration and excellence in science and engineering education.

CHANDIGARH, December 18:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 292nd day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 268 locations on Thursday leading to the arrest of 51 drug smugglers after registration of 40 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 40,623 in 292 days.

          The raids have resulted in recovery of 3.9 kg heroin, 500 grams opium, 165 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 8190 drug money 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 100 Police teams, comprising over 800 police personnel, under the supervision of 54 gazetted officers have conducted 268 raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 253 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 17 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Chandigarh: The doctors at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mohali, successfully restored

The movement and functional use of the arm were restored successfully in a 26-year-old woman from Tanzania who was living with a complete brachial plexus injury for more than six months. Brachial plexus injury is a severe nerve condition that resulted in complete paralysis of her left arm.

Loveness Ahmed, a resident of Tanzania, sustained severe nerve damage in a road traffic incident earlier this year, affecting the network of nerves connecting the spinal cord to the shoulder, arm, and hand. The trauma resulted in total loss of movement and sensation in her left arm, profoundly affecting her independence, daily activities, and emotional well-being.

After undergoing conservative treatment in her home country with little improvement, she travelled to India in search of specialised care.

At Max Hospital, Mohali, a detailed clinical examination and nerve assessment revealed that her condition required advanced nerve transfer surgery, a highly specialised microsurgical procedure.

The complex reconstructive surgery was performed by Dr. Rishi Dhawan associate director plastic surgery, using a state-of-the-art microsurgical technique.

The procedure involved redirecting healthy, functioning nerves from within the patient’s own body to restore nerve signals to paralysed muscles. The aim was to re-establish communication between the brain and the affected muscles and help regain essential arm function.

Dr. Dhawan said, “Complete brachial plexus injuries are among the most challenging nerve conditions to treat. They require precise planning, meticulous microsurgery, and strong patient commitment. Brachial plexus injuries, though relatively uncommon, are increasingly seen due to a rise in high-velocity road accidents. These injuries can cause weakness, loss of sensation, or complete paralysis of the arm. In this case, timely intervention and the patient’s dedication to rehabilitation played a crucial role in achieving a meaningful functional recovery.”