Chandigarh, July 18– Haryana Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini said that Gita Sthali Jyotisar will be developed into one of the world’s grandest and most memorable historical destinations. The government is investing approximately Rs. 250 crore to develop this sacred  site as a major tourism hub. At the Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra, tourists from across the country and abroad will be able to witness a vibrant and immersive depiction of Kurukshetra’s glorious history.

The Chief Minister on Friday visited the Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra in Kurukshetra district and thoroughly inspected various sections. Geeta Manishi Swami Gyananand Maharaj was also present during the visit.Principal Secretary, Tourism Department, Smt. Kala Ramachandran, provided a detailed briefing on the center.

During the inspection, the Chief Minister directed the officers to complete all pending construction work related to the Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra and its adjoining halls at the earliest. He emphasized that the remaining work must be finished quickly so that the Kendra can be opened to the public.

He said the aim is to make Jyotisar Anubhav Kendra a globally renowned tourist attraction where visitors can engage with the profound history of Mahabharata and Kurukshetra. The Chief Minister also visited the Gita Gyan Sansthanam and met Gita Manishi Swami Gyananand Ji Maharaj.

Later speaking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister stated that Lord Shri Krishna gave the message of the Bhagavad Gita from the holy land of Kurukshetra. Keeping this divine legacy in mind, the government is accelerating development works at Jyotisar.

He highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister, Sh. Narendra Modi, India’s cultural heritage has received renewed strength. The government is spending nearly Rs. 250 crore on a Mahabharata-themed project in Jyotisar to preserve and celebrate this heritage, making it one of the most visited historical destinations in the world.

In response to a question, the Chief Minister said that he has requested the Prime Minister. Sh. Narendra Modi to visit Kurukshetra, and if this request is accepted, it will be a historic moment for the region. He also said that directions would be issued to reopen the Kalpana Chawla Planetarium for tourists soon. From this sacred land, the world continues to receive the eternal message of performing one’s duty as taught in the holy Gita.

Former State Minister,  Sh. Subhash Sudha, OSD to Chief Minister, Sh.  Bharat Bhushan Bharti, Director, Tourism Department, Dr. Shaleen, Deputy Commissioner Neha Singh, and other officers  were also present.

Chandigarh, July 18 – Haryana Public Works and Public Health Engineering Minister, Sh. Ranbir Gangwa, formally inaugurated the three-day 19th Ashwini Gupta Memorial District-Level Badminton Tournament in Panchkula on Friday. The tournament, being held from July 18 to 20, 2025, is organized by the District Badminton Association and is taking place at the Badminton Hall in Tau Devi Lal Sports Complex, Sector 3, Panchkula. Former Haryana Vidhan Sabha, Speaker, Sh. Gian Chand Gupta, was also present on the occasion.

Sh. Gangwa appreciated the work of the Sports Promotion Society, which has been actively contributing to sports and social service for the past 19 years. On this occasion, he announced an amount of Rs.11 lakh for the Society.

He said that Haryana’s sports policy is the best in the country to promote sports and encourage players. Haryana’s players have brought pride to the state by winning medals at the international level in various games. In Olympic and Paralympic games, Haryana players win one-third of India’s total medals. Today, a player who wins a gold medal at the Olympics receives Rs.6 crore, Rs.4 crore for silver, and Rs.2.5 crore for bronze, along with a government job as per qualification.

He said that this tournament is being held in memory of the late Sh. Ashwini Gupta, son of Sh. Gian Chand Gupta. Ashwini Gupta was a national-level badminton player who passed away in an unfortunate accident. Since 2006, Sh. Gian Chand Gupta has been organizing district and national-level tournaments in kabaddi, badminton, and other sports through the Society to keep his son’s memory alive and promote athletic talent.

Chandigarh, July 18- Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker, Sh. Harvinder Kalyan laid the foundation stone for two development projects worth Rs.1.25 crore in the Gharaunda constituency on Friday. He congratulated the people of Gharaunda for securing the first position in the district in the Swachh Survekshan, while Karnal ranked third in the country and Sonipat secured 38th place. He appealed to everyone to continue keeping their homes and surroundings clean and to adopt cleanliness as a daily habit.

Sh. Kalyan laid the foundation stone for the construction of a revenue rasta from Bastara road to Telu Ram Dera, Gharaunda, which falls under the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation Gharaunda. After that, he laid the foundation stone for a hall at the community centre in Bhola Colony, Ward-6, Gharaunda.

He extended congratulations to the entire team of the Municipal Council, including the Chairperson, councillors, officers, staff members, citizens, and sanitation workers for helping Karnal achieve third rank nationally and Gharaunda first in the district in the Swachh Survekshan. He encouraged people to not only maintain cleanliness at home but also take care of their streets and neighbourhoods. Cleanliness helps prevent many diseases.

Malerkotla, July 18:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday gave a bonanza of more than Rs 13 crore to the residents of Malerkotla district by dedicating newly constructed tehsil Complexes at Amargarh and Ahmedgarh Sub Divisions.

Divulging the details, the Chief Minister said that the residents of the Amargarh and Ahmedgarh Sub-Divisions have been given this gift as a part of his government’s commitment to ensure judicious utilization of taxpayers’ money for their welfare. He said that while Rs 6.36 crore have been spent to construct Tehsil complex at Amargarh, Rs 6.86 crore have been spent on the new building at Ahmedgarh. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Amargarh Tehsil complex spans over a total of 27,000 square feet and the complex includes the SDM office, a courtroom, a large hall, 26 cabins and others.

Likewise, the Chief Minister said that equipped with modern facilities, the new Tehsil complex at Ahmedgarh has been constructed over 2.39 acres of land. He said that this three-storey Tehsil Complex houses the offices of the SDM, courtroom, Tehsildar, Naib Tehsildar, Patwar office, staff rooms, registration counters and other departments. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that for the convenience of differently-abled persons, ramps and lifts have been installed to ensure they do not face any issues while getting on with their daily administrative work.

The Chief Minister said that thousands of people have to visit these offices to get their routine administrative works done adding that these buildings have been constructed to facilitate them. He said that these buildings have been constructed while keeping in view the futuristic needs of the people adding that the previous government had never bothered about such initiatives. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this will ensure better working space to the staff working in these offices along with hassle free and smooth delivery of services to the people.

Chandigarh, July 18:

Punjab Local Government Minister Dr. Ravjot Singh today met with representatives of the Sanitation Workers and Sewermen Union and assured swift resolution of their legitimate demands.

Presiding over meeting at the Municipal Building along with Additional Chief Secretary Local Government Sh. Tejvir Singh, Chairman Punjab State Safai Commission Sh. Chandan Grewal, Dr. Ravjot Singh listened to the various demands of union representatives and assured that their legitimate demands would be sympathetically resolved promptly.

Dr. Ravjot Singh said that the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led government is committed to the welfare of all sections of society. He instructed officials to conduct joint meeting by referring demands related to various departments so that meaningful solutions to different issues can be found.

The Cabinet Minister said that the Punjab Government is continuously striving to ensure the welfare of sanitation workers and sewermen. The Minister, while calling sanitation workers and Sewermen the backbone of the department and appreciated their contributions toward achieving cleanliness goal, reiterated the state government’s commitment to making Punjab’s cities garbage-free.

The Local Government Minister said that all legitimate issues that can be resolved at the committee/corporation or departmental level will be addressed quickly. Necessary action will be swiftly implemented to resolve demands related to the state government or other departments as well, he added.

Chandigarh, July 18

The Patiala GST division has recorded an impressive 40 percent growth rate in GST collection during the first quarter of fiscal year 2025-26, outpacing all other divisions in Punjab. This was disclosed during the quarterly review meeting of the Excise and Taxation department, chaired by Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema. Following Patiala division in growth were Ropar division with 34.97 percent and Amritsar division with 30.26 percent. The department has also successfully met its excise revenue targets, bolstered by intensified enforcement efforts that have effectively curbed the illicit liquor trade.

While Patiala division led in growth rate, Ludhiana division registered the highest gross GST collection across the state, bringing in Rs. 1998.76 crore, a significant increase of 23.89 percent compared to the same period in FY 2024-25. In the first quarter of FY 2025-26, Ropar division collected Rs 1315.66 crore, Amritsar division Rs 687.19 crore, and Patiala division Rs 679 crore. These figures represent a substantial rise from the previous fiscal year’s first quarter, where Ludhiana division collected Rs 1613 crore, Ropar division Rs. 975.53 crore, Amritsar division Rs. 527.54 crore, and Patiala division Rs. 484.98 crore.

Finance Minister Cheema commended the diligent efforts of the departmental teams in the top-performing divisions and encouraged other divisions to emulate their success. He engaged in extensive discussions with the Deputy Commissioner State Tax (DCST), in-charges of these divisions, delving into their areas of excellence and identifying aspects that require improvement.

During the meeting, the Finance Minister also reviewed the status of GST and VAT arrears, encouraging department officers to adopt innovative strategies for their recovery. He further assessed the progress of ongoing GST inspections, including the number of inspections conducted and cases disposed of during the first quarter. He issued directives for the timely resolution of all pending cases.

The performance of the enforcement wings of both the Excise and Taxation departments was also thoroughly reviewed. Discussions focused on the State Intelligence and Preventive Unit’s (SIPU) efforts to curb tax evasion. Additionally, the Excise teams provided a detailed report on their enforcement activities aimed at tackling illicit liquor and the smuggling of alcohol into Punjab from other states. Finance Minister Cheema expressed satisfaction with the enforcement wings’ performance and motivated them to further enhance their efforts.

Finally, the Finance Minister reviewed the status of GST and VAT appeal cases, examining both pending and newly instituted cases during the first quarter of the current fiscal year. He stressed the importance of thorough and continuous follow-up on all these cases, particularly emphasizing the need to pursue cases against individuals involved in hooch tragedies and illicit liquor trade to ensure they face appropriate legal consequences. He also directed the Excise teams to redouble their enforcement activities, ensuring that no bootlegging occurs in the state.

Prominent amongst others, Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner, Excise, Dhirendra Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Taxation, Ajit Balaji Joshi, Excise and Taxation Commissioner Jitendra Jorwal were also present in the meeting.

CHANDIGARH, July 18:

 To enhance awareness and effective implementation of child protection laws, the Community Affairs Division (CAD) of Punjab Police, in collaboration with Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA), successfully conducted a two-day training program on the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Act, 2015, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, here on Friday.

 The valedictory session was presided over by Special Director General of Police (Special DGP) CAD Gurpreet Kaur Deo, who emphasized the importance of these Acts in safeguarding children, including those in conflict with the law. She urged police officers to work in close coordination with statutory bodies including Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), Child Welfare Committee (CWC), and District Child Protection Officers (DCPO), whose roles are pivotal under the JJ Act. 

 Over 65 officials, including DySPs, SHOs, Women Helpdesk in-charges, Child Welfare Police Officers (CWPOs), and CWC Chairpersons from SAS Nagar, Fatehgarh Sahib, and Rupnagar, participated in the program. The second day specifically focused on sensitizing officers about the POCSO Act, 2012, highlighting legal provisions for protecting children from sexual abuse. 

 Special DGP Gurpreet Kaur Deo appreciated the contributions of Bachpan Bachao Andolan (BBA) as the training partner and thanked their resource persons for providing valuable insights on the two Acts. She also informed that CAD, with BBA’s support, has conducted similar training sessions across all eight Police Ranges in Punjab, ensuring wider awareness and compliance with child protection laws. 

 The program aimed to strengthen inter-agency coordination and equip officers with the necessary knowledge to handle cases involving children with sensitivity and legal precision.

Malerkotla, July 18:

Reiterating that there will be no mercy against the people who had spread the curse of drugs in the state, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday said that the ‘ drug Jarnails’ who were considered invincible have been put behind the bars. 

Addressing the gathering after dedicating new Tehsil complexes at Ahmedgarh and Amargarh, the Chief Minister said that the drug trade was flourished and patronised by those who were elected by the people to serve them but unfortunately they supplied drugs in their official cars. He said that these leaders enjoyed paramount power during their heydays and no one dared to touch them despite the fact they were hand in glove with the drug smugglers. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his government has put these leaders behind the bars as they had committed genocide of the youth by flourishing drug trade.

The Chief Minister solicited fulsome support and cooperation of the people for teaching these traitors of Punjab a befitting lesson. He said that the resounding success of the Yudh Nasheyan Virudh is a testimony to the fact that the people of state are with the state government in this war against drugs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this crusade will further continue in the coming times so as to make Punjab free from scourge of drugs.

The Chief Minister said that all was not well in the Badal-Majithia clan as the internal feud was at the peak due to the ongoing power tussle. He said that Congress and Akalis was a divided house as squabble for power was going on amongst its leaders. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these power hungry politicians can’t survive without it and are getting restless as people had ousted them to choose AAP.

The Chief Minister said that the state government will take a number of pro-people decisions in the coming days which will benefit all the stakeholders. He said that the focus of his government is to ensure that youth become job givers instead of job seekers. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this is the need of hour to carve out a progressive and prosperous Punjab by proactive involvement of the youth. 

Reiterating his government’s commitment to curbing sacrilege, the Chief Minister shared that on Monday, the government introduced the Punjab Prevention of Crime Against Religious Scriptures Bill, 2025 in the Vidhan Sabha. He said this sensitive and critical issue affects all Punjabis and has far-reaching implications for both current and future generations. Bhagwant Singh Mann asserted that stringent punishment is necessary to serve as a deterrent for those committing such heinous crimes.

The Chief Minister noted that Punjab is the sacred land of great Gurus, saints, and seers who preached love, harmony, and tolerance. However, he lamented that certain anti-Punjab forces have been trying to destroy this fabric of unity by orchestrating sacrilegious acts against holy scriptures since 2016. Bhagwant Singh Mann reaffirmed his government’s unwavering resolve to ensure exemplary punishment for the culprits involved in such acts.

Highlighting key public welfare initiatives, the Chief Minister spoke about the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna — the first-of-its-kind scheme in the country that provides cashless medical treatment worth ₹10 lakh to every resident family of Punjab. He proudly noted that Punjab has become the first state in India to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage to every household. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it will provide a huge relief to the general public by offering them quality healthcare services.

The Chief Minister said that the political leaders have lost their credibility because of their dubious character which have been exposed before the people. He said that the people had shown the door to the Congress and Akali leaders because of their anti-Punjab and anti-people stance. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he is fortunate to have got so much love and affection from the people of the state, who had given thumping majority to his government.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has set a new benchmark by giving government jobs to more than 55,000 youth in the state in more than 36 months of its tenure. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a foolproof mechanism has been adopted for the entire recruitment process adding that these jobs have been given completely on the basis of merit. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that transparent recruitment has increased the faith of youth in working for the state government due to which they have shunned the idea of moving abroad and are preparing for government jobs here.

The Chief Minister said that he was indebted to the people who had attended the event in a huge number despite bad weather. He said that these projects will immensely benefit the masses by delivering them citizen centric services in a time bound manner.  Bhagwant Singh Mann said that such modern tehsil complexes are being built across the state to facilitate the people.

The Chief Minister said that the earlier governments had never paid any heed towards such initiatives to serve the people in a better manner. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that previously the reign of the state was in the wrong hands earlier due to which the state had suffered adversely. However, he said that ever since assuming the charge of office his government has been according top priority to such works of immense public importance.

The Chief Minister announced that such buildings are being constructed while keeping in-view the future needs of people. He said that the state government has introduced path breaking Revenue reforms in the form of Easy Registry and Easy Jamabandi to facilitate the people by providing these services at their doorsteps. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these out of the box initiatives have been taken to avoid inconvenience of the people and ensure that they get services in a time bound manner.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against corruption and none of the corrupt officers is being tolerated. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that every corrupt officer will be nailed and strict action will be taken against them. He said that the state government is working zealously to bring transparency, effectiveness and responsiveness by providing citizen centric services to people at their doorsteps.

On the occasion, Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian and others were also present.

Chandigarh/Amritsar, July 18, 2025:

The Punjab Horticulture Department organized a two-day State-Level Pear Show and Seminar at Maharaja Farm, District Amritsar. The event was formally inaugurated by Shri Mohinder Bhagat, Minister for Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters, and Horticulture, Punjab, who attended as the Chief Guest.

While addressing the gathering, Shri Mohinder Bhagat emphasized that the Punjab Government is making concrete and consistent efforts to develop the horticulture sector and enhance farmers’ income. He said that events like the pear competition are an important part of these initiatives. Such shows, exhibitions and seminars not only boost farmers’ knowledge but also help build market linkages that contribute directly to their economic upliftment.

The Minister highlighted that under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Bhagwant Singh Mann, the state government has ensured regular supply of canal water to agricultural lands—providing a major thrust to horticulture in Punjab. During the event, farmers also raised their concerns, which were assured prompt redressal by the Minister and departmental officials.

Deputy Director Horticulture, Amritsar, Shri Tajinder Singh Sandhu informed that a total of 714 entries of high-quality pears and value-added fruit products were received from various districts of Punjab. Winners were awarded first and second prizes by the Chief Guest. District Amritsar stood out by securing 28 prizes in the competition.

Several departmental exhibitions were also set up at the venue, while experts from Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, shared valuable insights on pear cultivation and marketing strategies.

Prominent attendees included SDM Shri Gursimran Singh Dhillon; Assistant Director Horticulture Shri Jatinder Singh Sandhu; horticulture officers Sukhpal Singh, Harvinder Singh, Tejbir Singh, Kiranbir Kaur and Harpreet Kaur, along with other ministerial and field staff, all of whom played a key role in the success of the event.

CHANDIGARH, July 18:

          With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state completed 139 days, Punjab Police on Friday arrested 125 drug smugglers and recovered 8.6 kg heroin, 500 grams opium, 151 kg poppy husk and Rs 11,980 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 22,533 in just 139 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 180 Police teams, comprising over 1300 police personnel, under the supervision of 81 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 423 locations across the state leading to the registration of 81 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 493 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 83 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.