Chandigarh, August 10:

In a moment of great pride for Punjab, ten students from the state government schools were honoured to participate in the Raksha Bandhan celebrations at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, alongside President Smt. Droupadi Murmu.

Punjab School Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains extended his heartiest congratulations to the students and their teachers for participating in the prestigious event. He informed that a total of 10 students—Usha Rani, Mehakdeep Kaur, Pinky Kaur, Arshdeep Kaur, Bimandeep Kaur, Preetjot Kaur, Baljinder Kaur, Veerpal Kaur, Sunita Kaur, and Sehajdeep Kaur—had the privilege of interacting with the President, immersing themselves in India’s rich cultural heritage and creating unforgettable memories.

These students participation in the Raksha Bandhan celebrations at Rashtrapati Bhavan, embodying the sacred bond between siblings, highlights the commitment of the Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government to fostering young talent and promoting cultural awareness, he added.

Notably, the students represented various government schools in Punjab, joining a larger contingent of students from across India who came together to celebrate the festival. This gathering showcased the country’s rich cultural diversity and underscored the spirit of unity that binds its people.

Dhadhogal (Sangrur), August 10:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday said that the state government was following the footsteps of legendary martyrs to ensure the development of the state and well being of the people especially from the economically weaker and underprivileged sections of society.

Addressing the gathering during a function to mark the death anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh Dhadogal here today, the Chief Minister said that as a fact of matter every inch of this sacred land has the footprint of great Gurus, saints, seers, martyrs and poets. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjabis have been blessed with an indomitable spirit of hard work and resilience due to which they carve out space for themselves. He said that the social bonding in the state is so strong that any seed could grow on the fertile land of Punjab but the seed of hatred will not germinate here at any cost.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab is a sacred land of great Gurus, saints and seers who have shown us the path of mutual love and tolerance. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Punjabis have always opposed tyranny, injustice and oppression by cementing the bond of love and harmony. He said that the state government is making concerted efforts to realize the dreams of martyrs to ensure that the fruits of freedom are percolated to every household.

The Chief Minister said that it is unfortunate that even after more than 75 years of freedom the benefits of freedom have still not reached every household. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that those in power had misused the freedom to spread the tentacles of chitta (drugs), amass wealth by plundering the masses, encouraging corruption along with other menaces. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the dreams of martyrs have still not been realized as these people have never made any concerted effort for this.

The Chief Minister said that Punjabis have played a great role in national freedom and no NOC from those in power is required for their patriotism. He said that such type of disrespect to these great patriots and national leaders cannot be tolerated at any cost. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the earlier governments had never bothered about the people and had ruined the system due to which youth wanted to move abroad.

The Chief Minister said that ironically due to poor performance of the previous regimes the youth of our state wanted to go and work in the same country, the rulers of which were ousted by our martyrs and nationalists. Training his guns at his predecessors, he said that these leaders had built huge palaces by amassing whopping wealth by misusing their official positions. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the walls of these palatial palaces were high and the gates usually remained closed for the people and these leaders remained inaccessible to the people due to which they were ousted by the masses.

The Chief Minister bemoaned that the state had lagged behind in the pace of development due to the apathetic attitude of the traditional political parties. He said that the leaders of these parties ruined the younger generations of the state by misusing their power. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders had never worried about the welfare of the people but they were focused on the prosperity of their own families.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister to commemorate the historic occasion of the 350th Martyrdom Day of the ‘Hind Di Chadar’ (Protector of India), Guru Teg Bahadur Sahib Ji, the Punjab Government will organize grand and historic events. He said that comprehensive development of places having the footsteps of the Guru Sahib will be ensured for which a detailed plan has been already chalked out. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is committed for perpetuating the glorious legacy of Guru Sahib for our coming generations. 

The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government will adopt no leniency towards the ‘Jarnails’ who were the perpetrators behind the genocide of youth through the curse of drugs. He said that the Jarnails who had patronized the drug trade have already been put behind bars adding that these leaders not only used to patronize drug trade across the state but ironically they even sold/ supplied the drugs in their official government vehicles. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in the past no one had previously dared to arrest these affluent leaders, but now his government has done so and they will have to pay the price for their sins.

The Chief Minister said that when he assumed office, only 21% of agricultural land across the state was irrigated using canal water, but today that figure has increased to 63%. He said that due to the government’s effective efforts, for the first time in history, canal and river water is reaching the tail-end villages of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Punjab government is duty bound to save the water of the state and no stone is being left unturned for it.

Paying to Shaheed Bhagat Singh Dhadhogal ji, the Chief Minister said that the nation is indebted to those martyrs who, for the love of their country, gave up all worldly pleasures, wealth, property, and attachments, and inspired others with a passion for freedom. He said that Shaheed Sardar Bhagat Singh Ji Dhadhogal was one of those brave souls who considered it his duty to fight against the tyranny, oppression, injustice, and discrimination of the princely states and ultimately sacrificed their lives for the nation. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Shaheed Bhagat Singh ji was a leading figure of the Parja Mandal movement and was very close to Sewa Singh Thikriwal ji.

The Chief Minister said that due to his active involvement in the Akali Movement, he was sentenced to ten years, adding that after his release, he also took part in the Gurdwara Reform Movement. He said that following the establishment of the Riyasati Praja Mandal (People’s Association of the Princely States), he emerged as a leading figure and spokesperson of the movement. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that today, the foundation stone has been laid for two road projects with a total cost of Rs. 17 crore and 21 lakh.

The Chief Minister said that first road is being constructed by the Punjab Mandi Board, connecting Link Road from Dhuri-Amargarh Road to Dhuri-Chheenta Wala Road and passing through Dhadhogal, Burj Gohra, Burj Seda, Cheema, Bhari Mansa, and Samundgarh Chhanna. Similarly, he said that second road is being constructed by the Public Works Department, connecting Amargarh to Dhuri-Bagrian Road and passing through Dhadhogal, Kheri Jattan, Lohar Majra, and EC (Electricity Colony). Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these roads will be 18 feet wide and the contractor will also be responsible for the maintenance of this road for five years.

Satauj (Sangrur), August 10:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Sunday said that the state is witnessing unprecedented development in every sphere as massive developmental works are going on across the state to accelerate the pace of the growth of the state.

The Chief Minister, who was here to review the ongoing development works in Dirbha assembly segment, the Chief Minister said that the work on these projects is going on in full swing and will be completed soon. He said that the projects have been conceived while keeping in view the larger public interests on one hand and to give fillip to the ongoing development of the state on the other. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that there is no dearth of funds for such development works and more such projects will be dedicated to the public in the coming days.  

Speaking about the agricultural sector, the Chief Minister said he had promised to ensure paddy transplantation without the use of tubewells. He expressed pride that canal water has now reached even the remotest villages at the tail ends of the state adding that since assuming charge of office, the government has revived 15,947 water channels across Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann also mentioned that his government successfully safeguarded Punjab’s water resources from being diverted to other states.

The Chief Minister spoke about the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna — the first-of-its-kind scheme in the country that provides cashless medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh for every resident family in Punjab. He proudly stated that Punjab is the first Indian state to offer such comprehensive healthcare coverage, which will significantly ease the financial burden on the public while ensuring quality health services. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this historic move is aimed at providing universal health care to all the families of the state.

The Chief Minister said that agriculture and farmers have always been the top priority of his government and Continuous efforts are being made to make agriculture a profitable venture. He said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that  farmers shared that there is no shortage of electricity or canal water, and they are receiving an uninterrupted supply. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it is heartening to see smiles returning to the faces of the farmers.

Striking an emotional chord with the people, the Chief Minister said that all the villagers were very close to his heart due to which he loves enjoying every moment with them. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that it gives him immense pride and satisfaction in joining the villagers on such occasions due to which he leaves no stone unturned for this. He also handed over a cheque worth Rs 1.76 crore to the village panchayat for further giving impetus to the development of the village.

CHANDIGARH, August 10:

          Continuing the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state consecutively for the 162nd day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 391 locations on Monday leading to the arrest of 68 drug smugglers after registration of 50 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 25,343 in 162 days.

          The raids have resulted in recovery of 1.4 kg heroin and 1594 intoxicant tablets/capsules from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          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 110 Police teams, comprising over 900 police personnel, under the supervision of 67 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 414 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 43 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Panchkula, 9 August 2025: On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, Purushottam Das Rungta Charitable Trust successfully organised its 177th Community Kitchen, or ‘Bhandara’ at Industrial Area, Phase-1, Panchkula.

On the sidelines of the bhandara, Trust founder Amitabh Rungta said,” Raksha Bandhan is a symbol of unbreakable love and trust between brothers and sisters. The festival also  signifies the promise that a brother makes to protect his sister from any wrong that might be done to her, at all costs.”
Highlighting the importance of holding any type of social service like a bhandara on auspicious occasions like ‘Raksha Bandhan’, Amitabh Rungta said that it is a matter of good fortune for the organiser to hold a bhandara on such holy festivals. It is not just an act of satiating the hunger of a needy person, but a great opportunity to serve humanity.

Hundreds of people were fed wholesome food at the bhandara  and the members of the Trust served food to everyone with a spirit of service.

Purushottam Das Rungta Charitable Trust organizes bhandara every week and has been carrying out various public welfare works in the field of social service.

CHANDIGARH, August 9:

          Amidst the ongoing special operations to ensure peaceful celebrations of forthcoming Independence Day as desired by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police on Saturday carried out a special operation ‘OPS Seal-XVIII’ aimed at checking all the vehicles entering or exiting the border state of Punjab to keep vigil around anti-social elements, drug traffickers and bootleggers.

          During the operation, conducted from 11 am to 2 pm simultaneously in all the districts on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, all the SSPs of border districts were directed to organise joint Naka operations at strategic places in their respective districts and mobilise a maximum number of manpower to lay strong ‘nakas’ at sealing points under the supervision of Gazetted officers/SHOs.

          Sharing details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that well-coordinated strong nakas involving over 600 Police Personnel were set up under the supervision of Inspectors/DSPs at least 71 entry/exit points of 10 districts, which share boundaries with four border states and UT Chandigarh. The 10 inter-state border districts include Pathankot, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Fazilka, Rupanagar, SAS Nagar, Patiala, Sangrur, Mansa, Hoshiarpur and Bathinda.

          He said that as many as 2464 vehicles entering/exiting the state were checked, of which 286 were challaned and nine were impounded during the operation. Police teams have also registered four FIRs and arrested nine persons during the operation.

          Apart from this, Police teams have continued its cordon and search operation (CASO) against drugs on Day 161, and conducted raids at 403 locations on Saturday leading to the arrest of 87 drug smugglers after registration of 57 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 25,264 within 161 days.

          The Special DGP said that the raids have resulted in recovery of 2.2 kg heroin and 2.1 kg opium from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

          He informed that over 180 Police teams, comprising over 1200 police personnel, under the supervision of 79 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 433 suspicious persons during the day long operation.

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

Chandigarh, August 9

Punjab Finance Minister and Chairman of the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ Cabinet Subcommittee, Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema, announced today that the arrest of Joga Singh, former security officer to MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, is a significant step toward justice for the victims of the 2015 Gurdev Singh Debi drug racket. Cheema said that the decade-long delay in the case was due to the alleged involvement of culprits who had political connections with the Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress leadership.

Speaking at a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan, the Finance Minister detailed the events leading to Joga Singh’s arrest. Joga Singh had been absconding since being nominated as an accused on September 28, 2023. His bail was denied by the session court in Fazilka in October 2023 and by the high court in January 2024. Despite numerous police raids, he remained at large. Joga Singh was finally detained by immigration authorities at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, while attempting to flee to Australia, due to a Look Out Circular (LoC) issued by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in November 2023. He was taken on transit remand and produced before the court in Jalalabad, which granted a five-day police remand.

The Finance Minister further disclosed that Joga Singh played a key role in facilitating communication between Sukhpal Singh Khaira and both Gurdev Singh, the convicted in this case, and Gurdev Singh’s UK-based sister, Charanjit Kaur. The Finance Minister said that Joga Singh used his mobile phone to arrange these calls while Gurdev Singh was a fugitive. The minister further added that call detail analysis showed multiple instances where Joga Singh and Gurdev Singh were at the same location, even in Khaira’s absence.

The Finance Minister also provided an update on the state’s “Yudh Nashian Virudh” (War Against Drugs) campaign, which began on March 1, 2025. He said that since the campaign’s inception, 16,062 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act, leading to the arrest of 25,177 individuals. Additionally, 178 illegal properties belonging to drug smugglers have been demolished. Major seizures include 1,044 kg of heroin, 21,309 kg of poppy husk, 365 kg of opium, and nearly 3.2 million tablets, capsules, and pills.

Reiterating the Punjab Government’s commitment to eradicating the drug menace, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that under the visionary leadership of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab has become the first state in India to equip its police force with a drone system valued at Rs 51.41 crore to aid in the anti-drug efforts. He said that this technological advancement marks a significant step forward in enhancing the effectiveness of anti-drug operations at the international borders of the state.

Chandigarh, August 9:

On the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan, Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, announced a major gift for Anganwadi workers and helpers, promoting 435 Anganwadi Helpers to the position of Anganwadi Workers.

Providing further details, Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that departmental directions have been issued to promote 10th pass Anganwadi Helpers with over 10 years of service to the post of Worker.

She further informed that the Punjab Government is committed to addressing the genuine demands of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers. Accordingly, approval has been granted to offer compassionate appointments to dependents of Workers and Helpers who have become permanently disabled during service or are suffering from life-threatening diseases. All District Programme Officers have been instructed to settle pending compassionate appointment cases and transfer cases by August 31, 2025.

The Cabinet Minister announced that the recruitment process to fill nearly 5,000 vacant posts of Anganwadi Helpers and Workers will commence on September 1, 2025, in a transparent and merit-based manner. All district officials and Child Development Project Officers have been strictly warned that any negligence or corruption in the recruitment process will not be tolerated, and strict action will be taken upon receiving any complaint. The recruitment process will be completed by September 30, 2025.

Dr. Baljit Kaur reiterated that empowering women is a top priority of the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann. She added that such promotions are another significant step towards this goal, enabling women to achieve economic and social empowerment and play an active role in the development of their families and society.

New Delhi/Chandigarah, August 9

Rajya Sabha Member Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, commenting on U.S. President Donald Trump’s statement regarding the imposition of a 25% tariff, said that intimidating poor nations and economically exploiting them does not befit a powerful nation like America. He stated that while such tariffs will not significantly impact India, they will surely tarnish America’s image — a stain that history will remember. Speaking on Trump’s attitude, Sant Seechewal remarked that when one gains weapons or wealth, instead of embracing people around the world, they start following a policy of fear and extraction. He warned that the poor countries of the world will have to bear the consequences of Trump’s wrong decisions.

Sant Seechewal made strong remarks against U.S. President Donald Trump, even calling him a “bandit.” He recalled that Trump had earlier announced a 25% tariff, which was implemented on August 7, and has now announced an additional 25% tariff — revealing his true mindset. Trump’s statement that there will be no trade discussions until the tariff dispute with India is resolved reflects his approach.

Sant Seechewal emphasized that India is no longer the same as before, when its arm could be twisted at will. India has faced economic sanctions in the past with resilience and will continue to do so in the future. He stated that the farmers and laborers have been feeding the nation’s 1.4 billion people, and that the people of India are hardworking and believe in honest labor. According to him, Trump cannot push India into an economic crisis merely by imposing such tariffs.

It is worth noting that during Trump’s second term, major changes have been observed, causing financial markets to stagger. Economic experts believe that if the current situation continues, the consequences could be extremely dangerous. If confidence in the U.S. dollar declines, major businesses may plan to leave America and shift to other countries. In such a scenario, it will be up to the American people themselves to strongly oppose Trump’s anti-global economic policies.

Tarn Taran, August 9:

In a path breaking initiative to check supply of drugs from across the border, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and National Convener of AAP Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday flagged off Baaj Akh- Anti Drone System (ADS) after which Punjab became the first state in the country to deploy this system at the international border.

Interacting with the media, the National Convener of AAP said that another glorious chapter has been added in the crusade against the drugs. He said that previous regimes hobnobbed with the drug smugglers due to which this curse flexed its muscles in the state. However, Arvind Kejriwal said that now a massive crackdown has been launched against drugs and big fishes involved in this trade have been put behind the bars.

The National Convener of AAP said that drugs have been supplied to Punjab from across the border and to check them this anti-drone system has been launched. He said that three ADS have been launched and six others will be launched very soon to make Punjab free from this scourge. Arvind Kejriwal said that the state government has strictly implemented a zero-tolerance policy against drug traffickers.

The National Convener of AAP said that properties acquired by drug smugglers through the illegal drug trade are being demolished. He further said that the most notorious and feared drug lord has been put behind the bars by an honest government in the state led by Bhagwant Singh Mann. Arvind Kejriwal said that these smugglers, who celebrate with luxuries at home while poisoning society, are the real enemies of our people and the state government will not spare them at any cost.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that under the “War Against Drugs” (Yudh Nasheyan Virud) campaign, Punjab has today launched a battle to stop drug smuggling from across the border. He said that Punjab shares a 553-kilometer border with Pakistan, which is considered one of the most sensitive zones for the smuggling of narcotics and weapons. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that to strengthen border security and tackle the challenges posed by drone-based smuggling, nine anti-drone units are being set up along the international border.

The Chief Minister said that an amount of ₹51.4 crore is being spent on these units. He said that although our country’s armed forces and BSF have already been using such systems, Punjab is the first state in the country to deploy anti-drone systems at the international border. He said that the anti-drone system will give a strong response to drug smugglers from across the border adding that anti-national elements always use technology for anti-social activities. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the enemies of the country have turned drones into weapons to destroy Punjab’s youth, and drones are being used for drug smuggling from across the border.

Extending congratulations to the security forces, the Chief Minister lauded them for working tirelessly to stop this cross-border drug trafficking. He said that in 2024, a total of 283 drones loaded with heroin, weapons, and ammunition were seized adding that in 2025, so far, 137 drones have already been recovered. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the anti-drone system will be deployed along the border from Pathankot to Fazilka as a Second Line of Defense.

The Chief Minister said that with this, any drone entering the state through the border can be immediately neutralized. He said that the Second Line of Defense refers to the deployment of Punjab Police in the border districts, who work behind the BSF stationed at the international border. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the anti-drone systems will assist the security forces in combating the smuggling of drugs and weapons.

The Chief Minister said that these systems will be deployed at those specific border points where high drone activity has been observed. He said that previously, Punjab Police did not have any such system to neutralize drones, but now, Punjab Police has become capable. Bhagwant Singh Mann  said that the anti-drone system is equipped to accurately detect the drone’s position and its ground control stations.

The Chief Minister said that these systems come with automated alert technology, which immediately notifies authorities upon detecting drone movement, thus eliminating the need for manual monitoring. He said that to ensure the successful implementation of this advanced system, coordination will be maintained with BSF, the Indian Air Force, the Indian Army, and other agencies. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that anti-drug curriculum has been already introduced in Schools under “War Against Drugs” with an aim to make 8 lakh students aware against the menace of drugs.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab’s war against drugs has now reached a crucial stage and as part of the third phase of the state government’s campaign “Yudh Nashean De Virudh” (War Against Drugs), a special syllabus has been introduced in all government schools for students from classes 9 to 12. He said that through this syllabus, 8 lakh students from 9-12 classes will be made aware of the dangers of drug abuse and encouraged to stay away from narcotic substances. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this anti-drug program will involve 3,658 schools and renowned scientists will also take part in raising awareness among students.

The Chief Minister said that that the drug menace was deliberately spread in the state after 2009 through a conspiracy backed by political leaders. However, he said that his government has acted tough against this menace through meticulous planning, putting even high-profile offenders behind bars. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that those who were hand in glove with the drug smugglers and who patronized them during their heydays of power are today behind the bars.

On the occasion Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, DGP Gaurav Yadav and others were also present.